Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2010-07-28

Unemployment rates were lower in June than a year earlier in 185 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 168 areas, and unchanged in 19 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Twelve areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent, while 6 areas registered rates below 5.0 percent. The national unemployment rate in June was 9.6 percent, not seasonally adjusted, compared with 9.7 per- cent a year earlier. In June, 128 metropolitan areas reported jobless rates of at least 10.0 percent, down from 145 areas a year earlier, while 60 areas posted rates below 7.0 percent, up from 54 areas in June 2009. El Centro, Calif., and Yuma, Ariz., again recorded the highest unemploy- ment rates, 27.6 and 26.4 percent, respectively. Among the 12 areas with jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent, 10 were located in Cali- fornia.