Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2013-08-28

Unemployment rates were lower in July than a year earlier in 320 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 38 areas, and unchanged in 14 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Forty-one areas had jobless rates of at least 10.0 percent, and 34 areas had rates of less than 5.0 percent. Over the year, 319 areas had increases in nonfarm payroll employment, 48 had decreases, and 5 had no change. The national unemployment rate in July was 7.7 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 8.6 percent a year earlier. Yuma, Ariz., and El Centro, Calif., had the highest unemployment rates in July, 34.5 percent and 26.1 percent, respectively. Bismarck, N.D., had the lowest rate, 2.5 percent. A total of 214 areas had July unemployment rates below the U.S. figure of 7.7 percent, 152 areas had rates above it, and 6 areas had rates equal to that of the nation.