Metropolitan Area Employment And Unemployment: January 2006 — 2006-03-17

Unemployment rates were lower in January than a year earlier in 336 of the 367 metropolitan areas, higher in 26 areas, and unchanged in 5 areas, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Ten metropolitan areas registered jobless rates below 3.0 percent, and nine areas recorded rates of more than 10.0 percent. The national unemployment rate was 5.1 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 5.7 percent a year earlier. In January, 72 metropolitan areas posted unemployment rates below 4.0 percent, up from 27 areas a year earlier, while 42 areas reported unem- ployment rates of at least 7.0 percent, down from 74 areas in January 2005. Honolulu, Hawaii, registered the lowest jobless rate, 2.2 percent, closely followed by Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Fla., and Naples-Marco Island, Fla., 2.3 and 2.4 percent, respectively. Gulfport-Biloxi, Miss., again recorded the highest unemployment rate in January, 17.9 percent.