Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2010-11-03

Unemployment rates were lower in September than a year earlier in 212 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 143 areas, and unchanged in 17 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Thirteen areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent, while 10 areas registered rates below 5.0 percent. The national unemployment rate in September was 9.2 percent, not seasonally adjusted, compared with 9.5 percent a year earlier. In September, 104 metropolitan areas reported jobless rates of at least 10.0 percent, down from 120 areas a year earlier, while 74 areas posted rates below 7.0 percent, up from 71 areas in September 2009. El Centro, Calif., again recorded the highest unemployment rate, 30.4 percent, followed by Yuma, Ariz., 27.2 percent. These two adjacent areas are highly agricultural and experience extreme heat during sum- mer months. Among the 13 areas with jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent, 9 were located in California.