Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2008-07-30

Unemployment rates were higher in June than a year earlier in 332 of the 369 metropolitan areas, lower in 27 areas, and unchanged in 10 areas, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Six areas recorded jobless rates of at least 10.0 percent, while four areas registered rates below 3.0 percent. The national unemploy- ment rate in June was 5.7 percent, not seasonally adjusted, up from 4.7 percent a year earlier. In June, 68 metropolitan areas reported jobless rates of at least 7.0 percent, up from 22 areas a year earlier, while 36 areas posted rates below 4.0 percent, down from 96 areas in June 2007. El Centro, Calif., continued to register the highest unemployment rate, 22.6 per- cent, followed by the adjacent area of Yuma, Ariz., at 17.7 percent. Sioux Falls, S.D., and Idaho Falls, Idaho, reported the lowest jobless rates, 2.3 and 2.4 percent, respectively.