Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment Summary

For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Wednesday, May 1, 2024 	                               USDL-24-0794

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 -- MARCH 2024


Unemployment rates were higher in March than a year earlier in 269 of the 389 metropolitan
areas, lower in 89 areas, and unchanged in 31 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
reported today. A total of 77 areas had jobless rates of less than 3.0 percent and 12 areas
had rates of at least 8.0 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 51
metropolitan areas, decreased in 5 areas, and was essentially unchanged in 333 areas. The
national unemployment rate in March was 3.9 percent, not seasonally adjusted, up from 3.6
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.

Metropolitan Area Unemployment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

In March, Burlington-South Burlington, VT, had the lowest unemployment rate, 1.6 percent. The
next lowest rates were in Rapid City, SD, and Sioux Falls, SD, 1.9 percent each. El Centro,
CA, had the highest rate, 16.1 percent. A total of 208 areas had March jobless rates below the
U.S. rate of 3.9 percent, 169 areas had rates above it, and 12 areas had rates equal to that
of the nation. (See table 1.)

The largest over-the-year unemployment rate increase in March occurred in Kahului-Wailuku-
Lahaina, HI (+1.7 percentage points), followed by Yakima, WA (+1.6 points). Twenty-eight other
areas had rate increases of at least 1.0 percentage point. Yuma, AZ, had the largest over-
the-year rate decrease in March (-1.2 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 jobless rate in March, 2.4 percent. Las
Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV, and Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA, had the highest rates,
5.1 percent each. Thirty-nine large areas had over-the-year unemployment rate increases, seven
had decreases, and five had no change. The largest rate increase was in New Orleans-Metairie,
LA (+1.1 percentage points). The largest jobless rate declines occurred in Phoenix-Mesa-
Scottsdale, AZ, and Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC (-0.5 percentage point each).

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 March, Miami-Miami Beach-
Kendall, FL, had the lowest division unemployment rate, 2.0 percent. Elgin, IL, had the 
highest rate among the divisions, 6.1 percent. (See table 2.)

In March, 27 metropolitan divisions had over-the-year unemployment rate increases, 5 had
decreases, and 6 had no change. The largest rate increase occurred in Tacoma-Lakewood, WA
(+1.2 percentage points). The largest over-the-year jobless rate declines occurred in 
Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, MA, and Taunton-Middleborough-Norton, MA (-0.5 percentage point
each).

Metropolitan Area Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

In March, nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 51 metropolitan areas,
decreased in 5 areas, and was essentially unchanged in 333 areas. The largest over-the-year
employment increases occurred in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA (+118,700), Houston-
The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX (+67,800), and Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
(+66,500). The largest over-the-year percentage gains in employment occurred in Ocean City,
NJ (+19.4 percent), Madera, CA (+6.5 percent), and Coeur d'Alene, ID (+5.9 percent). The
largest over-the-year decreases in employment occurred in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
(-21,800), Elkhart-Goshen, IN (-6,300), and Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI (-5,000). In 
percentage terms, the largest decrease occurred in Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI (-6.6 percent),
followed by Elkhart-Goshen, IN (-4.5 percent), and Springfield, IL (-4.0 percent). (See table
3.)

Over the year, nonfarm employment increased in 20 metropolitan areas with a 2010 Census
population of 1 million or more, decreased in 1 area, and was essentially unchanged in 30
areas. The largest over-the-year percentage increases in employment in these large 
metropolitan areas occurred in Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV (+3.3 percent), Sacramento--
Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA (+3.1 percent), and Raleigh, NC (+2.8 percent). The over-the-year
decrease in employment occurred in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (-1.8 percent).

Metropolitan Division Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

In March, nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 7 metropolitan divisions and
was essentially unchanged in 31 divisions. The largest over-the-year increases in employment
among the metropolitan divisions occurred in New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ 
(+69,200), Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX (+44,400), and Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL (+38,400).
(See table 4.)

The largest over-the-year percentage increases in employment occurred in Miami-Miami Beach-
Kendall, FL (+3.0 percent), and Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Deerfield Beach, FL (+2.0 
percent), followed by Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, CA, and Nassau County-Suffolk County, NY (+1.9
percent each).

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The State Employment and Unemployment news release for April is scheduled to be released on
Friday, May 17, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (ET). The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment
news release for April is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.
(ET).