Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2019-01-03

Unemployment rates were lower in November than a year earlier in 290 of the 388 metropolitan areas, higher in 69 areas, and unchanged in 29 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. A total of 104 areas had jobless rates of less than 3.0 percent and 2 areas had rates of at least 10.0 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 54 metropolitan areas and was essentially unchanged in 334 areas. The national unemployment rate in November was 3.5 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 3.9 percent a year earlier. In November, Ames, IA, had the lowest unemployment rate, 1.2 percent. El Centro, CA, and Yuma, AZ, had the highest unemployment rates, 18.1 percent and 14.9 percent, respectively. A total of 198 areas had November unemployment rates below the U.S. rate of 3.5 percent, 176 areas had rates above it, and 14 areas had rates equal to that of the nation.