• Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment - JUL 2012

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Unemployment: Unemployment rates were lower in July than a year earlier in 305 of the 372 Major metropolitan areas, higher in 52 areas, and unchanged in 15 areas. Seven areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent, while 18 areas registered rates of less than 5.0 percent. In Connecticut, all 6 major metro areas reported by the USDOL had higher unemployment rates than a year ago: Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, Danbury, Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, New Haven, Norwich-New London, and Waterbury. Employment: In July, 276 metropolitan areas reported over-the-year increases in nonfarm payroll employment, 93 reported decreases, and 3 had no change. The largest over-the-year employment increase occurred in New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.- Pa. (+90,400), followed by Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif. (+86,300), and Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Texas (+83,700). The largest over-the-year percentage gain in employment was reported in Lafayette, La. (+10.3 percent), followed by Columbus, Ind. (+8.3 percent), and Texarkana, Texas-Texarkana, Ark. (+7.0 percent). Source: USDOL-BLS

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