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Employment and unemployment in Mountain states metropolitan areas, March 2013

May 02, 2013

In March 2013, among the 35 metropolitan areas in the Mountain states, 29 recorded over-the-year increases in payroll employment and 6 recorded decreases. 

Percentage change in nonfarm payroll employment, selected Mountain states metropolitan areas, March 2012–March 2013
Metropolitan areaPercent change from March 2012 to March 2013 (p)

Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, AZ

2.3

Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO

2.4

Boise City-Nampa, ID

2.4

Billings, MT

2.1

Las Vegas-Paradise, NV

2.0

Albuquerque, NM

-0.4

Salt Lake City, UT

4.3

Cheyenne, WY

3.2

Footnotes:
(p) Preliminary
 

 

The largest percentage increase in employment from March 2012 to March 2013 among metropolitan areas in the Mountain states was in Provo-Orem, Utah (5.7 percent, which was the 3rd largest percentage increase in the nation), followed by Salt Lake City, Utah (4.3 percent). The largest decreases in employment among these metropolitan areas were in Yuma, Arizona (−1.3 percent) and Farmington, New Mexico (−1.4 percent).

The largest over-the-year increases in the numbers of employees on nonfarm payrolls in the Mountain states metropolitan areas were in Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, Arizona (41,100), Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, Colorado (29,500), and Salt Lake City, Utah (26,900). The largest decrease was in Albuquerque, New Mexico (−1,400).

Nationwide, 287 metropolitan areas had over-the-year increases in nonfarm payroll employment, 80 had decreases, and 5 had no change in March 2013.

Unemployment rates were lower in March than a year earlier in 32 of the Mountain states metropolitan areas, higher in 2, and unchanged in 1. The largest over-the-year decreases in unemployment rates occurred in St. George, Utah; Las Vegas-Paradise, Nevada; and Reno-Sparks, Nevada. The largest increase occurred in Yuma, Arizona.

Unemployment rates, selected Mountain states metropolitan areas, March 2012 and March 2013
Metropolitan areaUnemployment rate
March 2012March 2013 (p)

Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, AZ

7.36.7

Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO

8.57.2

Boise City-Nampa, ID

7.66.1

Billings, MT

4.94.5

Las Vegas-Paradise, NV

11.79.8

Albuquerque, NM

7.47.1

Salt Lake City, UT

5.94.5

Cheyenne, WY

6.95.6

Footnotes:
(p) Preliminary
 

 

Unemployment rates in March 2013 were below 5.0 percent in six of these metropolitan areas (Logan, Utah-Idaho; Billings, Montana;Provo-Orem, Utah; Salt Lake City, Utah; Casper, Wyoming; and Ogden-Clearfield, Utah). Unemployment rates were 10.0 percent or higher in four metropolitan areas (Reno-Sparks, Nevada; Pueblo, Colorado; Carson City, Nevada; and Yuma, Arizona). Yuma, Arizona had the highest unemployment rate in the nation in March 2013, at 26.0 percent.

Nationwide, unemployment rates were lower in March than a year earlier in 306 of the nation's 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 44 areas, and unchanged in 22 areas.

These data are from the Current Employment Statistics (State and Metro Area) and Local Area Unemployment Statistics programs. Data for the most recent month are preliminary and subject to revision. To learn more, see "Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment — March 2013," news release USDL‑13‑0783. The Mountain states division, as defined by the Census Bureau, consists of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Additional BLS data for these states are available from the Southwest, Mountain-Plains, and Western BLS Information Offices (depending on the state).

SUGGESTED CITATION

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Employment and unemployment in Mountain states metropolitan areas, March 2013 at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2013/ted_20130502.htm (visited March 28, 2024).

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