Metropolitan Area Employment And Unemployment: January 2007 — 2007-03-21

Unemployment rates were lower in January than a year earlier in 179 of the 369 metropolitan areas, higher in 156 areas, and unchanged in 34 areas, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Fourteen metropolitan areas registered jobless rates below 3.0 per- cent, while 7 areas recorded rates of at least 10.0 percent. The national unemployment rate in January was 5.0 percent, not seasonally adjusted. In January, 85 metropolitan areas recorded unemployment rates below 4.0 percent, up from 73 areas a year earlier, and 46 areas posted rates of at least 7.0 percent, up slightly from 44 areas in January 2006. Honolulu, Hawaii, had the lowest unemployment rate, 2.0 percent, followed by Logan, Utah-Idaho, 2.3 percent. Three highly agricultural areas registered the highest jobless rates: El Centro, Calif., 14.9 percent, Merced, Calif., 11.3 percent, and Yuma, Ariz., 11.1 percent. Overall, 190 areas reported unemployment rates below the U.S.