Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2008-05-28

Unemployment rates were higher in April than a year earlier in 261 of the 369 metropolitan areas, lower in 88 areas, and unchanged in 20 areas, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Eight areas, seven of which are located in California, recorded jobless rates of at least 10.0 percent. Twenty-four areas registered rates below 3.0 percent. The national unemployment rate in April was 4.8 percent, not seasonally adjusted, up from 4.3 percent a year earlier. In April, 27 metropolitan areas reported unemployment rates of at least 7.0 percent, up from 18 areas a year earlier, while 118 areas posted rates below 4.0 percent, down from 165 areas in April 2007. Two agricultural areas in California continued to register the highest rates in April: El Centro, 18.4 percent, and Merced, 12.3 percent. Logan, Utah-Idaho, had the lowest jobless rate, 2.2 percent. Overall, 207 areas recorded unemployment rates below the U.S.