Interesting report - my take is very slow if any job creation
In May, 124 metropolitan areas reported jobless rates of at least 10.0 percent, up from 107 areas a year earlier, while 70 areas posted rates below 7.0 percent, down from 91 areas in May 2009.
El Centro,Calif., and Yuma, Ariz., again recorded the highest unemployment rates, 27.5 and 27.2 percent, respectively. Among the 13 areas with jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent, 11 were located in California.
Bismarck, N.D., registered the lowest unemployment rate in May, 3.1 percent, followed by Fargo, N.D.- Minn., 3.5 percent, and Grand Forks, N.D.-Minn., 3.8 percent.
Overall, 149 areas recorded unemployment rates above the U.S. figure of 9.3 percent, 218 areas reported rates below it, and 5 areas had rates equal to that of the nation. (See table 1 and the map.)
Yuma, Ariz., and Las Vegas-Paradise, Nev., registered the largest over-the-year jobless rate increases in May (+2.9 and +2.8 percentage points, respectively). The areas with the next largest rate increases were Yuba City, Calif. (+2.6 percentage points), and Carson City, Nev. (+2.5 points).
Seven other areas reported rate increases of 2.0 percentage points or more. Two Indiana areas posted the largest over-theyear unemployment rate decreases: Kokomo (-6.6 percentage points) and Elkhart-Goshen (-4.8 points).
Four additional areas reported rate decreases of at least 2.0 percentage points.
bls.gov |
