September 30, 2020

Unemployment rates trended upward for the month of August in 387 of the 389 metropolitan areas and lower in 2 states compared to twelve months earlier. According to Bureau Labor Statistics (BLS), “a total of 37 areas had jobless rates of less than 5.0 percent and 6 areas had rates of at least 15.0%.” Non-farm payroll employment fell in 254 metropolitan areas and was stable in the remaining 135 areas. The national unemployment rate as of August 2020 rose to 8.5%, not seasonally adjusted, up from 3.8% 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 separately identifiable employment centers. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA, in August, experienced the highest unemployment rates among the divisions, 16.6 %. Whereas, Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX, experienced the lowest unemployment rate among the divisions of 6.2%.

Moreover, BLS stated that, “in August, all 38 metropolitan divisions had over-the-year unemployment rate increases, the largest of which were in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA (+11.8 percentage points), and Lawrence Methuen Town-Salem, MA-NH (+11.7 points). The smallest rate increase occurred in Dallas-Plano Irving, TX (+2.7 percentage 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 (-882,800), followed by Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA (-443,900), and Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL (-291,600).

Furthermore, the largest over-the-year percentage decreases in employment were observed in Lynn-Saugus-Marblehead, MA (-14.6%), Haverhill-Newburyport-Amesbury Town, MA-NH (-13.4 %), and Detroit Dearborn-Livonia, MI (-12.4%).

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