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Unemployment rates lower in 241 metro areas, up in 128, over year ended July 2026

September 09, 2026

Unemployment rates were lower in July 2026 than a year earlier in 241 of the 387 metropolitan areas, higher in 128 areas, and unchanged in 18 areas. A total of 22 areas had jobless rates of less than 3.0 percent, and 7 areas had rates of at least 8.0 percent.

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Metropolitan area unemployment rates, July 2026, not seasonally adjusted

U.S. unemployment rate: 4.4%

Metropolitan area unemployment rates, July 2026, not seasonally adjusted
Metropolitan area	July 2026 Unemployment rate
Anniston-Oxford, AL	4.2
Auburn-Opelika, AL	3.6
Birmingham, AL	3.5
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL	3.2
Decatur, AL	3.1
Dothan, AL	3.6
Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL	4.0
Gadsden, AL	3.8
Huntsville, AL	3.1
Mobile, AL	4.4
Montgomery, AL	3.7
Tuscaloosa, AL	4.3
Anchorage, AK	3.3
Fairbanks-College, AK	3.3
Flagstaff, AZ	5.8
Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ	6.9
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	4.8
Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ	5.7
Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ	6.9
Tucson, AZ	5.6
Yuma, AZ	18.9
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR	3.5
Fort Smith, AR-OK	4.5
Hot Springs, AR	4.4
Jonesboro, AR	4.2
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	4.2
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	8.6
Chico, CA	6.1
El Centro, CA	19.7
Fresno, CA	7.7
Hanford-Corcoran, CA	8.6
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	5.0
Merced, CA	9.1
Modesto, CA	7.0
Napa, CA	4.2
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	4.7
Redding, CA	5.3
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	5.7
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	5.0
Salinas, CA	5.7
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	4.7
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	4.4
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	4.1
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	4.5
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	5.3
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	4.5
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	4.3
Stockton-Lodi, CA	6.4
Vallejo, CA	5.3
Visalia, CA	10.3
Yuba City, CA	7.3
Boulder, CO	4.0
Colorado Springs, CO	4.3
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	4.1
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO	3.8
Grand Junction, CO	4.3
Greeley, CO	4.5
Pueblo, CO	6.1
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	5.5
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	5.8
New Haven, CT	5.9
Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT	5.5
Waterbury-Shelton, CT	6.4
Dover, DE	5.4
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	4.0
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL	5.2
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL	4.5
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL	5.4
Gainesville, FL	5.7
Homosassa Springs, FL	6.8
Jacksonville, FL	4.9
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL	5.8
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	3.7
Naples-Marco Island, FL	5.0
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL	5.0
Ocala, FL	5.8
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	4.7
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL	4.9
Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL	4.6
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL	5.1
Port St. Lucie, FL	5.3
Punta Gorda, FL	5.8
Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL	5.6
Sebring, FL	6.8
Tallahassee, FL	5.1
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	4.8
Wildwood-The Villages, FL	7.9
Albany, GA	3.9
Athens-Clarke County, GA	3.0
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	3.2
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	4.0
Brunswick-St. Simons, GA	2.8
Columbus, GA-AL	4.0
Dalton, GA	3.6
Gainesville, GA	2.7
Hinesville, GA	3.7
Macon-Bibb County, GA	3.8
Rome, GA	3.1
Savannah, GA	2.7
Valdosta, GA	3.6
Warner Robins, GA	3.0
Kahului-Wailuku, HI	2.8
Urban Honolulu, HI	2.8
Boise City, ID	3.3
Coeur d'Alene, ID	3.7
Idaho Falls, ID	3.0
Lewiston, ID-WA	3.0
Pocatello, ID	4.0
Twin Falls, ID	3.2
Bloomington, IL	3.3
Champaign-Urbana, IL	3.6
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	4.9
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	3.9
Decatur, IL	4.9
Kankakee, IL	4.1
Peoria, IL	3.8
Rockford, IL	4.3
Springfield, IL	3.6
Bloomington, IN	3.7
Columbus, IN	3.5
Elkhart-Goshen, IN	4.1
Evansville, IN	3.4
Fort Wayne, IN	3.3
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	3.4
Kokomo, IN	4.9
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN	3.6
Michigan City-La Porte, IN	3.8
Muncie, IN	4.2
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI	4.2
Terre Haute, IN	3.7
Ames, IA	3.3
Cedar Rapids, IA	3.7
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	3.4
Dubuque, IA	3.3
Iowa City, IA	3.1
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	3.5
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA	3.8
Lawrence, KS	4.2
Manhattan, KS	4.5
Topeka, KS	4.1
Wichita, KS	4.5
Bowling Green, KY	4.9
Elizabethtown, KY	5.7
Lexington-Fayette, KY	4.4
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	4.8
Owensboro, KY	4.7
Paducah, KY-IL	4.9
Alexandria, LA	4.0
Baton Rouge, LA	4.1
Hammond, LA	5.1
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA	3.8
Lafayette, LA	3.8
Lake Charles, LA	4.4
Monroe, LA	4.5
New Orleans-Metairie, LA	4.5
Shreveport-Bossier City, LA	4.2
Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA	3.9
Bangor, ME	3.3
Lewiston-Auburn, ME	3.3
Portland-South Portland, ME	2.5
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	4.2
Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV	3.8
Lexington Park, MD	3.9
Salisbury, MD	4.5
Amherst Town-Northampton, MA	4.2
Barnstable Town, MA	4.2
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	4.3
Pittsfield, MA	4.5
Springfield, MA	6.0
Worcester, MA	4.8
Ann Arbor, MI	4.2
Battle Creek, MI	5.8
Bay City, MI	5.4
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	6.0
Flint, MI	5.8
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	4.3
Jackson, MI	5.2
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI	4.6
Lansing-East Lansing, MI	4.8
Midland, MI	4.7
Monroe, MI	5.1
Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI	5.2
Niles, MI	4.9
Saginaw, MI	5.9
Traverse City, MI	3.8
Duluth, MN-WI	5.1
Mankato, MN	3.9
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	4.4
Rochester, MN	3.7
St. Cloud, MN	4.8
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS	3.4
Hattiesburg, MS	3.6
Jackson, MS	3.6
Cape Girardeau, MO-IL	4.0
Columbia, MO	4.0
Jefferson City, MO	3.4
Joplin, MO-KS	3.9
Kansas City, MO-KS	3.8
St. Joseph, MO-KS	4.3
St. Louis, MO-IL	3.8
Springfield, MO	3.7
Billings, MT	2.9
Bozeman, MT	2.2
Great Falls, MT	3.0
Helena, MT	2.6
Missoula, MT	2.7
Grand Island, NE	2.8
Lincoln, NE	2.6
Omaha, NE-IA	3.1
Carson City, NV	3.9
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	5.4
Reno, NV	4.0
Manchester-Nashua, NH	3.0
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ	5.4
Trenton-Princeton, NJ	4.8
Vineland, NJ	7.2
Albuquerque, NM	5.5
Farmington, NM	6.4
Las Cruces, NM	6.2
Santa Fe, NM	4.9
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	3.7
Binghamton, NY	4.3
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	4.4
Elmira, NY	4.0
Glens Falls, NY	3.4
Ithaca, NY	4.2
Kingston, NY	4.0
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY	4.0
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	4.3
Rochester, NY	4.2
Syracuse, NY	4.1
Utica-Rome, NY	4.2
Watertown-Fort Drum, NY	4.2
Asheville, NC	3.3
Burlington, NC	3.8
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	3.7
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	3.4
Fayetteville, NC	4.7
Goldsboro, NC	4.1
Greensboro-High Point, NC	4.1
Greenville, NC	4.3
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC	3.7
Jacksonville, NC	4.2
Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC	3.5
Raleigh-Cary, NC	3.2
Rocky Mount, NC	4.9
Wilmington, NC	3.6
Winston-Salem, NC	3.8
Bismarck, ND	1.9
Fargo, ND-MN	2.6
Grand Forks, ND-MN	2.8
Minot, ND	2.0
Akron, OH	3.6
Canton-Massillon, OH	3.6
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	3.7
Cleveland, OH	3.1
Columbus, OH	3.2
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH	3.5
Lima, OH	3.6
Mansfield, OH	3.7
Sandusky, OH	3.4
Springfield, OH	3.9
Toledo, OH	4.0
Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH	4.5
Youngstown-Warren, OH	4.8
Enid, OK	4.2
Lawton, OK	5.1
Oklahoma City, OK	4.3
Tulsa, OK	4.6
Albany, OR	5.5
Bend, OR	4.9
Corvallis, OR	4.5
Eugene-Springfield, OR	5.4
Grants Pass, OR	7.7
Medford, OR	6.3
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	4.9
Salem, OR	5.3
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	4.1
Altoona, PA	3.6
Chambersburg, PA	3.4
Erie, PA	3.7
Gettysburg, PA	3.3
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	3.5
Johnstown, PA	4.4
Lancaster, PA	3.0
Lebanon, PA	3.4
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	4.2
Pittsburgh, PA	3.7
Reading, PA	4.0
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA	4.7
State College, PA	3.0
Williamsport, PA	3.8
York-Hanover, PA	3.7
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	4.2
Charleston-North Charleston, SC	3.7
Columbia, SC	4.0
Florence, SC	4.7
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC	3.7
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC	3.8
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC	4.4
Spartanburg, SC	4.4
Sumter, SC	5.1
Rapid City, SD	1.9
Sioux Falls, SD-MN	1.9
Chattanooga, TN-GA	3.3
Clarksville, TN-KY	4.4
Cleveland, TN	3.9
Jackson, TN	3.9
Johnson City, TN	3.5
Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA	3.7
Knoxville, TN	3.2
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	4.7
Morristown, TN	3.6
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	3.0
Abilene, TX	3.9
Amarillo, TX	3.9
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	4.0
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX	6.1
Brownsville-Harlingen, TX	7.0
College Station-Bryan, TX	4.3
Corpus Christi, TX	5.0
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	4.6
Eagle Pass, TX	8.3
El Paso, TX	4.8
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	5.1
Killeen-Temple, TX	5.4
Laredo, TX	4.8
Longview, TX	5.2
Lubbock, TX	4.4
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX	6.8
Midland, TX	3.4
Odessa, TX	4.3
San Angelo, TX	3.8
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	4.7
Sherman-Denison, TX	4.6
Texarkana, TX-AR	4.8
Tyler, TX	4.4
Victoria, TX	4.8
Waco, TX	4.6
Wichita Falls, TX	4.5
Logan, UT-ID	3.2
Ogden, UT	3.5
Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT	3.7
St. George, UT	3.8
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	3.5
Burlington-South Burlington, VT	2.4
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA	4.1
Charlottesville, VA	3.3
Harrisonburg, VA	3.5
Lynchburg, VA	4.1
Richmond, VA	3.8
Roanoke, VA	3.8
Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA	3.0
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	3.9
Winchester, VA-WV	3.6
Bellingham, WA	3.6
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA	3.5
Kennewick-Richland, WA	3.8
Longview-Kelso, WA	4.3
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA	3.8
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA	3.5
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	5.0
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	3.5
Walla Walla, WA	3.6
Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA	3.2
Yakima, WA	4.4
Beckley, WV	4.2
Charleston, WV	4.0
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH	4.8
Morgantown, WV	3.3
Parkersburg-Vienna, WV	4.0
Wheeling, WV-OH	4.0
Appleton, WI	3.1
Eau Claire, WI	3.2
Fond du Lac, WI	3.2
Green Bay, WI	3.1
Janesville-Beloit, WI	3.7
Kenosha, WI	3.5
La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN	3.1
Madison, WI	2.9
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	3.8
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI	3.3
Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI	4.0
Sheboygan, WI	3.0
Wausau, WI	3.1
Casper, WY	2.6
Cheyenne, WY	2.6

In July, Bismarck, North Dakota; Rapid City, South Dakota; and Sioux Falls, South Dakota-Minnesota, had the lowest unemployment rates, 1.9 percent each. El Centro, California, had the highest rate, 19.7 percent, followed by Yuma, Arizona, 18.9 percent. A total of 239 areas had July jobless rates below the U.S. rate of 4.4 percent, 134 areas had rates above it, and 14 areas had rates equal to that of the nation.

Of the 56 metropolitan areas with a 2020 Census population of 1 million or more, Urban Honolulu, Hawaii, had the lowest jobless rate in July, 2.8 percent. Fresno, California, had the highest rate, 7.7 percent.

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 — July 2026." We also have more charts related to metropolitan area employment and unemployment.

SUGGESTED CITATION

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Unemployment rates lower in 241 metro areas, up in 128, over year ended July 2026 at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2026/unemployment-rates-lower-in-241-metro-areas-up-in-128-over-year-ended-july-2026.htm (visited September 09, 2026).

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