Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2014-03-21

Unemployment rates were lower in January than a year earlier in 367 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 3 areas, and unchanged in 2 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Thirty areas had jobless rates of at least 10.0 percent and 41 areas had rates of less than 5.0 percent. Three hundred sixteen metropolitan areas had over-the-year increases in nonfarm payroll employment, 48 had decreases, and 8 had no change. The national unemployment rate in January was 7.0 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 8.5 percent a year earlier. Yuma, Ariz., and El Centro, Calif., had the highest unemployment rates in January, 26.1 percent and 22.0 percent, respectively. Midland, Texas, had the lowest rate, 2.9 percent. A total of 210 areas had January unemployment rates below the U.S. figure of 7.0 percent, 157 areas had rates above it, and 5 areas had rates equal to that of the nation.