November 1999 — 1999-12-29

In November, 199 metropolitan areas reported unemployment rates below the U.S. average (3.8 percent, not seasonally adjusted), while 123 areas registered higher rates, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Thirty-one metropolitan areas had rates below 2.0 percent, with 20 of these located in the Midwest, 8 in the South, and 3 in New England. Of the seven areas with jobless rates over 10.0 percent, five were in California, and two were along the Mexican border in other states. In November, 121 metropolitan areas reported unemployment rates below 3.0 percent, while 31 areas had rates of at least 6.0 percent. Columbia, Mo., recorded the lowest jobless rate (0.8 percent), followed by Madison, Wis. (1.1 percent). Yuma, Ariz., registered the highest unemployment rate, 23.1 percent. The two areas with the next highest rates were Visalia- Tulare-Porterville, Calif. (14.4 percent), and McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Tex. (13.0 percent).