Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—May 1, 2013. Unemployment rates were lower in March than a year earlier in 306 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 44 areas, and unchanged in 22 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Seven areas had jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent, and 33 areas had rates of less than 5.0 percent. Two hundred eighty-seven metropolitan areas had over-the-year increases in nonfarm payroll employment, 80 had decreases, and 5 had no change. The national unemployment rate in March was 7.6 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 8.4 percent a year earlier.

Metropolitan Area Unemployment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

In March, 44 metropolitan areas had jobless rates of at least 10.0 percent, down from 63 areas a year earlier, while 157 areas had rates below 7.0 percent, up from 113 areas in March 2012. Yuma, Ariz., and El Centro, Calif., had the highest unemployment rates in March 2013, at 26.0 percent and 23.7 percent, respectively. Midland, Texas, had the lowest unemployment rate, 3.1 percent. A total of 202 areas had March unemployment rates below the U.S. figure of 7.6 percent, 166 areas had rates above it, and 4 areas had rates equal to that of the nation. (See table 1.)

Yuba City, Calif., had the largest over-the-year unemployment rate decrease in March (-2.9 percentage points). Twenty-six other areas had rate declines of at least 2.0 percentage points, and an additional 70 areas had declines of at least 1.0 point. Yuma, Ariz., had the largest over-the-year jobless rate increase (+3.3 percentage points). The next largest increase was in Decatur, Ill. (+1.4 percentage points).

Of the 49 metropolitan areas with a Census 2000 population of 1 million or more, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif., had the highest unemployment rate in March, 10.5 percent. Oklahoma City, Okla., had the lowest jobless rate among the large areas, 4.6 percent. Forty-five of the large areas had over-the-year unemployment rate decreases, while three areas had increases and one had no change.

The largest unemployment rate declines occurred in three Florida areas: Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater (-2.2 percentage points), Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford (-2.1 points), and Jacksonville (-2.0 points). Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, Ill.-Ind.-Wis., had the largest over-the-year jobless rate increase in a large area (+0.5 percentage point).

Metropolitan Division Unemployment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

Eleven of the most populous metropolitan areas are made up of 34 metropolitan divisions, which are essentially separately identifiable employment centers. In March 2013, Lawrence-Methuen-Salem, Mass.-N.H., had the highest jobless rate among the divisions, 11.2 percent. Bethesda-Rockville-Frederick, Md., had the lowest division rate, 5.1 percent. (See table 2.)

Twenty-seven of the metropolitan divisions had over-the-year jobless rate decreases in March, while six had increases and one had no change. Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Wash., had the largest rate decline from a year earlier (-2.2 percentage points). Six other divisions had rate decreases of 1.0 percentage point or more. Gary, Ind., had the largest unemployment rate increase from a year earlier (+1.0 percentage point).

Metropolitan Area Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

In March, 287 metropolitan areas had over-the-year increases in nonfarm payroll employment, 80 had decreases, and 5 had no change. The largest over-the-year employment increases occurred in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif. (+116,000), New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa. (+106,800), Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Texas (+102,300), and Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas (+101,000).

The largest over-the-year percentage gain in employment occurred in Odessa, Texas (+7.7 percent), followed by Midland, Texas (+7.4 percent), Provo-Orem, Utah (+5.7 percent), and Cleveland, Tenn., and Santa Cruz-Watsonville, Calif. (+5.6 percent each). (See table 3.)

The largest over-the-year decrease in employment occurred in Atlantic City-Hammonton, N.J. (-4,700), followed by Springfield, Mass.-Conn.(-3,600), and Shreveport-Bossier City, La. (-2,800). The largest over-the-year percentage decreases in employment occurred in Decatur, Ill. (-4.9 percent), and Atlantic City-Hammonton, N.J. (-3.5 percent).

Over the year, nonfarm employment rose in 36 of the 37 metropolitan areas with annual average employment levels above 750,000 in 2012. The largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment in these large metropolitan areas occurred in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, Texas (+4.0 percent), followed by Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Texas (+3.8 percent), and Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas (+3.4 percent).

Metropolitan Division Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

Nonfarm payroll employment data were available in March 2013 for 32 metropolitan divisions, which are essentially separately identifiable employment centers within a metropolitan area. Twenty-nine of the 32 metropolitan divisions had over-the-year employment gains and 3 had losses. The largest over-the-year increase in employment within the metropolitan divisions occurred in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, Calif. (+82,600), followed by Dallas-Plano-Irving, Texas (+69,500), and New York-White Plains-Wayne, N.Y.-N.J. (+65,500). The largest over-the-year decreases in employment within the metropolitan divisions occurred in Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn, Mich. (-4,700), and Lake County-Kenosha County, Ill.-Wis. (-2,800). (See table 4.)

The largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment among the metropolitan divisions occurred in Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas (+3.6 percent), followed by San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, Calif. (+3.4 percent), and Dallas-Plano-Irving, Texas (+3.3 percent). The largest over-the-year percentage decreases in employment occurred in Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn, Mich., and Lake County-Kenosha County, Ill.-Wis. (-0.7 percent each).

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The Regional and State Employment and Unemployment news release for April is scheduled to be released on Friday, May 17, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment news release for April is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, May 29, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).

• Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment Technical Note
• Table 1. Civilian labor force and unemployment by state and metropolitan area
• Table 2. Civilian labor force and unemployment by state, selected metropolitan area, and metropolitan division (1)
• Table 3. Employees on nonfarm payrolls by state and metropolitan area
• Table 4. Employees on nonfarm payrolls by state, selected metropolitan area, and metropolitan division

Source: bls.gov