Metropolitan Area Employment And Unemployment: October 2006 — 2006-11-29

Unemployment rates were lower in October than a year earlier in 288 of the 367 metropolitan areas, higher in 68 areas, and unchanged in 11 areas, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Sixty-one metropolitan areas registered jobless rates below 3.0 percent, while two areas recorded jobless rates of at least 10.0 percent. The national unemployment rate in October was 4.1 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 4.6 percent a year earlier. In October, 176 metropolitan areas reported unemployment rates below 4.0 percent, up from 135 areas in October 2005. Ten areas had jobless rates of at least 7.0 percent, down from 23 areas a year earlier. Fargo, N.D.- Minn., and Honolulu, Hawaii, experienced the lowest unemployment rates, 1.5 and 1.9 percent, respectively. Four areas registered the next lowest rates (2.0 per- cent each)--Charlottesville, Va.; Idaho Falls, Idaho; Logan, Utah-Idaho; and St. George, Utah.