Metropolitan Area Employment And Unemployment: November 2002 — 2003-01-03

In November, 196 metropolitan areas recorded higher unemployment rates than a year earlier, 121 areas had lower rates, and 14 areas had rates that were unchanged, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Twelve areas--most with large shares of agricultural employment--posted jobless rates of at least 10.0 percent, with eight located in California and three along the Mexican border in other states. Twenty-seven areas reported unemployment rates below 3.0 percent, with 12 located in the Midwest and 10 in the South. The national unemployment rate in November was 5.7 percent, not seasonally adjusted. Fifty-three metropolitan areas recorded unemployment rates of at least 6.5 percent in November, while 47 areas had rates below 3.5 percent. Bryan- College Station, Texas, again posted the lowest unemployment rate, 1.7 per- cent, closely followed by Columbia, Mo., and Fargo-Moorhead, N.D.-Minn., 1.8 percent each. Yuma, Ariz., continued to report the highest unemployment rate, 21.6 percent.