Metropolitan Area Employment And Unemployment: June 2006 — 2006-08-02

Unemployment rates were lower in June than a year earlier in 292 of the 367 metropolitan areas, higher in 52 areas, and unchanged in 23 areas, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Nineteen metropolitan areas registered jobless rates below 3.0 percent, while three areas recorded rates of 10.0 percent or more. The national un- employment rate was 4.8 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 5.2 per- cent a year earlier. In June, 90 metropolitan areas reported unemployment rates below 4.0 per- cent, up from 55 areas a year earlier, while 26 areas posted rates of at least 7.0 percent, down slightly from 29 areas in June 2005. Fort Walton Beach-Crestview-Destin, Fla., and Sioux Falls, S.D., had the lowest unemploy- ment rates, 2.5 percent each. Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Fla., Fargo, N.D.-Minn., and Sarasota-Bradenton-Venice, Fla., registered the next lowest rates, 2.6 per- cent each.