Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2017-08-30

Unemployment rates were lower in July than a year earlier in 340 of the 388 metropolitan areas, higher in 39 areas, and unchanged in 9 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Thirty-one areas had jobless rates of less than 3.0 percent and three areas had rates of at least 10.0 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 336 metropolitan areas, decreased in 46 areas, and was unchanged in 6 areas. The national unemployment rate in July was 4.6 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 5.1 percent a year earlier. In July, Bismarck, ND, had the lowest unemployment rate, 1.9 percent, closely followed by Fargo, ND-MN, 2.0 percent. El Centro, CA, and Yuma, AZ, had the highest unemployment rates, 24.2 percent and 23.8 percent, respectively. A total of 189 areas had July jobless rates below the U.S.