Metropolitan Area Employment & Unemployment – November 2011

Unemployment rates were lower in November than a year earlier in 351 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 16 areas, and unchanged in 5 areas. The largest over-the-year unemployment rate decrease in November was registered in El Centro, Calif. (-3.7 percentage points). Five other areas recorded rate declines of 3.0 percentage points or more, and an additional 48 areas had decreases of at least 2.0 points. Kennewick-Pasco-Richland, Wash., reported the largest over-the-year jobless rate increase (+1.2 percentage points).

Two hundred thirty-nine metropolitan areas reported over-the-year increases in nonfarm payroll employment, 127 reported decreases, and 6 had no change. The largest over-the-year employment increase occurred in Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Texas (+87,900), followed by Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas (+57,300). The largest over-the-year percentage gain in employment was reported in Hot Springs, Ark. (+7.0 percent), followed by Victoria, Texas (+6.3 percent). Bureau of Labor Statistics