Metropolitan Area Employment And Unemployment: September 2006 — 2006-11-01

Unemployment rates were lower in September than a year earlier in 294 of the 367 metropolitan areas, higher in 61 areas, and unchanged in 12 areas, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Thirty-eight metropolitan areas registered jobless rates below 3.0 percent, while two areas recorded rates of at least 10.0 percent. The national unemployment rate was 4.4 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 4.8 percent a year earlier. In September, 150 metropolitan areas reported unemployment rates below 4.0 percent, up from 107 areas a year earlier, while 17 areas posted rates of at least 7.0 percent, down from 26 areas in September 2005. Fargo, N.D.- Minn., and Bismarck, N.D., had the lowest unemployment rates, 1.5 and 1.9 percent, respectively. The areas recording the next lowest rates were Logan, Utah-Idaho, and St. George, Utah, 2.2 percent each.