December 2001 — 2002-01-30

In December, 305 metropolitan areas reported higher unemployment rates than a year earlier, 21 areas had lower rates, and 5 areas had rates that were unchanged, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Ten metropolitan areas had jobless rates over 10.0 percent, with seven of these in California and two along the Mexican border in other states. Only 3 areas recorded rates below 2.0 percent, compared with 43 areas in December 2000. Ninety-six metropolitan areas registered unemployment rates of at least 5.5 percent in December, up from 34 a year ago. Meanwhile, 16 areas had rates below 2.5 percent, down from 90 areas in December 2000. Two areas in California posted the highest jobless rates--Visalia-Tulare-Porterville, 16.3 percent, and Merced, 15.5 percent--followed by Yuma, Ariz., 14.9 per- cent. Areas with large universities tend to have lower unemployment rates. The lowest rates in December were in two such areas--Bryan-College Station, Texas, 1.4 percent, and Columbia, Mo., 1.7 percent.