• Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment - October 2012

---

Unemployment: Rates were lower in October than a year earlier in 329 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 37 areas, and unchanged in 6 areas. Three areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent, while 41 areas registered rates of less than 5.0 percent. The largest over-the-year unemployment rate declines in October were registered in Pascagoula, Miss. (-3.1 percentage points), Elkhart-Goshen, Ind. (-2.9 points), and Ocala, Fla. (-2.8 points). Twenty-six additional areas had decreases of 2.0 percentage points or more. Elmira, N.Y., reported the largest over-the-year jobless rate increase (+1.1 percentage points), followed by Yuma, Ariz. (+1.0 point). Employment: 288 metropolitan areas reported over-the-year increases in nonfarm payroll employment, 80 reported decreases, and 4 had no change. The largest over-the-year employment increase occurred in New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa. (+128,000), followed by Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Texas (+95,800), and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif. (+78,300). The largest over-the-year percentage gain in employment was reported in Lafayette, La. (+8.5 percent), followed by Elkhart-Goshen, Ind. (+7.3 percent), and Columbus, Ind. (+7.2 percent).” Source: USDOL [complete report with CT data]

---