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Unemployment rates higher in 236 metro areas over the year ended February 2026

May 06, 2026

Unemployment rates were higher in February 2026 than a year earlier in 236 of the 387 metropolitan areas, lower in 110 areas, and unchanged in 41 areas.

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Chart Data

Over-the-year change in unemployment rates for metropolitan areas, February 2026, not seasonally adjusted

Over-the-year change in unemployment rates for metropolitan areas, February 2026, not seasonally adjusted
Metropolitan area	Percentage point(s) change
Asheville, NC	-2.4
Sandusky, OH	-1.7
Toledo, OH	-1.6
Kokomo, IN	-1.4
Monroe, MI	-1.4
Niles, MI	-1.3
Saginaw, MI	-1.2
Bay City, MI	-1.1
Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI	-1.1
Traverse City, MI	-1.1
Springfield, OH	-1.1
Battle Creek, MI	-1.0
Merced, CA	-0.9
Flint, MI	-0.9
Jackson, MI	-0.9
Akron, OH	-0.9
Canton-Massillon, OH	-0.9
Columbus, OH	-0.8
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH	-0.8
Mansfield, OH	-0.8
Elkhart-Goshen, IN	-0.7
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI	-0.7
Owensboro, KY	-0.7
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	-0.7
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	-0.7
Columbus, IN	-0.6
Michigan City-La Porte, IN	-0.6
Ann Arbor, MI	-0.6
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI	-0.6
Lansing-East Lansing, MI	-0.6
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ	-0.6
Lima, OH	-0.6
Yuba City, CA	-0.5
Fort Wayne, IN	-0.5
Dubuque, IA	-0.5
Paducah, KY-IL	-0.5
Midland, MI	-0.5
Salinas, CA	-0.4
Kahului-Wailuku, HI	-0.4
Lewiston, ID-WA	-0.4
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN	-0.4
Muncie, IN	-0.4
Bowling Green, KY	-0.4
Elizabethtown, KY	-0.4
Lexington-Fayette, KY	-0.4
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	-0.4
Portland-South Portland, ME	-0.4
St. Joseph, MO-KS	-0.4
Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH	-0.4
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	-0.4
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	-0.3
Visalia, CA	-0.3
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO	-0.3
Bloomington, IN	-0.3
Evansville, IN	-0.3
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	-0.3
Terre Haute, IN	-0.3
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	-0.3
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA	-0.3
Bangor, ME	-0.3
Lewiston-Auburn, ME	-0.3
Jefferson City, MO	-0.3
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC	-0.3
Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA	-0.3
Anchorage, AK	-0.2
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	-0.2
Fresno, CA	-0.2
Hanford-Corcoran, CA	-0.2
Modesto, CA	-0.2
Redding, CA	-0.2
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	-0.2
Stockton-Lodi, CA	-0.2
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	-0.2
Grand Junction, CO	-0.2
Coeur d'Alene, ID	-0.2
Twin Falls, ID	-0.2
Joplin, MO-KS	-0.2
Wilmington, NC	-0.2
Bismarck, ND	-0.2
Cleveland, OH	-0.2
Youngstown-Warren, OH	-0.2
Gettysburg, PA	-0.2
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA	-0.2
Kennewick-Richland, WA	-0.2
Longview-Kelso, WA	-0.2
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA	-0.2
Walla Walla, WA	-0.2
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL	-0.1
Chico, CA	-0.1
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	-0.1
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	-0.1
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	-0.1
Boulder, CO	-0.1
Colorado Springs, CO	-0.1
Greeley, CO	-0.1
Urban Honolulu, HI	-0.1
Barnstable Town, MA	-0.1
Cape Girardeau, MO-IL	-0.1
Kansas City, MO-KS	-0.1
Carson City, NV	-0.1
Reno, NV	-0.1
Fayetteville, NC	-0.1
Winston-Salem, NC	-0.1
Minot, ND	-0.1
Lancaster, PA	-0.1
State College, PA	-0.1
Williamsport, PA	-0.1
College Station-Bryan, TX	-0.1
Bellingham, WA	-0.1
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA	-0.1
Birmingham, AL	0.0
Decatur, AL	0.0
Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL	0.0
Gadsden, AL	0.0
Huntsville, AL	0.0
Mobile, AL	0.0
Montgomery, AL	0.0
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR	0.0
Jonesboro, AR	0.0
Napa, CA	0.0
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	0.0
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	0.0
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	0.0
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	0.0
Athens-Clarke County, GA	0.0
Boise City, ID	0.0
Ames, IA	0.0
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	0.0
Monroe, LA	0.0
Columbia, MO	0.0
Springfield, MO	0.0
Billings, MT	0.0
Grand Island, NE	0.0
Omaha, NE-IA	0.0
Manchester-Nashua, NH	0.0
Trenton-Princeton, NJ	0.0
Vineland, NJ	0.0
Greensboro-High Point, NC	0.0
Greenville, NC	0.0
Jacksonville, NC	0.0
Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC	0.0
Grand Forks, ND-MN	0.0
Altoona, PA	0.0
Johnstown, PA	0.0
Lebanon, PA	0.0
Abilene, TX	0.0
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	0.0
Lubbock, TX	0.0
San Angelo, TX	0.0
Burlington-South Burlington, VT	0.0
Wheeling, WV-OH	0.0
Anniston-Oxford, AL	0.1
Auburn-Opelika, AL	0.1
Dothan, AL	0.1
Fairbanks-College, AK	0.1
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	0.1
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	0.1
Vallejo, CA	0.1
Brunswick-St. Simons, GA	0.1
Gainesville, GA	0.1
Savannah, GA	0.1
Valdosta, GA	0.1
Idaho Falls, ID	0.1
Pocatello, ID	0.1
Cedar Rapids, IA	0.1
Iowa City, IA	0.1
St. Louis, MO-IL	0.1
Great Falls, MT	0.1
Lincoln, NE	0.1
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	0.1
Burlington, NC	0.1
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	0.1
Goldsboro, NC	0.1
Raleigh-Cary, NC	0.1
Grants Pass, OR	0.1
Chambersburg, PA	0.1
Pittsburgh, PA	0.1
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	0.1
Longview, TX	0.1
Midland, TX	0.1
Tyler, TX	0.1
Waco, TX	0.1
Wichita Falls, TX	0.1
Yakima, WA	0.1
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH	0.1
Tuscaloosa, AL	0.2
Hot Springs, AR	0.2
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	0.2
El Centro, CA	0.2
Albany, GA	0.2
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	0.2
Columbus, GA-AL	0.2
Macon-Bibb County, GA	0.2
Warner Robins, GA	0.2
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	0.2
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	0.2
Lawrence, KS	0.2
Manhattan, KS	0.2
Wichita, KS	0.2
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	0.2
Hattiesburg, MS	0.2
Elmira, NY	0.2
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY	0.2
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	0.2
Rocky Mount, NC	0.2
Bend, OR	0.2
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	0.2
Erie, PA	0.2
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	0.2
Reading, PA	0.2
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA	0.2
York-Hanover, PA	0.2
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	0.2
Rapid City, SD	0.2
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX	0.2
Corpus Christi, TX	0.2
El Paso, TX	0.2
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	0.2
Laredo, TX	0.2
Odessa, TX	0.2
Sherman-Denison, TX	0.2
Texarkana, TX-AR	0.2
Victoria, TX	0.2
Fort Smith, AR-OK	0.3
Pueblo, CO	0.3
Hinesville, GA	0.3
Rome, GA	0.3
Lake Charles, LA	0.3
Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA	0.3
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	0.3
Worcester, MA	0.3
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS	0.3
Jackson, MS	0.3
Bozeman, MT	0.3
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	0.3
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	0.3
Ithaca, NY	0.3
Utica-Rome, NY	0.3
Fargo, ND-MN	0.3
Albany, OR	0.3
Salem, OR	0.3
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	0.3
Cleveland, TN	0.3
Jackson, TN	0.3
Johnson City, TN	0.3
Knoxville, TN	0.3
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	0.3
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	0.3
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	0.3
Logan, UT-ID	0.3
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	0.3
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA	0.3
Appleton, WI	0.3
Fond du Lac, WI	0.3
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	0.4
Dalton, GA	0.4
Topeka, KS	0.4
Alexandria, LA	0.4
Baton Rouge, LA	0.4
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA	0.4
Lafayette, LA	0.4
New Orleans-Metairie, LA	0.4
Shreveport-Bossier City, LA	0.4
Springfield, MA	0.4
Missoula, MT	0.4
Binghamton, NY	0.4
Glens Falls, NY	0.4
Kingston, NY	0.4
Rochester, NY	0.4
Syracuse, NY	0.4
Watertown-Fort Drum, NY	0.4
Corvallis, OR	0.4
Medford, OR	0.4
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	0.4
Sioux Falls, SD-MN	0.4
Chattanooga, TN-GA	0.4
Clarksville, TN-KY	0.4
Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA	0.4
Morristown, TN	0.4
Amarillo, TX	0.4
Killeen-Temple, TX	0.4
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX	0.4
Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT	0.4
Charlottesville, VA	0.4
Harrisonburg, VA	0.4
Green Bay, WI	0.4
Kenosha, WI	0.4
Madison, WI	0.4
Sheboygan, WI	0.4
Wausau, WI	0.4
Amherst Town-Northampton, MA	0.5
Helena, MT	0.5
Eugene-Springfield, OR	0.5
Ogden, UT	0.5
Lynchburg, VA	0.5
Richmond, VA	0.5
Roanoke, VA	0.5
Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA	0.5
Janesville-Beloit, WI	0.5
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	0.5
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI	0.5
Cheyenne, WY	0.5
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	0.6
Peoria, IL	0.6
Hammond, LA	0.6
Pittsfield, MA	0.6
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	0.6
St. George, UT	0.6
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	0.6
Eau Claire, WI	0.6
La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN	0.6
Santa Fe, NM	0.7
Enid, OK	0.7
Winchester, VA-WV	0.7
Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI	0.7
Casper, WY	0.7
Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ	0.8
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	0.8
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	0.8
Bloomington, IL	0.8
Lexington Park, MD	0.8
Salisbury, MD	0.8
Rochester, MN	0.8
Oklahoma City, OK	0.8
Tulsa, OK	0.8
Eagle Pass, TX	0.8
Charleston, WV	0.8
Morgantown, WV	0.8
Tucson, AZ	0.9
Champaign-Urbana, IL	0.9
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	0.9
Albuquerque, NM	0.9
Charleston-North Charleston, SC	0.9
Columbia, SC	0.9
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC	0.9
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC	0.9
Spartanburg, SC	0.9
Parkersburg-Vienna, WV	0.9
Flagstaff, AZ	1.0
Yuma, AZ	1.0
Decatur, IL	1.0
Rockford, IL	1.0
Springfield, IL	1.0
Farmington, NM	1.0
Las Cruces, NM	1.0
Lawton, OK	1.0
Dover, DE	1.1
Kankakee, IL	1.1
Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV	1.1
Duluth, MN-WI	1.1
Mankato, MN	1.1
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	1.1
Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ	1.2
Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ	1.2
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	1.2
St. Cloud, MN	1.2
Florence, SC	1.2
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC	1.2
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	1.3
Sumter, SC	1.3
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	1.3
Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT	1.4
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL	1.4
Jacksonville, FL	1.4
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL	1.4
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL	1.4
Brownsville-Harlingen, TX	1.4
Beckley, WV	1.4
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	1.5
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	1.5
New Haven, CT	1.5
Naples-Marco Island, FL	1.5
Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL	1.5
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL	1.5
Port St. Lucie, FL	1.5
Tallahassee, FL	1.5
Waterbury-Shelton, CT	1.6
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL	1.6
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL	1.6
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL	1.6
Gainesville, FL	1.7
Ocala, FL	1.7
Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL	1.7
Sebring, FL	1.7
Punta Gorda, FL	1.8
Homosassa Springs, FL	1.9
Wildwood-The Villages, FL	2.5

The largest over-the-year unemployment rate increase in February occurred in Wildwood The Villages, Florida (+2.5 percentage points). Forty-eight other areas had rate increases of at least 1.0 percentage point. Asheville, North Carolina, had the largest over-the-year rate decrease in February (−2.4 percentage points). Eleven 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, 39 areas had over-the-year unemployment rate increases, 12 had decreases, and 5 had no change. The largest rate increases occurred in Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, Connecticut (+1.5 percentage points), and Jacksonville, Florida (+1.4 points). The largest jobless rate decline occurred in Columbus, Ohio (−0.8 percentage point), followed by Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN, and Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, Michigan (−0.7 point each).

These data are from the Local Area Unemployment Statistics program and are not seasonally adjusted. Data for the most recent month are preliminary. To learn more, see "Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment — February 2026." Also see charts related to the latest "Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment" news release.

SUGGESTED CITATION

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Unemployment rates higher in 236 metro areas over the year ended February 2026 at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2026/unemployment-rates-higher-in-236-metro-areas-over-the-year-ended-february-2026.htm (visited May 07, 2026).

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