Metropolitan Area Employment And Unemployment: July 2005 — 2005-08-31

Unemployment rates were lower in July than a year earlier in 273 of the 367 metropolitan areas, higher in 72 areas, and unchanged in 22 areas, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Ten 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 5.2 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 5.7 percent a year earlier. In July, 67 metropolitan areas registered unemployment rates below 4.0 percent, up from 36 areas a year earlier. Jobless rates in 36 areas were at least 7.0 percent in July, down from 59 areas a year earlier. Fargo, N.D.-Minn., recorded the lowest unemployment rate, 2.5 percent. The next lowest rates were in Iowa City, Iowa, and Winchester, Va.-W.Va., 2.7 percent each.