The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in August, unemployment rates rose in most American metro areas compared to the previous year, with 243 areas seeing increases and only 115 showing declines. Rapid City, SD, had the lowest jobless rate at 2.1%, while El Centro, CA, had the highest at 21.5%. Nonfarm employment grew in just 18 metro areas, with the largest job gains in New York, Philadelphia, and Phoenix. Most employment levels remained flat. The report highlights ongoing regional labor market challenges despite a national unemployment rate of 4.5%. They write:
Unemployment rates were higher in August than a year earlier in 243 of the 387 metropolitan areas, lower in 115 areas, and unchanged in 29 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. A total of 30 areas had jobless rates of less than 3.0 percent and 8 areas had rates of at least 8.0 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 18 metropolitan areas, decreased in 1 area, and was essentially unchanged in 368 areas. The national unemployment rate in August was 4.5 percent, not seasonally adjusted, little changed from 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 people 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 August, Rapid City, SD, had the lowest unemployment rate, 2.1 percent. El Centro, CA, had the highest rate, 21.5 percent. A total of 226 areas had August jobless rates below the U.S. rate of 4.5 percent, 145 areas had rates above it, and 16 areas had rates equal to that of the nation.
The largest over-the-year unemployment rate increases in August occurred in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX, and Eagle Pass, TX (+2.0 percentage points each). Eighteen other areas had rate increases of at least 1.0 percentage point. Kokomo, IN, had the largest over-the-year rate decrease in August (-4.5 percentage points). Eight other areas had rate declines of at least 1.0 percentage point.
Of the 56 metropolitan areas with a 2020 Census population of 1 million or more, Birmingham, AL, and Urban Honolulu, HI, had the lowest jobless rates in August, 2.5 percent each. Fresno, CA, had the highest rate, 7.9 percent. Forty large areas had over-the-year unemployment rate increases, 13 had decreases, and 3 had no change. The largest rate increase occurred in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (+1.0 percentage point). The largest jobless rate decline occurred in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (-1.0 percentage point).
Metropolitan Division Unemployment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
Thirteen of the most populous metropolitan areas are made up of 37 metropolitan divisions, which are essentially separately identifiable employment centers.
In August, Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL, had the lowest division unemployment rate, 2.9 percent. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA, had the highest rate among the divisions, 6.3 percent.
In August, 25 metropolitan divisions had over-the-year unemployment rate increases, 10 had decreases, and 2 had no change. The largest increase occurred in Wilmington, DE-MD-NJ (+1.0 percentage point). The largest unemployment rate decline from August 2024 occurred in Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg, IL (-1.1 percentage points).
Metropolitan Area Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
In August 2025, nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 18 metropolitan areas, decreased in 1 area, and was essentially unchanged in 368 areas.
The largest over-the-year employment increases occurred in:
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ (+136,000)
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (+57,700)
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ (+35,900)
The largest over-the-year percentage gains in employment occurred in:
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC (+6.1 percent)
Rochester, MN (+5.9 percent)
Charleston-North Charleston, SC (+3.2 percent)
Employment decreased over the year in Bozeman, MT (-3,000, or -3.8 percent).
Over the year, nonfarm employment increased in 9 metropolitan areas with a 2020 Census population of 1 million or more and was essentially unchanged in 47 areas. The largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment in these large metropolitan areas occurred in:
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC (+2.5 percent)
Urban Honolulu, HI (+2.2 percent)
Richmond, VA (+2.1 percent)
Metropolitan Division Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
In August, nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 4 metropolitan divisions and was essentially unchanged in 33 divisions.
The over-the-year increases in employment occurred in:
New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ (+113,400, or +1.8 percent)
Philadelphia, PA (+21,400, or +2.1 percent)
Tampa, FL (+17,300, or +1.6 percent)
Camden, NJ (+14,200, or +2.5 percent)
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