November 2001 — 2002-01-03

In November, 280 metropolitan areas reported higher rates than a year earlier, 43 areas had lower rates, and 8 areas had rates that were unchanged, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Nine metropolitan areas had jobless rates over 10.0 percent in both November 2000 and November 2001, with eight of these located in the West. Only 8 areas--all in the Midwest or South--posted rates of 2.0 percent or less, compared with 40 areas in November 2000. Eighty-six metropolitan areas registered unemployment rates of at least 5.5 percent in November, up from 38 a year ago. Only 19 areas had rates below 2.5 percent, down from 71 areas in November 2000. Yuma, Ariz., continued to have the highest jobless rate, 19.2 percent. The next highest rates--ranging from 13.0 to 15.8 percent--were all registered in California-- Fresno, Merced, Visalia-Tulare-Porterville, and Yuba City.