Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2018-08-01

Unemployment rates were lower in June than a year earlier in 298 of the 388 metropolitan areas, higher in 61 areas, and unchanged in 29 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Thirty-eight areas had jobless rates of less than 3.0 percent and two areas had rates of at least 10.0 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 51 metropolitan areas and was essentially unchanged in 337 areas. The national unemployment rate in June was 4.2 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 4.5 percent a year earlier. In June, Ames, IA, had the lowest unemployment rate, 2.0 percent. Yuma, AZ, and El Centro, CA, had the highest unemployment rates, 19.1 percent and 18.0 percent, respectively. A total of 190 areas had June jobless rates above the U.S. rate of 4.2 percent, 185 areas had rates below it, and 13 areas had rates equal to that of the nation.