Metropolitan Area Employment And Unemployment: June 2007 — 2007-08-01

Unemployment rates were lower in June than a year earlier in 186 of the 369 metropolitan areas, higher in 149 areas, and unchanged in 34 areas, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Nineteen metropolitan areas registered jobless rates below 3.0 percent while two areas recorded jobless rates of at least 10.0 percent. The national un- employment rate in June was 4.7 percent, not seasonally adjusted. In June, 98 metropolitan areas recorded unemployment rates below 4.0 per- cent, up from 83 areas a year earlier, while 22 areas had rates of at least 7.0 percent, down from 26 areas in June 2006. Idaho Falls, Idaho, again reported the lowest jobless rate, 1.8 percent, followed by Billings, Mont., and Boise City-Nampa, Idaho, at 2.1 percent each.