Unemployment rates were lower in August than a year earlier in 385 of the 389 metropolitan areas,
higher in 3 areas and unchanged in 1 area, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. A total of
43 areas had jobless rates of less than 3.0 percent and 4 areas had rates of at least 10.0 percent. Nonfarm
payroll employment increased over the year in 104 metropolitan areas and was essentially unchanged in
285 areas. The national unemployment rate in August was 5.3 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down
from 8.5 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 August, Lincoln, NE, and Grand Island, NE, had the lowest unemployment rates, 1.7 percent and 1.9
percent, respectively. El Centro, CA, had the highest rate, 19.4 percent. A total of 248 areas had August
jobless rates below the U.S. rate of 5.3 percent, 131 areas had rates above it, and 10 areas had rates equal
to that of the nation. (See table 1 and map 1.)
The largest over-the-year unemployment rate decrease in August occurred in Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina,
HI (-15.0 percentage points). Rates fell over the year by at least 5.0 percentage points in an additional 11
areas. No area had an unemployment rate increase greater than 0.4 percentage point.
Of the 51 metropolitan areas with a 2010 Census population of 1 million or more, Oklahoma City, OK,
and Salt Lake City, UT, had the lowest jobless rates in August, 2.6 percent each. Los Angeles-Long
Beach-Anaheim, CA, had the highest unemployment rate, 8.8 percent. All 51 large areas had over-theyear unemployment rate decreases. The largest jobless rate decline was in Las Vegas-HendersonParadise, NV (-8.7 percentage points). The smallest over-the-year rate decrease occurred in Dallas-Fort
Worth-Arlington, TX (-1.6 percentage points).
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 August, Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, MI,
had the lowest division unemployment rate, 3.0 percent, closely followed by Nashua, NH-MA, 3.1
percent. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA, had the highest rate among the divisions, 9.7 percent.
(See table 2.)
In August, all 38 metropolitan divisions had over-the-year unemployment rate decreases. DetroitDearborn-Livonia, MI, had the largest rate decline (-8.5 percentage points). The smallest rate decreases occurred in Fort Worth-Arlington, TX (-1.5 percentage points), and Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX (-1.6 points).
Metropolitan Area Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
In August, 104 metropolitan areas had over-the-year increases in nonfarm payroll employment and 285
were essentially unchanged. The largest over-the-year employment increases occurred in New YorkNewark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA (+463,600), Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (+394,700), and
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX (+196,500). The largest over-the-year percentage gains in employment
occurred in Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI (+22.5 percent), Ocean City, NJ (+20.0 percent), and Atlantic
City-Hammonton, NJ (+10.3 percent). (See table 3 and map 2.)
Over the year, nonfarm employment increased in 50 metropolitan areas with a 2010 Census population
of 1 million or more, while employment was essentially unchanged in 1 area. The largest over-the-year
percentage increases in employment in these large metropolitan areas occurred in Las Vegas-HendersonParadise, NV (+9.7 percent), and Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY, and Los Angeles-Long
Beach-Anaheim, CA (+7.2 percent each).
Metropolitan Division Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
In August, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 27 metropolitan divisions and was essentially
unchanged in 11 divisions over the year. The largest over-the-year increase in employment among the
metropolitan divisions occurred in New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ (+366,300), followed by
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA (+275,300), and Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX (+152,500). (See table
4.)
The largest over-the-year percentage increases in employment occurred in Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine,
CA (+8.1 percent), San Rafael, CA (+7.2 percent), and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA (+6.9
percent).
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The State Employment and Unemployment news release for September is scheduled to be released
on Friday, October 22, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. (ET). The Metropolitan Area Employment and
Unemployment news release for September is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, November
3, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).
ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER
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