August jobless rates down over the year in 242 of 387 metro areas; payroll jobs up in 320

[mahatmakanejeeves]

August jobless rates down over the year in 242 of 387 metro areas; payroll jobs up in 320

Economic News Release USDL-16-1920

Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment Summary

For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Technical information:
Employment: [phone] * [e-mail] * www.bls.gov/sae
Unemployment: [phone] * [e-mail] * www.bls.gov/lau

Media contact: [phone] * [e-mail]


METROPOLITAN AREA EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT -- AUGUST 2016


Unemployment rates were lower in August than a year earlier in 242 of the 387 metropolitan areas, higher in 123 areas, and unchanged in 22 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Fourteen 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 320 metropolitan areas, decreased in 59 areas, and was unchanged in 8 areas. The national unemployment rate in August was 5.0 percent, not seasonally adjusted, and was little different from that of August 2015.

Metropolitan Area Unemployment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

In August, the lowest unemployment rate was in Sioux Falls, S.D., 2.1 percent. Yuma, Ariz., and El Centro, Calif., had the highest unemployment rates, 24.6 percent and 23.8 percent, respectively. A total of 190 areas had August jobless rates below the U.S. rate of 5.0 percent, 182 areas had rates above it, and 15 areas had rates equal to that of the nation. (See table 1.)

El Centro, Calif., had the largest over-the-year unemployment rate decrease in August (-3.1 percentage points). Twenty-seven other areas had rate declines of at least 1.0 percentage point. The largest over-the-year rate increase occurred in Casper, Wyo. (+2.0 percentage points).

Of the 51 metropolitan areas with a 2010 Census population of 1 million or more, Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colo., and Salt Lake City, Utah, had the lowest unemployment rates in August, 3.2 percent each. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif., had the highest rate among the large areas, 6.6 percent. Thirty-four large areas had over-the-year unemployment rate decreases, 12 had increases, and 5 had no change. The largest rate decrease occurred in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, Calif. (-1.1 percentage points). The largest over-the-year rate increases occurred in Cleveland-Elyria, Ohio, and Pittsburgh, Pa. (+1.0 percentage point each).

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[LonePirate]

1. 2016 should've been a landslide for us with 6.6% being the highest rate in the 51 metro areas of 1M+

The fact that things are so close year suggests we have a problem somewhere with public perception, race dynamics, or data. This year simply defies all conventional wisdom.