Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2010-09-01

Unemployment rates were higher in July than a year earlier in 192 of the 372 metropolitan areas, lower in 170 areas, and unchanged in 10 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Seventeen areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent, while 6 areas registered rates below 5.0 percent. The national unemployment rate in July was 9.7 percent, not season- ally adjusted, the same as a year earlier. In July, 127 metropolitan areas reported jobless rates of at least 10.0 per- cent, down from 140 areas a year earlier, while 61 areas posted rates below 7.0 percent, little changed from 62 areas in July 2009. El Centro, Calif., and Yuma, Ariz., again recorded the highest unemployment rates, 30.3 and 28.7 percent, respectively. These two adjacent areas are highly agricultural and experience extreme heat during summer months. Among the 17 areas with jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent, 12 were located in California.