Metropolitan Area Employment And Unemployment: May 2007 — 2007-06-27

Unemployment rates were lower in May than a year earlier in 212 of the 369 metropolitan areas, higher in 134 areas, and unchanged in 23 areas, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Forty-three metropolitan areas registered jobless rates below 3.0 percent, while two areas recorded rates of at least 10.0 percent. The national unem- ployment rate in May was 4.3 percent, not seasonally adjusted. In May, 157 metropolitan areas reported unemployment rates below 4.0 per- cent, up from 137 areas a year earlier, while 14 areas posted rates of at least 7.0 percent, down from 19 areas in May 2006. Idaho Falls, Idaho, re- corded the lowest unemployment rate, 1.3 percent, followed by two Montana areas--Billings at 1.5 percent and Missoula at 1.6 percent. Strong economic growth in many Rocky Mountain states has resulted in low unemployment rates in several areas.