Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2010-06-30

Unemployment rates were higher in May than a year earlier in 222 of the 372 metropolitan areas, lower in 141 areas, and unchanged in 9 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Thirteen areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent, while 9 areas registered rates below 5.0 percent. The national unemployment rate in May was 9.3 percent, not seasonally adjusted, compared with 9.1 percent a year earlier. In May, 124 metropolitan areas reported jobless rates of at least 10.0 percent, up from 107 areas a year earlier, while 70 areas posted rates below 7.0 percent, down from 91 areas in May 2009. El Centro, Calif., and Yuma, Ariz., again recorded the highest unemployment rates, 27.5 and 27.2 percent, respectively. Among the 13 areas with jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent, 11 were located in California.