Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment Summary

For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Wednesday, October 28, 2026                                USDL-26-1618

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 - SEPTEMBER 2026


Unemployment rates were lower in September than a year earlier in 226 of the 387 metropolitan
areas, higher in 138 areas, and unchanged in 23 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
reported today. A total of 48 areas had jobless rates of less than 3.0 percent, and 5 areas
had rates of at least 8.0 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 11
metropolitan areas, decreased in 3 areas, and was essentially unchanged in 373 areas. The
national unemployment rate in September 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 September, Bismarck, ND, Rapid City, SD, and Sioux Falls, SD-MN, had the lowest
unemployment rates, 1.7 percent each. El Centro, CA, had the highest rate, 20.8 percent,
followed by Yuma, AZ, 14.5 percent. A total of 223 areas had September jobless rates below the
U.S. rate of 4.0 percent, 145 areas had rates above it, and 19 areas had rates equal to that
of the nation. (See table 1.)

The largest over-the-year unemployment rate decrease in September occurred in Eagle Pass, TX
(-2.5 percentage points), followed by Vineland, NJ (-2.2 points). Twenty-eight other areas had
rate decreases of at least 1.0 percentage point. New Haven, CT, and Waterbury-Shelton, CT, had
the largest over-the-year rate increases in September (+1.2 percentage points each). Four
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, Cleveland,
OH, had the lowest jobless rate in September, 1.9 percent. Fresno, CA, had the highest rate,
7.3 percent. Thirty-one large areas had over-the-year unemployment rate decreases, 21 had
increases, and 4 had no change. The largest rate decline occurred in Cleveland, OH (-1.4
percentage points), followed by Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (-1.2 points). The
largest jobless rate increase occurred in Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT (+1.1
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 September, Miami-Miami
Beach-Kendall, FL, had the lowest division unemployment rate, 1.9 percent, followed by
Rockingham County-Strafford County, NH, 2.0 percent. Detroit-Dearborn-Livonia, MI, had the
highest rate among the divisions, 6.7 percent. (See table 2.)

In September, 21 metropolitan divisions had over-the-year unemployment rate decreases, 12 had
increases, and 4 had no change. The largest declines occurred in Camden, NJ, and Newark, NJ 
(-1.7 percentage points each). The largest unemployment rate increases from September 2025 
occurred in Detroit-Dearborn-Livonia, MI, and Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, MI (+0.8
percentage point each).

Metropolitan Area Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

In September 2026, nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 11 metropolitan
areas, decreased in 3 areas, and was essentially unchanged in 373 areas. The largest over-the-
year employment increases occurred in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX (+43,900), Charlotte-
Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC (+25,400), and Salt Lake City-Murray, UT (+22,400). The largest over-
the-year percentage gains in employment occurred in Las Cruces, NM, and Myrtle Beach-Conway-
North Myrtle Beach, SC (+3.6 percent each), followed by Baton Rouge, LA, and Salt Lake City-
Murray, UT (+2.7 percent each). The over-the-year decreases in employment occurred in
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (-61,000, or -1.8 percent), Bloomington, IN
(-3,800, or -4.7 percent), and Flagstaff, AZ (-2,800, or -3.9 percent). (See table 3.)

Over the year, nonfarm employment increased in 6 metropolitan areas with a 2020 Census
population of 1 million or more, decreased in 1 area, and was essentially unchanged in 49
areas. The largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment occurred in Salt Lake City-
Murray, UT (+2.7 percent), followed by Raleigh-Cary, NC (+2.3 percent), and Fresno, CA (+1.9
percent). Over the year, employment decreased in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
(-1.8 percent). 

Metropolitan Division Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

In September, nonfarm payroll employment decreased in 1 metropolitan division and was
essentially unchanged in 36 divisions. The over-the-year decrease in employment occurred in
Washington, DC-MD (-41,400, or -3.7 percent). (See table 4.)

_____________
The State Employment and Unemployment news release for October 2026 is scheduled to be
published on Friday, November 20, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. (ET). The Metropolitan Area Employment
and Unemployment news release for October 2026 is scheduled to be published on Wednesday,
December 2, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).