Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2019-04-03

Unemployment rates were lower in February than a year earlier in 283 of the 389 metropolitan areas, higher in 67 areas, and unchanged in 39 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Forty- one areas had jobless rates of less than 3.0 percent and six areas had rates of at least 10.0 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 39 metropolitan areas and was essentially unchanged in 350 areas. The national unemployment rate in February was 4.1 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 4.4 percent a year earlier. In February, Ames, IA, had the lowest unemployment rate, 1.4 percent. El Centro, CA, had the highest unemployment rate, 17.4 percent. A total of 203 areas had February jobless rates below the U.S. rate of 4.1 percent, 172 areas had rates above it, and 14 areas had rates equal to that of the nation.