Metropolitan Area Employment And Unemployment: February 2005 — 2005-04-07

Unemployment rates were lower in February than a year earlier in 209 of the 367 metropolitan areas, higher in 144 areas, and unchanged in 14 areas, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Two areas registered jobless rates below 3.0 percent, while 11 areas--9 of which were located in California--recorded unemployment rates of at least 10.0 percent. The February unemployment rate for the nation was 5.8 percent, not seasonally adjusted. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 323 metropol- itan areas over the year. In February, 28 metropolitan areas registered unemployment rates below 4.0 percent, the same number of areas as a year earlier, while 79 areas reported unemployment rates of at least 7.0 percent, down slightly from 81 areas in February 2004. Honolulu, Hawaii, and Harrisonburg, Va., recorded the lowest unemployment rates, 2.7 and 2.8 percent, respectively.