In your region

Employment situation where you live

According to BLS data from April 2011, unemployment rates were lower in April than a year earlier in 297 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 54 areas, and unchanged in 21 areas. Twelve metropolitan areas registered unemployment above 15% and sixteen areas registered unemployment rates below 5%.

El Centro, Calif., recorded the highest unemployment rate in April 2011 at 27.9% while Bismarck, N.D., registered the lowest unemployment rate, 2.9%. In the largest metropolitan areas with a population of 1 million or greater, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA has the highest unemployment rate of 13.4% followed by Las Vegas at 12.1%. Oklahoma City, OK registered the lowest at 4.5% followed by Washington -Arlington-Alexandria, D.C.-Va.-Md.-W.Va. at 5.4%. All but one of the metropolitan divisions recorded over-the-year jobless rate decreases in April.

A closer look at unemployment news by region:

Source: BLS

• New England:
  • The largest county in New Hampshire is Hillsborough where average weekly wages are $945

• New York–New Jersey:
  • February employment in New York area up 42,000 over year; still 342,700 below 2008 level

• Mid–Atlantic:
  • Washington area job growth from April 2010 to April 2011 just below national average

• Southeast:
  • Prices in the South up 0.7% over the month and 3.4% over the year (PDF)

• Midwest:
  • Prices in the Chicago area rose 0.4% in April and 2.7% over the year.

• Southwest:
  • Dallas annual job growth leads among largest metropolitan areas in Apr 2011, Houston 2nd

• Mountain-Plains:
  • Midwest CPI up 0.7 percent in April; motor fuel costs rise for eighth consecutive month

• West:
  • Union members accounted for 17.5% of wage and salary workers in California in 2010 (PDF)