Unemployment rates were lower in January than a year earlier in 275 of the 367 metropolitan areas, higher in 86 areas, and unchanged in 6 areas, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Two areas registered jobless rates below 3.0 percent, while 10 areas--8 of which were located in California--recorded unemployment rates of at least 10.0 percent. The national unemployment rate was 5.7 percent, not seasonally adjusted.
Metropolitan Area Unemployment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
In January, 32 metropolitan areas reported unemployment rates below 4.0 percent, up from 18 areas a year earlier, while 79 areas had rates of at least 7.0 percent, down from 92 areas in January 2004. Honolulu, Hawaii, and Harrisonburg, Va., recorded the lowest unemployment rates, 2.8 and 2.9 percent, respectively. The highest January unemployment rates were posted in seven California areas with large agricultural sectors: El Centro, 15.9 percent; Visalia-Porterville, 12.9 percent; Merced, 12.7 percent; Hanford- Corcoran, 12.3 percent; Salinas, 11.9 percent; Fresno, 11.6 percent; and Yuba City, 11.4 percent. Overall, 186 areas recorded unemployment rates below the U.S. rate, 165 areas had higher rates, and 16 areas had the same rate.Monroe, La., experienced the largest over-the-year jobless rate decrease in January (-4.4 percentage points), followed by Ocean City, N.J. (-3.4 points). Two areas in Washington--Longview and Yakima--reported the next largest decreases (-2.1 percentage points each). Seventy-two additional areas posted rate decreases of at least 1.0 percentage point. Janesville, Wis., had the largest unemployment rate increase from January 2004 (+2.9 percentage points), followed by Sumter, S.C. (+2.5 points). Thirteen additional areas had over-the-year rate increases of 1.0 percentage point or more.
Of the 49 metropolitan areas with a Census 2000 population of 1 million or more, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, D.C.-Va.-Md.-W.Va., recorded the lowest unemployment rate, 3.7 percent, followed by Richmond, Va., 3.9 percent, and Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz., 4.0 percent. The highest unemployment rates among the large areas were reported in Detroit-Warren- Livonia, Mich., 7.9 percent, and Memphis, Tenn.-Miss.-Ark., 7.3 percent. Ten other large areas had rates of at least 6.0 percent. Thirty-six large areas recorded lower jobless rates than in January 2004, 11 posted higher rates, and 2 had no change. New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa., and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif., registered the largest over-the-year jobless rate decreases (-1.7 percentage points each), followed closely by Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, Ore.-Wash. (-1.6 points). Nine additional areas experienced jobless rate declines of at least 1.0 percentage point. Memphis, Tenn.-Miss.-Ark., and New Orleans-Metairie- Kenner, La., posted the largest rate increases from a year ago (+1.0 percentage point each). St. Louis, Mo.-Ill., and Detroit-Warren-Livonia, Mich., had the next largest increases (+0.7 and +0.6 percentage point, respectively).
