Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release - 2024 M02 Results — 2024-04-03

(NOTE: This news release was reissued on Friday, April 5, 2024, to correct the spelling of the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan area.) Unemployment rates were higher in February than a year earlier in 247 of the 389 metropolitan areas, lower in 109 areas, and unchanged in 33 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. A total of 54 areas had jobless rates of less than 3.0 percent and 13 areas had rates of at least 8.0 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 42 metropolitan areas, decreased in 3 areas, and was essentially unchanged in 344 areas. The national unemployment rate in February was 4.2 percent, not seasonally adjusted, up from 3.9 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.