Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2016-11-02

Unemployment rates were lower in September than a year earlier in 224 of the 387 metropolitan areas, higher in 141 areas, and unchanged in 22 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Twenty-six 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 315 metropolitan areas, decreased in 65 areas, and was unchanged in 7 areas. The national unemployment rate in September was 4.8 percent, not seasonally adjusted, and was little different from that of September 2015. In September, the lowest unemployment rate was in Sioux Falls, S.D., 2.0 percent. El Centro, Calif., and Yuma, Ariz., had the highest unemployment rates, 22.7 percent and 20.9 percent, respectively. A total of 190 areas had September jobless rates below the U.S.