Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2018-05-02

Unemployment rates were lower in March than a year earlier in 302 of the 388 metropolitan areas, higher in 64 areas, and unchanged in 22 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Forty areas had jobless rates of less than 3.0 percent and five areas had rates of at least 10.0 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 308 metropolitan areas, decreased in 72 areas, and was unchanged in 8 areas. The national unemployment rate in March was 4.1 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 4.6 percent a year earlier. In March, Ames, IA, had the lowest unemployment rate, 1.7 percent. El Centro, CA, had the highest unemployment rate, 15.3 percent. A total of 194 areas had March jobless rates below the U.S. rate of 4.1 percent, 179 areas had rates above it, and 15 areas had rates equal to that of the nation.