Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release - 2021 M12 Results — 2022-02-02

Unemployment rates were lower in December than a year earlier in 375 of the 389 metropolitan areas, higher in 13 areas, and unchanged in 1 area, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. A total of 141 areas had jobless rates of less than 3.0 percent and 1 area had a rate of at least 10.0 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 108 metropolitan areas and was essentially unchanged in 281 areas. The national unemployment rate in December was 3.7 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 6.5 percent a year earlier. This news release presents statistics from two monthly programs. The civilian labor force and unemployment data are based on the same concepts and definitions as those used for the national household survey estimates. These data pertain to individuals by where they reside.