The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its unemployment summary for the Metropolitan area today. The report highlighted unemployment rates were lower in August than a year earlier in 323 of the 388 metropolitan areas, higher in 55 areas, and unchanged in 10 areas. According to the Bureau, “Thirty-two areas had jobless rates of less than 3.0% and three areas had rates of at least 10%. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 326 metropolitan areas, decreased in 55 areas, and was unchanged in 7 areas. The national unemployment rate in August was 4.5%, not seasonally adjusted, down from 5.0% a year earlier.”
In August, 326 metropolitan areas had over the year increases in nonfarm payroll employment, while 55 had decreases, and 7 reflected no change. The Bureau noted, “the largest over-the-year employment increases occurred in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA (+145,900), Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX (+96,700), and Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA (+86,400). The largest over-the-year percentage gains in employment occurred in Lake Charles, LA (+5.8 percent), Elkhart-Goshen, IN (+5.6 percent), and Sebring, FL (+5.1 percent).”
Additionally, The largest over-the-year decrease in employment occurred in, “Virginia Beach-Norfolk- Newport News, VA-NC (-4,500), followed by Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI (-3,100), and Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA (-2,100). The largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment occurred in Beckley, WV (-3.1 percent), followed by Michigan City-La Porte, IN (-2.6 percent), and Cape Girardeau, MO-IL (-2.5 percent),” as stated by The Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics also insisted that Hurricane Harvey had no, “discernable effect on the employment and unemployment data for August. Household survey data collection was completed before the storm. Establishment survey data collection for this news release was largely completed prior to the storm, and collection rates were within normal ranges nationally and for the affected areas.”
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