Metropolitan Area Employment And Unemployment: August 2005 — 2005-09-28

Unemployment rates were lower in August than a year earlier in 267 of the 367 metropolitan areas, higher in 81 areas, and unchanged in 19 areas, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Thirteen metropolitan areas registered jobless rates below 3.0 percent, and two areas recorded rates of more than 10.0 percent. The national unemployment rate was 4.9 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 5.4 percent a year earlier. In August, 84 metropolitan areas registered unemployment rates below 4.0 percent, up from 47 areas a year earlier, while 21 areas reported unemployment rates of at least 7.0 percent, down from 40 areas a year earlier. Bismarck, N.D., and Fargo, N.D.-Minn., recorded the lowest unemployment rates in August 2005, 2.5 percent each. The next lowest rates were in Honolulu, Hawaii, and Idaho Falls, Idaho, 2.6 percent each.