June 3, 2020

Unemployment rates trended upward for the month of April in all 389 metropolitan states compared to twelve months earlier. According to Bureau Labor Statistics (BLS), unemployment rates were, “A total of 52 areas had jobless rates of less than 10.0% and 12 areas had rates of at least 25.0%.” Non-farm payroll employment fell in 377 metropolitan areas and was stable in the remaining 12 areas. The national unemployment rate as at April 2020 rose to 14.4%, not seasonally adjusted, up from 3.3% 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 experienced the highest unemployment rates of 25.9%, followed by Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, MI, 23.6%, and Lawrence-Methuen Town-Salem, MA-NH, 21.7%. Whereas, Silver Spring Frederick-Rockville, MD, in April experienced the lowest unemployment rate among the divisions, 8.8%, followed by Washington-Arlington Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, 10.1%.

Moreover, BLS stated, “In April, all 38 metropolitan divisions had over-the-year unemployment rate increases. Detroit Dearborn-Livonia, MI, had the largest rate increase (+21.6 percentage points), followed by Warren Troy-Farmington Hills, MI, and Lawrence-Methuen Town-Salem, MA-NH (+20.3 points and +18.0 points, respectively). The smallest rate increases occurred in Silver Spring-Frederick-Rockville, MD (+6.2 percentage points), and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (+7.3 points).”

Metropolitan Division Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)

Nonfarm payroll employment fell in all of the 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 (-1,405,200), followed by Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA (-659,700), and Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL (-483,200).

Furthermore, the largest over-the-year percentage decreases in employment were observed in Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, MI (-25.9%), Detroit-Dearborn-Livonia, MI (-22.2%), and Nassau County-Suffolk County, NY (-21.7%).

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