For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Wednesday, May 29, 2019	            USDL-19-0885

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 -- APRIL 2019


Unemployment rates were lower in April than a year earlier in 306 of the 389
metropolitan areas, higher in 57 areas, and unchanged in 26 areas, the U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. A total of 149 areas had jobless
rates of less than 3.0 percent and 2 areas had rates of at least 10.0 percent.
Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 46 metropolitan areas
and was essentially unchanged in 343 areas. The national unemployment rate
in April was 3.3 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 3.7 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 come
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 April, Ames, IA, had the lowest unemployment rate, 1.3 percent. The next
lowest rates were in Burlington-South Burlington, VT, and Iowa City, IA,
1.5 percent each, and Midland, TX, 1.7 percent. El Centro, CA, and Yuma, AZ,
had the highest unemployment rates, 16.2 percent and 14.3 percent,
respectively. A total of 204 areas had April jobless rates below the U.S.
rate of 3.3 percent, 167 areas had rates above it, and 18 areas had rates
equal to that of the nation. (See table 1.)

Ocean City, NJ, had the largest over-the-year unemployment rate decrease in
April (-2.8 percentage points). An additional 36 areas had rate declines of
at least 1.0 percentage point. The largest over-the-year rate increase occurred
in Kokomo, IN (+3.4 percentage points).

Of the 51 metropolitan areas with a 2010 Census population of 1 million or
more, Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN, had the lowest unemployment
rate in April, 2.1 percent. Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI, had the highest
jobless rate among the large areas, 3.9 percent. Forty-five large areas had
over-the-year unemployment rate decreases, 4 had increases, and 2 had no change.
The largest rate decline occurred in Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV (-1.1
percentage points). No large area had an unemployment rate increase of
more than 0.4 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 April, San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco, CA, had the lowest
unemployment rate among the divisions, 2.0 percent. Takoma-Lakewood, WA, had
the highest division rate, 5.5 percent. (See table 2.)

In April, 31 metropolitan divisions had over-the-year unemployment rate decreases,
6 had increases, and 1 had no change. The largest rate declines occurred in
Camden, NJ, and Newark, NJ-PA (-1.0 percentage point each). The largest over-
the-year jobless rate increase occurred in Elgin, IL (+0.5 percentage point).

Metropolitan Area Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

In April, 46 metropolitan areas had over-the-year increases in nonfarm payroll
employment and 343 were essentially unchanged. The largest over-the-year
employment increases occurred in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA (+139,600),
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX (+115,600), and Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land,
TX (+86,200). The largest over-the-year percentage gains in employment occurred
in Ocean City, NJ (+8.5 percent), Reno, NV (+5.6 percent), and Gainesville, GA
(+5.2 percent). (See table 3.)

Over the year, nonfarm employment rose in 27 of the 51 metropolitan areas with
a 2010 Census population of 1 million or more, while employment was essentially
unchanged in 24 areas. The largest over-the-year percentage increases in
employment in these large metropolitan areas occurred in Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford,
FL (+3.5 percent), Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, and Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale,
AZ (+3.2 percent each), and Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX; Nashville-
Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN; and Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (+2.8
percent each).

Metropolitan Division Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

In April, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 13 of the 38 metropolitan
divisions over the year and was essentially unchanged in 25 divisions. The largest
over-the-year increase in employment among the metropolitan divisions occurred
in New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ (+120,600), followed by Dallas-
Plano-Irving, TX (+94,900), and Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL (+58,300).
(See table 4.)

The largest over-the-year percentage increases in employment occurred in Dallas-
Plano-Irving, TX, and San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco, CA (+3.7
percent each), followed by Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA (+2.9 percent), and
West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Delray Beach, FL (+2.8 percent).

_____________
The State Employment and Unemployment news release for May is scheduled to
be released on Friday, June 21, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). The Metropolitan
Area Employment and Unemployment news release for May is scheduled to be
released on Wednesday, July 3, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).