Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment Summary

For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Wednesday, April 29, 2026		                       USDL-26-0667

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 -- FEBRUARY 2026
                  
                  
Unemployment rates were higher in February than a year earlier in 236 of the 387 metropolitan 
areas, lower in 110 areas, and unchanged in 41 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported
today. A total of 10 areas had jobless rates of less than 3.0 percent and 13 areas had rates of at
least 8.0 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 8 metropolitan areas, 
decreased in 7 areas, and was essentially unchanged in 372 areas. The national unemployment rate in
February was 4.7 percent, not seasonally adjusted, up from 4.5 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 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 February, Urban Honolulu, HI, had the lowest unemployment rate, 2.2 percent. The next lowest 
rates were in Burlington-South Burlington, VT; Kahului-Wailuku, HI; and Rapid City, SD, 2.5 percent
each. El Centro, CA, had the highest rate, 17.6 percent. A total of 218 areas had February jobless
rates below the U.S. rate of 4.7 percent, 155 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 increase in February occurred in Wildwood-The Villages,
FL (+2.5 percentage points). Forty-eight other areas had rate increases of at least 1.0 percentage
point. Asheville, NC, had the largest over-the-year rate decrease in February (-2.4 percentage 
points). Eleven other areas had rate declines 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 February, 2.2 percent. Fresno, CA, had the highest rate, 9.1 
percent. Thirty-nine large areas had over-the-year unemployment rate increases, 12 had decreases, 
and 5 had no change. The largest rate increases occurred in Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, 
CT (+1.5 percentage points), and Jacksonville, FL (+1.4 points). The largest jobless rate decline 
occurred in Columbus, OH (-0.8 percentage point), followed by Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN, and Grand 
Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI (-0.7 point each).

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 February, Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall,
FL, had the lowest division unemployment rate, 2.8 percent. Detroit-Dearborn-Livonia, MI, had the
highest rate among the divisions, 6.7 percent. (See table 2.)

In February, 29 metropolitan divisions had over-the-year unemployment rate increases, 5 had 
decreases, and 3 had no change. The largest increases occurred in Tacoma-Lakewood, WA; Tampa, FL;
and West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Delray Beach, FL (+1.4 percentage points each). Six other divisions
had rate increases of at least 1.0 percentage point. The largest unemployment rate decline from 
February 2025 occurred in Lake County-Porter County-Jasper County, IN (-0.8 percentage point).

Metropolitan Area Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

In February 2026, nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 8 metropolitan areas, 
decreased in 7 areas, and was essentially unchanged in 372 areas. The largest over-the-year 
employment increases occurred in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (+17,400), Fresno, CA (+8,900),
and Stockton-Lodi, CA (+6,100). The largest over-the-year percentage gains in employment occurred 
in Barnstable Town, MA (+5.5 percent), Merced, CA (+3.9 percent), and Yuba City, CA (+3.8 percent).
The largest over-the-year employment decreases occurred in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, 
DC-VA-MD-WV (-119,000), Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (-30,200), and Boston-Cambridge-Newton,
MA-NH (-27,200). The largest over-the-year percentage decreases occurred in Yuma, AZ (-5.0 
percent), Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ (-4.6 percent), and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, 
DC-VA-MD-WV (-3.5 percent). (See table 3.)

Over the year, nonfarm employment decreased in 3 metropolitan areas with a 2020 Census population 
of 1 million or more, increased in 2 areas, and was essentially unchanged in 51 areas. The 
over-the-year decreases in employment occurred in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 
(-3.5 percent), Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (-2.4 percent), and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, 
MA-NH (-1.0 percent). Over the year, employment increased in Fresno, CA (+2.0 percent), and San 
Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (+1.5 percent). 

Metropolitan Division Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

In February, nonfarm payroll employment decreased over the year in 4 metropolitan divisions and was
essentially unchanged in 33 divisions. The over-the-year decreases in employment occurred in 
Washington, DC-MD (-63,100, or -5.5 percent), New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ (-58,300, or
-0.9 percent), Arlington-Alexandria-Reston, VA-WV (-32,000, or -2.0 percent), and 
Frederick-Gaithersburg-Bethesda, MD (-23,900, or -3.9 percent). (See table 4.)

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The State Employment and Unemployment news release for March is scheduled to be released on 
Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. (ET). The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment news
release for March is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).