Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2011-12-06

Unemployment rates were lower in October than a year earlier in 281 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 76 areas, and unchanged in 15 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Eight areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent, while 21 areas registered rates of less than 5.0 percent. Two hundred thirty-three metropolitan areas reported over-the-year increases in nonfarm payroll employment, 133 reported decreases, and 6 had no change. The national unemployment rate in October was 8.5 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 9.0 percent a year earlier. In October, 74 metropolitan areas reported jobless rates of at least 10.0 percent, down from 98 areas a year earlier, while 106 areas posted rates below 7.0 percent, up from 80 areas in October 2010. El Centro, Calif., and Yuma, Ariz., recorded the highest unemployment rates in October 2011, 28.9 and 26.3 percent, respectively.