Employment in metropolitan areas, March 2011

April 28, 2011

In March, 260 metropolitan areas reported over-the-year increases in nonfarm payroll employment, 101 reported decreases, and 11 were unchanged. The largest over-the-year employment increase occurred in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas (+69,000), followed by Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Texas (+51,800); Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, Illinois-Indiana-Wisconsin (+47,700); New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, New York-New Jersey-Pennsylvania (+47,300); and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, California (+39,500).

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The largest over-the-year percentage gain in employment occurred in Sandusky, Ohio (+7.8 percent), followed by Joplin, Missouri (+6.9 percent); and Kokomo, Indiana (+6.7 percent).

The largest over-the-year employment decrease was recorded in Sacramento—Arden-Arcade—Roseville, California (−14,600), followed by Memphis, Tennessee-Mississippi-Arkansas (−7,500); Baltimore-Towson, Maryland (−5,300); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, Georgia (−4,900); and Trenton-Ewing, New Jersey (−3,900).

The largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment occurred in Pine Bluff, Arkansas (−3.2 percent), followed by Lewiston, Idaho-Washington; and Yuma, Arizona (−2.7 percent each).

These data are from the Current Employment Statistics (State and Metropolitan Area) program. For more information, see "Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment – March 2011" (HTML) (PDF), new release USDL-11-0585. Data for the most recent month are preliminary and subject to revision.