Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment Summary

For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Wednesday, September 2, 2026                                 USDL-26-1433

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 - JULY 2026


Unemployment rates were lower in July than a year earlier in 241 of the 387 metropolitan areas, 
higher in 128 areas, and unchanged in 18 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 
today. A total of 22 areas had jobless rates of less than 3.0 percent, and 7 areas had rates 
of at least 8.0 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 19 metropolitan 
areas, decreased in 4 areas, and was essentially unchanged in 364 areas. The national unemployment 
rate in July was 4.4 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 July, Bismarck, ND, Rapid City, SD, and Sioux Falls, SD-MN, had the lowest unemployment rates, 
1.9 percent each. El Centro, CA, had the highest rate, 19.7 percent, followed by Yuma, AZ, 18.9 
percent. A total of 239 areas had July jobless rates below the U.S. rate of 4.4 percent, 134 areas 
had rates above it, and 14 areas had rates equal to that of the nation. (See table 1.)

The largest over-the-year unemployment rate decrease in July occurred in Dalton, GA (-2.3 
percentage points), followed by Kokomo, IN, Toledo, OH, and Vineland, NJ (-2.2 points each). 
Forty-three other areas had rate decreases of at least 1.0 percentage point. Yuma, AZ, had the 
largest over-the-year rate increase in July (+2.1 percentage points). Twelve 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, Urban Honolulu, 
HI, had the lowest jobless rate in July, 2.8 percent. Fresno, CA, had the highest rate, 7.7 
percent. Thirty large areas had over-the-year unemployment rate decreases, 25 had increases, and 1 
had no change. The largest rate declines occurred in Columbus, OH (-1.3 percentage points), and 
Cleveland, OH (-1.2 points). The largest jobless rate increases occurred in Hartford-West 
Hartford-East Hartford, CT (+1.4 percentage points), and Tulsa, OK (+1.3 points). 

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 July, Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL, 
had the lowest division unemployment rate, 2.5 percent. Detroit-Dearborn-Livonia, MI, had the 
highest rate among the divisions, 7.3 percent. (See table 2.)

In July, 22 metropolitan divisions had over-the-year unemployment rate decreases, 14 had increases, 
and 1 had no change. The largest decline occurred in Newark, NJ (-1.4 percentage points). The 
largest unemployment rate increases from July 2025 occurred in Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-
Sunrise, FL, and West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Delray Beach, FL (+0.7 percentage point each).

Metropolitan Area Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

In July 2026, nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 19 metropolitan areas, 
decreased in 4 areas, and was essentially unchanged in 364 areas. The largest over-the-year 
employment increases occurred in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ (+96,000), Dallas-Fort 
Worth-Arlington, TX (+54,000), and Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX (+50,300). The largest 
over-the-year percentage gains in employment occurred in Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle 
Beach, SC (+4.2 percent), Baton Rouge, LA (+3.7 percent), and Athens-Clarke County, GA 
(+3.6 percent). The over-the-year decreases in employment occurred in Washington-Arlington-
Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (-73,200, or -2.2 percent), Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
(-17,800, or -1.4 percent), Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ (-7,800, or -4.1 percent), and
Flagstaff, AZ (-2,800, or -3.9 percent). (See table 3.)

Over the year, nonfarm employment increased in 10 metropolitan areas with a 2020 Census population 
of 1 million or more, decreased in 2 areas, and was essentially unchanged in 44 areas. The largest 
over-the-year percentage increase in employment occurred in Salt Lake City-Murray, UT (+3.2 
percent), followed by Fresno, CA (+2.5 percent), and Raleigh-Cary, NC (+2.1 percent). Over the 
year, employment decreased in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (-2.2 percent), and 
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (-1.4 percent). 

Metropolitan Division Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

In July, nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 1 metropolitan division, decreased 
in 1 division, and was essentially unchanged in 35 divisions. The only over-the-year increase in 
employment occurred in New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ (+87,600, or +1.4 percent). The 
only over-the-year decrease in employment occurred in Washington, DC-MD (-44,000, or -3.8 percent). 
(See table 4.)

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The State Employment and Unemployment news release for August 2026 is scheduled to be published on 
Friday, September 18, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. (ET). The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment 
news release for August 2026 is scheduled to be published on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 
10:00 a.m. (ET).