Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2019-01-30

Unemployment rates were lower in December than a year earlier in 250 of the 388 metropolitan areas, higher in 116 areas, and unchanged in 22 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. A total of 89 areas had jobless rates of less than 3.0 percent and 3 areas had rates of at least 10.0 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 61 metropolitan areas and was essentially unchanged in 327 areas. The national unemployment rate in December was 3.7 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 3.9 percent a year earlier. In December, Ames, IA, had the lowest unemployment rate, 1.4 percent. El Centro, CA, and Yuma, AZ, had the highest unemployment rates, 17.3 percent and 15.4 percent, respectively. A total of 193 areas had December unemployment rates below the U.S. rate of 3.7 percent, 179 areas had rates above it, and 16 areas had rates equal to that of the nation.