Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2011-01-04

Unemployment rates were higher in November than a year earlier in 182 of the 372 metropolitan areas, lower in 166 areas, and unchanged in 24 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Thirteen areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent, while 11 areas registered rates of less than 5.0 percent. One hundred eighty metropolitan areas reported over-the-year increases in nonfarm pay- roll employment, 176 reported decreases, and 16 had no change. The national unem- ployment rate in November was 9.3 percent, not seasonally adjusted, compared with 9.4 percent a year earlier. In November 114 metropolitan areas reported jobless rates of at least 10.0 percent, down from 127 areas a year earlier, while 63 areas posted rates below 7.0 percent, down from 74 areas in November 2009. El Centro, Calif., again recorded the highest unemployment rate, 29.1 percent, followed by Yuma, Ariz., 24.8 percent.