August 2001 — 2001-10-03

In August, 241 metropolitan areas recorded unemployment rates below the U.S. average (4.9 percent, not seasonally adjusted), and 86 areas registered higher rates, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Relatively few of the 331 metropolitan areas had jobless rates at either the very high end of the spectrum (above 10 percent) or the very low end (below 2 percent). Five metropolitan areas recorded rates below 2.0 percent, four of which were in the West North Central division. Only three areas reported jobless rates over 10.0 percent in August. Sixty-one metropolitan areas registered unemployment rates of at least 5.5 percent in August, up from 44 a year earlier. Meanwhile, 21 areas had rates below 2.5 percent, down from 53 areas in August 2000. Yuma, Ariz., where summer jobless rates are typically about double those of the winter, posted the highest rate, 31.6 percent.