Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2017-02-01

Unemployment rates were lower in December than a year earlier in 236 of the 387 metropolitan areas, higher in 111 areas, and unchanged in 40 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Twenty-seven areas had jobless rates of less than 3.0 percent and five areas had rates of at least 10.0 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 292 metropolitan areas, decreased in 87 areas, and was unchanged in 8 areas. The national unemployment rate in December was 4.5 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 4.8 percent a year earlier. In December, Ames, Iowa, and Burlington-South Burlington, Vt., had the lowest unemployment rates, 2.1 percent each. El Centro, Calif., and Yuma, Ariz., had the highest unemployment rates, 18.8 percent and 15.3 percent, respectively. A total of 192 areas had December jobless rates below the U.S.