Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2012-05-30

(NOTE: This news release contains corrections to previously released employment data in table 3. Data for March and April 2011 were corrected for Montana-Statewide. Additionally, data for September 2011 to March 2012 were corrected for Worcester, MA-CT NECTA. A complete listing of corrections in this news release and in the CES (state and area) database can be found at www.bls.gov/bls/errata/sae_errata.htm.) Unemployment rates were lower in April than a year earlier in 342 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 25 areas, and unchanged in 5 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Ten areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent, while 32 areas registered rates of less than 5.0 percent. Two hundred forty-six metropolitan areas reported over-the-year increases in nonfarm payroll employment, 115 reported decreases, and 11 had no change. The national unemployment rate in April was 7.7 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 8.7 percent a year earlier.