Metropolitan Area Employment And Unemployment: March 2005 — 2005-04-28

Unemployment rates were lower in March than a year earlier in 276 of the 367 metropolitan areas, higher in 78 areas, and unchanged in 13 areas, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Three areas registered jobless rates below 3.0 percent, while 9 areas--8 of which were located in California--recorded unemployment rates of at least 10.0 percent. The March unemployment rate for the nation was 5.4 percent, not seasonally adjusted. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 313 metro- politan areas over the year. In March, 39 metropolitan areas registered unemployment rates below 4.0 percent, up from 27 a year earlier, while 53 areas reported unemploy- ment rates of at least 7.0 percent, down from 74 areas in March 2004. Honolulu, Hawaii, and Harrisonburg, Va., again recorded the lowest unem- ployment rates, 2.6 and 2.8 percent, respectively. The next lowest rates were in Charlottesville, Va., 2.9 percent, and Winchester, Va.-W.Va., 3.0 percent.