Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2010-09-29

Unemployment rates were lower in August than a year earlier in 182 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 169 areas, and unchanged in 21 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Twelve areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent, while 9 areas regis- tered rates below 5.0 percent. The national unemployment rate in August was 9.5 percent, not seasonally adjusted, compared with 9.6 percent a year earlier. In August, 124 metropolitan areas reported jobless rates of at least 10.0 percent, down from 132 areas a year earlier, while 62 areas posted rates below 7.0 percent, down from 68 areas in August 2009. El Centro, Calif., and Yuma, Ariz., again recorded the highest unemployment rates, 30.4 and 30.2 percent, respectively. These two adjacent areas are highly agricultural and experience extreme heat during summer months. Among the 12 areas with jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent, 9 were located in California.