Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2014-02-05

Unemployment rates were lower in December than a year earlier in 339 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 25 areas, and unchanged in 8 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Twenty-two areas had jobless rates of at least 10.0 percent and 78 areas had rates of less than 5.0 percent. Two hundred ninety-four metropolitan areas had over-the-year increases in nonfarm payroll employment, 67 had decreases, and 11 had no change. The national unemployment rate in December was 6.5 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 7.6 percent a year earlier. Yuma, Ariz., and El Centro, Calif., had the highest unemployment rates in December, 27.1 percent and 22.5 percent, respectively. Bismarck, N.D.; Logan, Utah-Idaho; and Midland, Texas, had the lowest rates, 2.8 percent each. A total of 211 areas had December unemployment rates below the U.S.