Metropolitan Area Employment And Unemployment: December 2002 — 2003-02-05

In December, unemployment rates were higher than a year earlier in 192 metropolitan areas, lower in 122 areas, and unchanged in 17 areas, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Twelve metropolitan areas had jobless rates of at least 10.0 percent. Eight of these were located in California's agricultural Central Valley, and three were along the Mexican border in other states. Twenty-three areas posted unemployment rates below 3.0 percent; 11 were located in the Midwest and 8 in the South. The national unemployment rate in December was 5.7 percent, not seasonally adjusted. Fifty-one metropolitan areas had unemployment rates of at least 6.5 percent in December, while 46 areas had rates below 3.5 percent. Yuma, Ariz., again reported the highest unemployment rate, 17.8 percent. Five California areas posted the next highest rates--Visalia-Tulare-Porterville, 17.2 percent, Merced, 16.2 percent, Fresno, 15.3 percent, Salinas, 14.5 percent, and Yuba City, 13.8 percent.