According to the October 3rd, Wednesday, 10:00 A.M. release by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate was lower in 325 of 372 metropolitan areas compared to August 1 year ago.
The Bureau also reported that the rates were higher in 40 areas and unchanged in 7 areas. Surprisingly, 5 areas reported jobless rates of at least 15%. 20 areas reported rates of less than 5%. The bureau further reported that two hundred seventy four metropolitan areas reported over the year increases in non farm payroll employment, 92 reported decreases, and 6 had no change.
The national unemployment rate in August was 8.2%, which was not seasonally adjusted, down from 9.1% a year earlier. Who was tops in unemployment?
El Centro California and Yuma Arizona reported the highest unemployment rates in August at at 29.9% each. Bizmark, N.D. registered the lowest unemployment rate at 2.6%.