March 2002 — 2002-05-01

In March, 284 metropolitan areas had higher unemployment rates than a year earlier, 39 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. Thirteen metropolitan areas posted jobless rates of 10.0 percent or more, eight of which were located in California's Central Valley. Fourteen areas had unemployment rates below 3.0 percent, with seven of these located in the South, including three in Florida, and four located in the Midwest. The national unemployment rate in March was 6.1 percent, not seasonally adjusted. Seventy-four metropolitan areas recorded unemployment rates of at least 6.5 percent in March, up from 41 areas a year ago, while 40 areas had rates below 3.5 percent, down from 104 areas in March 2001. The six highest jobless rates in March were reported in California--Visalia-Tulare- Porterville, 18.6 percent, Merced, 17.8 percent, Fresno, 16.3 percent, Yuba City, 15.7 percent, Salinas, 14.5 percent, and Bakersfield, 13.6 percent.