Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment Summary

For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Wednesday, June 3, 2026                                    USDL-26-0784

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 2026


Unemployment rates were higher in April than a year earlier in 200 of the 387 metropolitan
areas, lower in 152 areas, and unchanged in 35 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
reported today. A total of 70 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 4 
metropolitan areas, decreased in 4 areas, and was essentially unchanged in 379 areas. The 
national unemployment rate in April was 4.0 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 April, Rapid City, SD, and Sioux Falls, SD-MN, had the lowest unemployment rates, 1.7 
percent each. El Centro, CA, had the highest rate, 16.5 percent. A total of 236 areas had 
April jobless rates below the U.S. rate of 4.0 percent, 137 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 increases in April occurred in Hartford-West 
Hartford-East Hartford, CT; New Haven, CT; Waterbury-Shelton, CT; and Wildwood-The Villages, 
FL (+2.0 percentage points each). Thirty-five other areas had rate increases of at least 1.0 
percentage point. Sandusky, OH, had the largest over-the-year rate decrease in April (-2.5 
percentage points). Twenty 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, Birmingham, 
AL, and Urban Honolulu, HI, had the lowest jobless rates in April, 2.4 percent each. Fresno, 
CA, had the highest rate, 8.1 percent. Thirty-two large areas had over-the-year unemployment 
rate increases, 20 had decreases, and 4 had no change. The largest rate increase occurred in 
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT (+2.0 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 April, Marietta, GA, had 
the lowest division unemployment rate, 2.6 percent. Tacoma-Lakewood, WA, had the highest rate 
among the divisions, 5.4 percent. (See table 2.)

In April, 22 metropolitan divisions had over-the-year unemployment rate increases, 10 had 
decreases, and 5 had no change. The largest increase occurred in Tampa, FL (+1.3 percentage 
points). The largest unemployment rate decline from April 2025 occurred in Newark, NJ (-0.8 
percentage point).

Metropolitan Area Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

In April 2026, nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 4 metropolitan areas, 
decreased in 4 areas, and was essentially unchanged in 379 areas. The over-the-year employment 
increases occurred in Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV (+23,600, or +2.0 percent), 
Raleigh-Cary, NC (+15,400, or +2.0 percent), Barnstable Town, MA (+3,700, or +4.1 percent), 
and Merced, CA (+2,600, or +3.5 percent). The over-the-year decreases in employment occurred 
in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (-97,100, or -2.9 percent), Portland-
Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (-35,400, or -2.8 percent), Lansing-East Lansing, MI (-5,000, or 
-2.0 percent), and Bloomington, IN (-3,800, or -4.5 percent). (See table 3.)

Over the year, nonfarm employment increased in 2 metropolitan areas with a 2020 Census 
population of 1 million or more, decreased in 2 areas, and was essentially unchanged in 52 
areas. The over-the-year increases in employment occurred in Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las 
Vegas, NV, and Raleigh-Cary, NC (+2.0 percent each). Over the year, employment decreased in 
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (-2.9 percent), and Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, 
OR-WA (-2.8 percent). 

Metropolitan Division Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

In April, nonfarm payroll employment decreased over the year in 2 metropolitan divisions and 
was essentially unchanged in 35 divisions. The over-the-year decreases in employment occurred 
in Washington, DC-MD (-54,300, or -4.7 percent), and Frederick-Gaithersburg-Bethesda, MD 
(-18,400, or -3.0 percent). (See table 4.)

_____________
The State Employment and Unemployment news release for May is scheduled to be released
on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. (ET). The Metropolitan Area Employment and
Unemployment news release for May is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, 
at 10:00 a.m. (ET).