Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment Summary

For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Wednesday, August 28, 2024 	                          USDL-24-1775

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 2024


Unemployment rates were higher in July than a year earlier in 350 of the 389 metropolitan
areas, lower in 22 areas, and unchanged in 17 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
reported today. A total of 30 areas had jobless rates of less than 3.0 percent and 8 areas
had rates of at least 8.0 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 61
metropolitan areas, decreased in 1 area, and was essentially unchanged in 327 areas. The
national unemployment rate in July was 4.5 percent, not seasonally adjusted, up from 3.8 
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.

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|											     |
|                                     Hurricane Beryl				             |
|											     |
| Hurricane Beryl made landfall on the central coast of Texas on July 8, 2024, during the    |
| reference periods for both the household and establishment surveys. Response rates for the |
| two surveys were within normal ranges both nationally and for the affected areas. For	     |
| information on how unusually severe weather can affect employment and hours estimates, see |
| question 8 in the Frequently Asked Questions section of the Employment Situation news	     |
| release at www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.faq.htm.					     |
|____________________________________________________________________________________________|


Metropolitan Area Unemployment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

In July, Sioux Falls, SD, had the lowest unemployment rate, 1.6 percent. The next lowest
rates were in Rapid City, SD, 1.8 percent, and Burlington-South Burlington, VT, 1.9 percent.
El Centro, CA, had the highest rate, 18.7 percent. A total of 227 areas had July jobless
rates below the U.S. rate of 4.5 percent, 148 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 July occurred in Toledo, OH (+2.8
percentage points). Eight other areas had rate increases of at least 2.0 percentage points.
Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, MS, had the largest over-the-year rate decrease in July (-0.6
percentage point).

Of the 51 metropolitan areas with a 2010 Census population of 1 million or more,
Birmingham-Hoover, AL, and Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN, had the lowest
jobless rates in July, 2.9 percent each. Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV, had the highest
rate, 6.7 percent. Forty-seven large areas had over-the-year unemployment rate increases,
one had a decrease, and three had no change. The largest rate increases occurred in
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI, and Providence-Warwick, RI-MA (+2.4 percentage points each).
The only jobless rate decline occurred in Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT (-0.3
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 July, Silver Spring-
Frederick-Rockville, MD, had the lowest division unemployment rate, 3.0 percent, closely
followed by Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL, 3.1 percent. Detroit-Dearborn-Livonia, MI, had
the highest rate among the divisions, 8.2 percent. (See table 2.)

In July, all 38 metropolitan divisions had over-the-year unemployment rate increases. The
largest of these occurred in Detroit-Dearborn-Livonia, MI (+3.2 percentage points). 

Metropolitan Area Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

In July, nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 61 metropolitan areas,
decreased in 1 area, and was essentially unchanged in 327 areas. The largest over-the-year
employment increases occurred in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA (+202,900), Los
Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (+105,000), and Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
(+75,300). The largest over-the-year percentage gains in employment occurred in College
Station-Bryan, TX (+6.0 percent), Merced, CA (+5.2 percent), and Charleston-North Charleston,
SC (+5.0 percent). The over-the-year decrease occurred in Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI 
(-5,000, or -6.6 percent). (See table 3.)

Over the year, nonfarm employment increased in 26 metropolitan areas with a 2010 Census
population of 1 million or more and was essentially unchanged in 25 areas. The largest 
over-the-year percentage increases in employment in these large metropolitan areas occurred
in Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV (+3.7 percent), and Salt Lake City, UT (+3.0 percent),
followed by Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL; Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ; and
Richmond, VA (+2.6 percent each).

Metropolitan Division Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

In July, nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 11 metropolitan divisions
and was essentially unchanged in 27 divisions. The largest over-the-year increases in 
employment among the metropolitan divisions occurred in New York-Jersey City-White Plains,
NY-NJ (+156,600), Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA (+73,900), and Miami-Miami Beach-
Kendall, FL (+38,300). (See table 4.)

The largest over-the-year percentage increases in employment occurred in Camden, NJ (+3.2
percent), Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL (+3.0 percent), and Philadelphia, PA (+2.8 percent).

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The State Employment and Unemployment news release for August is scheduled to be
released on Friday, September 20, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (ET). The Metropolitan Area
Employment and Unemployment news release for August is scheduled to be released on
Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).