Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2009-06-03

Unemployment rates were higher in April than a year earlier in all 372 metropolitan areas, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Thirteen areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent, while 31 areas registered rates below 5.0 percent. The national unemployment rate in April was 8.6 percent, not seasonally adjusted, up from 4.8 percent a year earlier. Among the 310 metropolitan areas for which nonfarm payroll data were avail- able, 291 areas recorded over-the-year declines in employment, 17 re- ported increases, and 2 had no change. In April, 93 metropolitan areas reported jobless rates of at least 10.0 percent, up from 7 areas a year earlier, while 117 areas posted rates below 7.0 percent, down from 347 areas in April 2008. El Centro, Calif., recorded the highest unemployment rate, 26.9 percent.