Metropolitan Area Employment And Unemployment: February 2007 — 2007-04-04

Unemployment rates were lower in February than a year earlier in 249 of the 369 metropolitan areas, higher in 94 areas, and unchanged in 26 areas, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Eighteen metropolitan areas registered jobless rates below 3.0 percent. Seven areas, six of which are located in California, recorded jobless rates of at least 10.0 percent. The national unemployment rate in February was 4.9 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 5.1 percent a year earlier. In February, 101 metropolitan areas recorded unemployment rates below 4.0 percent, up from 77 areas a year earlier, while 36 areas had jobless rates of at least 7.0 percent, down from 52 areas in February 2006. Hono- lulu, Hawaii, continued to report the lowest unemployment rate, 2.0 per- cent, followed by Logan, Utah-Idaho, 2.1 percent.