February 2001 — 2001-04-04

In February, 209 metropolitan areas recorded unemployment rates below the U.S. average (4.6 percent, not seasonally adjusted), while 117 areas registered higher rates, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Nine metropolitan areas had rates below 2.0 percent, including two each in Connecticut and Virginia. Among the 11 areas with jobless rates greater than 10.0 percent, 7 were in California. Thirty-nine metropolitan areas reported unemployment rates below 2.5 percent in February, while 62 areas had rates over 5.5 percent. The lowest rates were reported in metropolitan areas with major state universities: Charlottesville, Va. (1.3 percent), and Bryan-College Station, Texas, and Columbia, Mo. (both 1.4 percent). Merced, Calif., and Visalia-Tulare- Porterville, Calif., had the highest unemployment rates, 17.9 percent each, followed by three other areas over 15.0 percent, all in West Coast states. Yuma, Ariz., at 14.9 percent, reported its lowest rate in nearly 10 years.