Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment Summary

For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Wednesday, November 27, 2024 	                       USDL-24-2418

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 -- OCTOBER 2024


Unemployment rates were higher in October than a year earlier in 272 of the 389 metropolitan 
areas, lower in 98 areas, and unchanged in 19 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 
reported today. A total of 80 areas had jobless rates of less than 3.0 percent and 5 areas 
had rates of at least 8.0 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 32 
metropolitan areas, decreased in 1 area, and was essentially unchanged in 356 areas. The 
national unemployment rate in October was 3.9 percent, not seasonally adjusted, up from 
3.6 percent 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 individuals 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 October, Sioux Falls, SD, had the lowest unemployment rate, 1.5 percent. The next lowest 
rates were in Rapid City, SD, 1.6 percent, and Burlington-South Burlington, VT, 1.7 percent. 
El Centro, CA, had the highest rate, 19.6 percent. A total of 224 areas had October jobless 
rates below the U.S. rate of 3.9 percent, 149 areas had rates above it, and 16 areas had 
rates equal to that of the nation. (See table 1.)

  ____________________________________________________________________________________________ 
 | 											      |
 |                              Hurricanes and Strike Activity 				      |
 |  											      |
 | October data from the household and establishment surveys are the first collected since    |
 | Hurricanes Helene and Milton struck the United States. These hurricanes caused severe      |
 | damage in the southeast portion of the country. Also, strike activity in the manufacturing |
 | industry kept a substantial number of workers off payrolls during the establishment survey |
 | reference period. See the note at the end of this news release for more information.	      |
 |____________________________________________________________________________________________|
 
 
The largest over-the-year unemployment rate increases in October occurred in Asheville, NC, 
and Kokomo, IN (+4.4 percentage points each). Twenty-nine other areas had rate increases of 
at least 1.0 percentage point. Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI, had the largest over-the-year 
rate decrease in October (-4.0 percentage points). Seven other areas had rate declines of 
at least 1.0 percentage point.

Of the 51 metropolitan areas with a 2010 Census population of 1 million or more, Hartford-West 
Hartford-East Hartford, CT, had the lowest jobless rate in October, 2.4 percent. Las Vegas-
Henderson-Paradise, NV, had the highest rate, 5.8 percent. Forty large areas had over-the-year 
unemployment rate increases and 11 had decreases. The largest rate increase occurred in Denver-
Aurora-Lakewood, CO (+1.3 percentage points). The largest jobless rate decline occurred in 
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT (-1.5 percentage points).
 
Metropolitan Division Unemployment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
 
Eleven of the most populous metropolitan areas are made up of 38 metropolitan divisions, which 
are essentially separately identifiable employment centers. In October, Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall,
FL, had the lowest division unemployment rate, 2.2 percent. Detroit-Dearborn-Livonia, MI, had the
highest rate among the divisions, 6.2 percent, followed closely by Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale,
CA, 6.1 percent. (See table 2.)
 
In October, 28 metropolitan divisions had over-the-year unemployment rate increases, 8 had 
decreases, and 2 had no change. The largest increases occurred in Chicago-Naperville-Arlington 
Heights, IL, and Detroit-Dearborn-Livonia, MI (+1.2 percentage points each). The largest 
unemployment rate decline from October 2023 occurred in Nassau County-Suffolk County, NY 
(-0.5 percentage point).
 
Metropolitan Area Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
 
In October 2024, nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 32 metropolitan areas, decreased 
in 1, and was essentially unchanged in 356 areas. The largest over-the-year employment increases 
occurred in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA (+132,700), Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 
(+74,800), and Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX (+60,200). The largest over-the-year percentage
gains in employment occurred in Rochester, MN (+5.5 percent), and Stockton-Lodi, CA (+3.9 percent), 
followed by Boise City, ID, and Burlington-South Burlington, VT (+3.8 percent each). Employment 
decreased over the year in Asheville, NC (-6,300, or -3.0 percent). (See table 3.)
 
Over the year, nonfarm employment increased in 17 metropolitan areas with a 2010 Census population of 
1 million or more and was essentially unchanged in 34 areas. The largest over-the-year percentage 
increases in employment in these large metropolitan areas occurred in Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, 
IN, and San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX (+2.3 percent each), followed by Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, 
NC-SC, and Richmond, VA (+2.2 percent each).
 
Metropolitan Division Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
 
In October, nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 3 metropolitan divisions and was 
essentially unchanged in 35 divisions. The over-the-year increases in employment among the metropolitan 
divisions occurred in New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ (+101,000, or +1.4 percent), Dallas-
Plano-Irving, TX (+53,800, or +1.8 percent), and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA (+45,900, or
+1.0 percent). (See table 4.)
 
_____________
The State Employment and Unemployment news release for November 2024 is scheduled to be released on 
Friday, December 20, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (ET). The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment news 
release for November 2024 is scheduled to be released on Friday, January 3, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).


  ____________________________________________________________________________________________ 
 | 											      |
 |                              Hurricanes and Strike Activity  		              |
 |											      |
 | Hurricane Helene made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast on September 26, 2024, and then     |
 | tracked north into several other states. This was before the October reference periods     |
 | for both the household and establishment surveys.					      |
 |											      |
 | Hurricane Milton struck Florida on October 9, 2024, during the reference periods for both  |
 | surveys. Prior to the storm’s landfall, there were large-scale evacuations of Florida      |
 | residents. 										      |
 |											      |
 | In October, the household survey was conducted largely according to standard procedures,   |
 | and response rates were within normal ranges for the affected states. 		      |
 |											      |
 | The initial establishment survey collection rate for October was well below average.       |
 | However, collection rates were similar in storm-affected areas and unaffected areas.       |
 | A larger influence on the October collection rate for establishment data was the timing    |
 | and length of the collection period. This period, which can range from 10 to 16 days,      |
 | lasted 10 days in October and was completed several days before the end of the month.      |
 |											      |
 | No changes were made to either the establishment or household survey estimation procedures |
 | for the October data. It is likely that payroll employment estimates in some states and    |
 | areas were affected by the hurricanes; however, it is not possible to quantify the net     |
 | effect on the over-the-month change in employment, hours, or earnings estimates because    |
 | the establishment survey is not designed to isolate effects from extreme weather events.   |
 |											      |
 | For information on how unusually severe weather can affect employment and hours estimates, |
 | see question 8 in the Frequently Asked Questions section of the Employment Situation news  |
 | release at www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.faq.htm.					      |
 |											      |
 | New strike activity in the manufacturing sector began in September. It is likely that      |
 | October payroll employment estimates in some states and areas were affected by the strike  |
 | activity; however, it is not possible to quantify the net effect on the over-the-month     |
 | change in employment, hours, or earnings estimates. The Current Employment Statistics      |
 | (CES) survey is not designed to isolate effects from strikes.	                      |
 | 											      |
 | For more information on current strike activity, see the CES Strike Report at	      |
 | www.bls.gov/ces/publications/strike-report.htm.					      |
 |____________________________________________________________________________________________|