Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2018-02-06

Unemployment rates were lower in December than a year earlier in 314 of the 388 metropolitan areas, higher in 61 areas, and unchanged in 13 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Seventy-one areas had jobless rates of less than 3.0 percent and four areas had rates of at least 10.0 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 316 metropolitan areas, decreased in 60 areas, and was unchanged in 12 areas. The national unemployment rate in December was 3.9 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 4.5 percent a year earlier. In December, Ames, IA, had the lowest unemployment rate, 1.5 percent, followed by Urban Honolulu, HI, 1.7 percent. El Centro, CA, and Yuma, AZ, had the highest unemployment rates, 17.9 percent and 15.7 percent, respectively. A total of 190 areas had December jobless rates below the U.S.