Unemployment rates trended upward for the month of May in all 389 metropolitan states compared to twelve months earlier. According to Bureau Labor Statistics (BLS), “a total of 109 areas had jobless rates of less than 10.0 %, and 16 areas had rates of at least 20.0%.” Non-farm payroll employment fell in 357 metropolitan areas and was stable in the remaining 32 areas. The national unemployment rate as of May 2020 rose to 13.0%, not seasonally adjusted, up from 3.4% a year earlier.

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. Detroit-Dearborn-Livonia, MI , in May, experienced the highest unemployment rates among the divisions, 26.4%. Whereas, Silver Spring Frederick-Rockville, MD, and Washington-Arlington Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, both experienced the lowest unemployment rate among the divisions of 9.0% each.

Moreover, BLS stated that, “in May, all 38 metropolitan divisions had over-the-year unemployment rate increases, the largest of which was in Detroit-Dearborn-Livonia, MI (+21.8 percentage points). The smallest rate increases occurred in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (+6.0 percentage points), and Silver Spring-Frederick-Rockville, MD (+6.1 points).”

Metropolitan Division Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

Nonfarm payroll employment fell in all 38 metropolitan divisions over the year. The largest over-the-year decline in employment among the metropolitan divisions took place in New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ (-1,330,800), followed by Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA (-602,600), and Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL (-455,200).

Furthermore, the largest over-the-year percentage decreases in employment were observed in Detroit-Dearborn-Livonia, MI (-20.7%), Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, MI (-19.4%), and Haverhill-Newburyport Amesbury Town, MA-NH (-18.8%).

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