Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment Summary

For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Wednesday, July 3, 2024 	                          USDL-24-1269

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 -- MAY 2024


Unemployment rates were higher in May than a year earlier in 269 of the 389 metropolitan
areas, lower in 83 areas, and unchanged in 37 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 
reported today. A total of 91 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 44
metropolitan areas, decreased in 1 area, and was essentially unchanged in 344 areas. The
national unemployment rate in May was 3.7 percent, not seasonally adjusted, up from 3.4 
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 May, Burlington-South Burlington, VT, and Sioux Falls, SD, had the lowest unemployment
rates, 1.7 percent each. The next lowest rate was in Portsmouth, NH-ME, 1.8 percent. El
Centro, CA, had the highest rate, 15.4 percent. A total of 212 areas had May jobless rates
below the U.S. rate of 3.7 percent, 162 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 increase in May occurred in Weirton-Steubenville,
WV-OH (+1.9 percentage points). Twenty-seven other areas had rate increases of at least 1.0
percentage point. Yuma, AZ, had the largest over-the-year rate decrease in May (-1.4 
percentage points).

Of the 51 metropolitan areas with a 2010 Census population of 1 million or more, Birmingham-
Hoover, AL, had the lowest jobless rate in May, 2.2 percent. Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV,
had the highest rate, 5.6 percent. Thirty-nine large areas had over-the-year unemployment rate
increases, nine had decreases, and three had no change. The largest rate increase was in
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA (+1.6 percentage points). The largest jobless rate decline occurred
in Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ (-0.5 percentage point).

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 May, Silver Spring-Frederick-
Rockville, MD, had the lowest division unemployment rate, 2.1 percent. Detroit-Dearborn-
Livonia, MI, and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA, had the highest rates among the 
divisions, 5.2 percent each. (See table 2.)

In May, 35 metropolitan divisions had over-the-year unemployment rate increases, 1 had a 
decrease, and 2 had no change. The largest rate increases occurred in Detroit-Dearborn-
Livonia, MI, and Tacoma-Lakewood, WA (+1.2 percentage points each). The only decline relative
to May 2023 was marginal (-0.1 percentage point in Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX). 

Metropolitan Area Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

In May, nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 44 metropolitan areas, decreased
in 1 area, and was essentially unchanged in 344 areas. The largest over-the-year employment
increases occurred in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA (+144,400), Houston-The Woodlands-
Sugar Land, TX (+81,700), and Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX (+68,000). The largest over-the-
year percentage gains in employment occurred in State College, PA (+11.5 percent), Madera, CA
(+5.4 percent), and Charleston-North Charleston, SC (+4.5 percent). The over-the-year decrease
occurred in Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI (-5,200, or -6.8 percent). (See table 3.)

Over the year, nonfarm employment increased in 21 metropolitan areas with a 2010 Census 
population of 1 million or more and was essentially unchanged in 30 areas. The largest over-
the-year percentage increase in employment in these large metropolitan areas occurred in Las
Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV (+4.0 percent), followed by Oklahoma City, OK, and San Antonio-
New Braunfels, TX (+2.6 percent each).

Metropolitan Division Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

In May, nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 6 metropolitan divisions and was
essentially unchanged in 32 divisions. The largest over-the-year increases in employment among
the metropolitan divisions occurred in New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ (+101,200),
Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX (+47,400), and Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL (+33,800). (See table 4.)

The largest over-the-year percentage increases in employment occurred in Camden, NJ, and
Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL (+2.6 percent each), followed by Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-
Deerfield Beach, FL (+2.3 percent).

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The State Employment and Unemployment news release for June is scheduled to be released on
Friday, July 19, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (ET). The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment
news release for June is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).