∙ U.S. Major Metropolitan Area Employment, Unemployment – May 2012

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Unemployment: Unemployment rates were lower in May than a year earlier in 331 of the 372 metropolitan areas report by the USDOL-BLS, higher in 32 areas, and unchanged in 9 areas. Five areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent, while 29 areas registered rates of less than 5.0 percent. Employment: In May, 266 metropolitan areas reported over-the-year increases in nonfarm payroll employment, 101 reported decreases, and 5 had no change. The largest over-the-year percentage gain in employment was reported in Lafayette, La. (+10.5 percent), followed by Columbus, Ind. (+9.4 percent), Odessa, Texas (+8.5 percent), and Gainesville, Ga. (+8.2 percent). Source: USDOL

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