Metropolitan Area Employment And Unemployment: June 2003 — 2003-07-30

In June, 176 metropolitan areas recorded higher unemployment rates than a year earlier, 134 areas had lower rates, and 21 areas had rates that were unchanged, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Fourteen metropolitan areas registered unemployment rates of at least 10.0 percent, seven of which were located in California and five in Texas. Ten areas posted jobless rates below 3.0 percent, with half of these located in the Midwest. The national unemployment rate in June was 6.5 percent, not seasonally adjusted. Seventy-five metropolitan areas recorded unemployment rates of at least 7.0 percent in June, up from 58 areas a year ago, while 49 areas had rates below 4.0 percent, about the same number of areas (46) as in June 2002. Yuma, Ariz., continued to report the highest unemployment rate, 31.2 per- cent.