Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment Summary

For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Wednesday, July 1, 2026                                    USDL-26-1124

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 2026


Unemployment rates were lower in May than a year earlier in 191 of the 387 metropolitan areas,
higher in 164 areas, and unchanged in 32 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported
today. A total of 47 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 8 metropolitan
areas, decreased in 4 areas, and was essentially unchanged in 375 areas. The national
unemployment rate in May was 4.1 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 May, Bismarck, ND, and Sioux Falls, SD-MN, had the lowest unemployment rates, 1.8 percent
each. El Centro, CA, had the highest rate, 16.9 percent. A total of 231 areas had May jobless
rates below the U.S. rate of 4.1 percent, 139 areas had rates above it, and 17 areas had rates
equal to that of the nation. (See table 1.)

The largest over-the-year unemployment rate decrease in May occurred in Mansfield, OH (-1.8
percentage points), followed by Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH; Sandusky, OH; and
Springfield, OH (-1.7 points each). Sixteen other areas had rate decreases of at least 1.0
percentage point. Yuma, AZ, had the largest over-the-year rate increase in May (+1.8
percentage points), followed by Wildwood-The Villages, FL (+1.7 points). Twenty-six 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 May, 2.4 percent. Fresno, CA, had the highest
rate, 7.4 percent. Twenty-nine large areas had over-the-year unemployment rate increases, 24
had decreases, and 3 had no change. The largest rate increase occurred in Tulsa, OK (+1.4
percentage points). The largest jobless rate decline occurred in Columbus, OH (-1.5 percentage
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 May, Miami-Miami Beach-
Kendall, FL, and Rockingham County-Strafford County, NH, had the lowest division unemployment
rates, 2.6 percent and 2.7 percent, respectively. Detroit-Dearborn-Livonia, MI, had the
highest rate among the divisions, 6.4 percent. (See table 2.)

In May, 19 metropolitan divisions had over-the-year unemployment rate increases, 16 had
decreases, and 2 had no change. The largest increase occurred in Fort Lauderdale-Pompano
Beach-Sunrise, FL (+1.1 percentage points), followed by Tampa, FL (+1.0 point). The largest
unemployment rate decline from May 2025 occurred in Camden, NJ (-0.9 percentage point).

Metropolitan Area Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

In May 2026, nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 8 metropolitan areas,
decreased in 4 areas, and was essentially unchanged in 375 areas. The largest over-the-year
employment increases occurred in Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV (+24,500), Salt Lake
City-Murray, UT (+17,800), and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (+17,600). The largest over-
the-year percentage gains in employment occurred in Athens-Clarke County, GA (+3.0 percent),
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR (+2.5 percent), and Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC, and
Raleigh-Cary, NC (+2.2 percent each). The over-the-year decreases in employment occurred in
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (-100,500, or -3.0 percent), Portland-Vancouver-
Hillsboro, OR-WA (-35,000, or -2.8 percent), Bloomington, IN (-5,500, or -6.6 percent), and
Ames, IA (-2,600, or -4.0 percent). (See table 3.)

Over the year, nonfarm employment increased in 5 metropolitan areas with a 2020 Census
population of 1 million or more, decreased in 2 areas, and was essentially unchanged in 49
areas. The largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment occurred in Raleigh-Cary,
NC (+2.2 percent), followed by Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV, and Salt Lake City-
Murray, UT (+2.1 percent each). Over the year, employment decreased in Washington-Arlington-
Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (-3.0 percent), and Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (-2.8 percent). 

Metropolitan Division Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

In May, nonfarm payroll employment decreased over the year in 3 metropolitan divisions and was
essentially unchanged in 34 divisions. The over-the-year decreases in employment occurred in
Washington, DC-MD (-54,900, or -4.8 percent), Arlington-Alexandria-Reston, VA-WV (-29,100, or
-1.8 percent), and Frederick-Gaithersburg-Bethesda, MD (-16,500, or -2.7 percent).
(See table 4.)

_____________
The State Employment and Unemployment news release for June 2026 is scheduled to be published
on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. (ET). The Metropolitan Area Employment and 
Unemployment news release for June 2026 is scheduled to be published on Wednesday, July 29,
2026, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).