Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment Summary

For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Wednesday, September 30, 2026                              USDL-26-1548

Technical information:
 Employment:    (202) 691-6559  *  sminfo@bls.gov    *  www.bls.gov/sae 
 Unemployment:  (202) 691-6392  *  lausinfo@bls.gov  *  www.bls.gov/lau 

Media contact:  (202) 691-5902  *  PressOffice@bls.gov


                 METROPOLITAN AREA EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT - AUGUST 2026


Unemployment rates were lower in August than a year earlier in 234 of the 387 metropolitan
areas, higher in 126 areas, and unchanged in 27 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
reported today. A total of 27 areas had jobless rates of less than 3.0 percent, and 6 areas
had rates of at least 8.0 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 9
metropolitan areas, decreased in 5 areas, and was essentially unchanged in 373 areas. The
national unemployment rate in August was 4.3 percent, not seasonally adjusted, little changed
from a year earlier.

This news release presents statistics from two monthly programs. The civilian labor force and
unemployment data are based on the same concepts and definitions as those used for the
national household survey estimates. These data pertain to people by where they reside. The
employment data are from an establishment survey that measures nonfarm employment, hours, and
earnings by industry. These data pertain to jobs on payrolls defined by where the
establishments are located. For more information about the concepts and statistical
methodologies used by these two programs, see the Technical Note.

Metropolitan Area Unemployment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

In August, Cleveland, OH, had the lowest unemployment rate, 1.8 percent, followed by Bismarck,
ND, 2.0 percent. El Centro, CA, had the highest rate, 21.9 percent, followed by Yuma, AZ, 19.0
percent. A total of 230 areas had August jobless rates below the U.S. rate of 4.3 percent, 142
areas had rates above it, and 15 areas had rates equal to that of the nation. (See table 1.)

The largest over-the-year unemployment rate decreases in August occurred in Cleveland, OH, and
Kokomo, IN (-1.8 percentage points each). Thirty-seven other areas had rate decreases of at
least 1.0 percentage point. Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ, had the largest over-the-year rate
increase in August (+1.5 percentage points). Four other areas had rate increases of at least
1.0 percentage point.

Of the 56 metropolitan areas with a 2020 Census population of 1 million or more, Cleveland,
OH, had the lowest jobless rate in August, 1.8 percent. Fresno, CA, had the highest rate, 7.8
percent. Twenty-eight large areas had over-the-year unemployment rate decreases, 24 had
increases, and 4 had no change. The largest rate decline occurred in Cleveland, OH (-1.8
percentage points). The largest jobless rate increase occurred in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
(+1.0 percentage point). 

Metropolitan Division Unemployment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

Thirteen of the most populous metropolitan areas are made up of 37 metropolitan divisions,
which are essentially separately identifiable employment centers. In August, Miami-Miami
Beach-Kendall, FL, had the lowest division unemployment rate, 2.7 percent, followed by
Rockingham County-Strafford County, NH, 2.8 percent. Detroit-Dearborn-Livonia, MI, had the
highest rate among the divisions, 6.9 percent. (See table 2.)

In August, 24 metropolitan divisions had over-the-year unemployment rate decreases, 10 had
increases, and 3 had no change. The largest decline occurred in Los Angeles-Long Beach-
Glendale, CA (-1.3 percentage points). The largest unemployment rate increases from August
2025 occurred in Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg, IL, and Detroit-Dearborn-Livonia, MI (+1.1
percentage points each).

Metropolitan Area Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

In August 2026, nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 9 metropolitan areas,
decreased in 5 areas, and was essentially unchanged in 373 areas. The largest over-the-year
employment increases occurred in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX (+44,700), Minneapolis-St.
Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI (+27,800), and Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC (+21,400). The
largest over-the-year percentage gains in employment occurred in Baton Rouge, LA, and Myrtle
Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC (+3.2 percent each), followed by Salt Lake City-Murray, UT
(+2.5 percent). The largest over-the-year decreases in employment occurred in Washington-
Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (-66,000), Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (-18,800),
and Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ (-5,800). The largest over-the-year percentage decline in
employment occurred in Bloomington, IN (-5.9 percent), followed by Flagstaff, AZ (-3.6
percent), and Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ (-3.1 percent). (See table 3.)

Over the year, nonfarm employment increased in 6 metropolitan areas with a 2020 Census
population of 1 million or more, decreased in 2 areas, and was essentially unchanged in 48
areas. The largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment occurred in Salt Lake City-
Murray, UT (+2.5 percent), followed by Raleigh-Cary, NC (+2.2 percent), and San Jose-
Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (+1.6 percent). Over the year, employment decreased in Washington-
Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (-2.0 percent), and Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
(-1.5 percent). 

Metropolitan Division Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

In August, nonfarm payroll employment decreased in 1 metropolitan division and was essentially
unchanged in 36 divisions. The only over-the-year decrease in employment occurred in Washington,
DC-MD (-35,500, or -3.2 percent). (See table 4.)

_____________
The State Employment and Unemployment news release for September 2026 is scheduled to be
published on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. (ET). The Metropolitan Area Employment
and Unemployment news release for September 2026 is scheduled to be published on Wednesday,
October 28, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).