Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2008-04-29

Unemployment rates were higher in March than a year earlier in 309 of the 369 metropolitan areas, lower in 40 areas, and unchanged in 20 areas, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Fourteen areas, 12 of which are located in California, recorded jobless rates of at least 10.0 percent, while 9 areas registered rates below 3.0 percent. The national unemploy- ment rate in March was 5.2 percent, not seasonally adjusted, up from 4.5 percent a year earlier. In March, 45 metropolitan areas reported unemployment rates of at least 7.0 percent, up from 26 areas a year earlier, while 69 areas recorded rates below 4.0 percent, down from 128 areas in March 2007. Two agricultural areas in California again registered the highest rates in March: El Centro, 16.4 percent, and Merced, 13.7 percent. Iowa City, Iowa, and Midland, Texas, posted the lowest jobless rates, 2.6 percent each.