For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Wednesday, April 3, 2024 USDL-24-0627
Technical information:
Employment: (202) 691-6559 * sminfo@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/sae
Unemployment: (202) 691-6392 * lausinfo@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/lau
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 * PressOffice@bls.gov
METROPOLITAN AREA EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT -- FEBRUARY 2024
(NOTE: This news release was reissued on Friday, April 5, 2024, to correct the spelling
of the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan area.)
Unemployment rates were higher in February than a year earlier in 247 of the 389 metropolitan
areas, lower in 109 areas, and unchanged in 33 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
reported today. A total of 54 areas had jobless rates of less than 3.0 percent and 13 areas
had rates of at least 8.0 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 42
metropolitan areas, decreased in 3 areas, and was essentially unchanged in 344 areas. The
national unemployment rate in February was 4.2 percent, not seasonally adjusted, up from
3.9 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 February, Ames, IA, had the lowest unemployment rate, 1.9 percent. The next lowest rate was
in Burlington-South Burlington, VT, 2.0 percent. El Centro, CA, had the highest rate, 17.2 percent.
A total of 216 areas had February jobless rates below the U.S. rate of 4.2 percent, 165 areas had
rates above it, and 8 areas had rates equal to that of the nation. (See table 1.)
The largest over-the-year unemployment rate increase in February occurred in Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina,
HI (+2.7 percentage points). Forty-eight other areas had rate increases of at least 1.0 percentage
point. Barnstable Town, MA, and Ocean City, NJ, had the largest over-the-year rate decreases in
February (-1.1 percentage points each).
Of the 51 metropolitan areas with a 2010 Census population of 1 million or more,
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN, had the lowest jobless rate in February, 2.2
percent. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA, had the highest rate, 5.5 percent. Thirty-eight
large areas had over-the-year unemployment rate increases, nine had decreases, and four had no
change. The largest rate increase was in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (+1.3 percentage points).
The largest jobless rate decline occurred in Pittsburgh, PA (-0.8 percentage point).
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 February, Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL,
had the lowest division unemployment rate, 1.6 percent. Tacoma-Lakewood, WA, had the highest rate
among the divisions, 6.8 percent. (See table 2.)
In February, 24 metropolitan divisions had over-the-year unemployment rate increases and 14 had
decreases. The largest rate increase occurred in Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA (+1.4 percentage
points). The largest over-the-year jobless rate decline occurred in Taunton-Middleborough-Norton, MA
(-0.5 percentage point).
Metropolitan Area Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
In February, nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 42 metropolitan areas, decreased
in 3 areas, and was essentially unchanged in 344 areas. The largest over-the-year employment increases
occurred in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA (+92,300), Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
(+79,800), and Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX (+75,100). The largest over-the-year percentage gains
in employment occurred in Ocean City, NJ (+20.2 percent), Madera, CA (+6.3 percent), and Coeur d'Alene,
ID (+5.9 percent). The over-the-year decreases in employment occurred in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro,
OR-WA (-18,500, or -1.5 percent), Elkhart-Goshen, IN (-6,400, or -4.6 percent), and Kahului-Wailuku-
Lahaina, HI (-5,700, or -7.4 percent). (See table 3.)
Over the year, nonfarm employment increased in 21 metropolitan areas with a 2010 Census population
of 1 million or more, decreased in 1 area, and was essentially unchanged in 29 areas. The largest
over-the-year percentage increase in employment in these large metropolitan areas occurred in
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV (+3.4 percent), followed by Austin-Round Rock, TX; Raleigh, NC;
and Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA (+2.8 percent each). The over-the-year decrease in
employment occurred in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (-1.5 percent).
Metropolitan Division Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
In February, nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 6 metropolitan divisions and was
essentially unchanged in 32 divisions. The largest over-the-year increases in employment among the
metropolitan divisions occurred in Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX (+50,600), Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall,
FL (+35,600), and Fort Worth-Arlington, TX (+24,500). (See table 4.)
The largest over-the-year percentage increases in employment occurred in Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall,
FL (+2.8 percent), Tacoma-Lakewood, WA (+2.4 percent), and Fort Worth-Arlington, TX (+2.1 percent).
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The State Employment and Unemployment news release for March is scheduled to be released on Friday,
April 19, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (ET). The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment news release
for March is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).
United States Department of Labor
