Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2016-11-30

Unemployment rates were lower in October than a year earlier in 231 of the 387 metropolitan areas, higher in 127 areas, and unchanged in 29 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Thirty areas had jobless rates of less than 3.0 percent and three areas had rates of at least 10.0 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 311 metropolitan areas, decreased in 68 areas, and was unchanged in 8 areas. The national unemployment rate in October was 4.7 percent, not seasonally adjusted, and was little different from that of October 2015. In October, the lowest unemployment rate was in Fargo, N.D.-Minn., 1.8 percent. El Centro, Calif., and Yuma, Ariz., had the highest unemployment rates, 22.0 percent and 19.4 percent, respectively. A total of 198 areas had October jobless rates below the U.S.