Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2019-05-01

Unemployment rates were lower in March than a year earlier in 267 of the 389 metropolitan areas, higher in 100 areas, and unchanged in 22 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Forty-eight areas had jobless rates of less than 3.0 percent and eight areas had rates of at least 10.0 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 41 metropolitan areas and was essentially unchanged in 348 areas. The national unemployment rate in March was 3.9 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 4.1 percent a year earlier. This news release presents statistics from two monthly programs. The civilian labor force and unemployment data are based on the same concepts and definitions as those used for the national household survey estimates. These data pertain to individuals by where they reside. The employment data come from an establishment survey that measures nonfarm employment, hours, and earnings by industry.