Unemployment rate highest in El Centro, California, lowest in Ames, Iowa, January 2019
March 27, 2019
In January, El Centro, California, had the highest unemployment rate at 18.5 percent, followed by Yuma, Arizona, at 15.3 percent. Ames, Iowa, had the lowest unemployment rate at 1.9 percent, followed by Burlington-South Burlington, Vermont, at 2.1 percent. Unemployment rates were below the U.S. rate of 4.4 percent in 198 metropolitan areas and above it in 176 areas. Rates were equal to the national rate in 15 areas.
Unemployment rates for metropolitan areas, not seasonally adjusted, January 2019
Metropolitan area
January 2019 (p)
January 2018
Over-the-year change
El Centro, CA
18.5%
17.0%
1.5 percentage points(s)
Yuma, AZ
15.3
14.3
1.0
Ocean City, NJ
13.8
15.5
-1.7
Visalia-Porterville, CA
11.3
11.1
0.2
Merced, CA
10.3
10.0
0.3
Salinas, CA
10.0
9.6
0.4
Hanford-Corcoran, CA
9.8
9.3
0.5
Yakima, WA
9.8
9.3
0.5
Bakersfield, CA
9.1
9.2
-0.1
Yuba City, CA
9.0
8.7
0.3
Fresno, CA
8.9
8.7
0.2
Madera, CA
8.6
8.3
0.3
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX
7.6
7.7
-0.1
Kankakee, IL
7.5
6.2
1.3
Flagstaff, AZ
7.4
6.2
1.2
Modesto, CA
7.4
7.4
0.0
Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ
7.4
8.4
-1.0
Kennewick-Richland, WA
7.2
7.4
-0.2
Stockton-Lodi, CA
7.2
7.1
0.1
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ
7.1
8.2
-1.1
Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ
7.1
6.3
0.8
Rockford, IL
7.1
5.8
1.3
Danville, IL
7.0
6.8
0.2
Grants Pass, OR
7.0
6.5
0.5
Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ
7.0
6.0
1.0
Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH
7.0
7.6
-0.6
Wenatchee, WA
7.0
6.9
0.1
Decatur, IL
6.9
5.9
1.0
Longview, WA
6.9
7.0
-0.1
Parkersburg-Vienna, WV
6.8
6.7
0.1
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA
6.8
6.8
0.0
Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA
6.8
7.9
-1.1
Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
6.7
6.9
-0.2
Fairbanks, AK
6.7
6.8
-0.1
Peoria, IL
6.7
5.9
0.8
Watertown-Fort Drum, NY
6.7
8.3
-1.6
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX
6.6
7.4
-0.8
Chico, CA
6.6
5.8
0.8
Farmington, NM
6.6
6.4
0.2
Las Cruces, NM
6.5
6.4
0.1
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
6.5
6.3
0.2
Anchorage, AK
6.4
6.6
-0.2
Beckley, WV
6.4
6.5
-0.1
Dalton, GA
6.4
6.6
-0.2
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA
6.3
6.3
0.0
Pueblo, CO
6.3
4.8
1.5
Walla Walla, WA
6.3
6.5
-0.2
Wheeling, WV-OH
6.3
6.8
-0.5
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH
6.2
6.4
-0.2
Pine Bluff, AR
6.2
5.5
0.7
Redding, CA
6.2
5.7
0.5
Canton-Massillon, OH
6.1
5.8
0.3
Panama City, FL
6.1
4.5
1.6
Cumberland, MD-WV
6.0
6.9
-0.9
Hammond, LA
6.0
5.4
0.6
Rocky Mount, NC
6.0
6.4
-0.4
Carbondale-Marion, IL
5.9
5.2
0.7
Charleston, WV
5.9
6.0
-0.1
Fayetteville, NC
5.9
5.7
0.2
Homosassa Springs, FL
5.9
6.1
-0.2
Mansfield, OH
5.9
5.8
0.1
Medford, OR
5.9
5.5
0.4
Salisbury, MD-DE
5.9
7.0
-1.1
Barnstable Town, MA
5.8
6.5
-0.7
Bay City, MI
5.8
6.3
-0.5
Grand Junction, CO
5.8
4.6
1.2
Monroe, LA
5.8
5.1
0.7
New Bedford, MA
5.8
7.4
-1.6
Toledo, OH
5.8
5.4
0.4
Akron, OH
5.7
5.4
0.3
Alexandria, LA
5.7
5.4
0.3
Bend-Redmond, OR
5.7
5.3
0.4
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC
5.7
6.3
-0.6
Saginaw, MI
5.7
6.1
-0.4
Springfield, IL
5.7
4.8
0.9
Waterbury, CT
5.7
6.6
-0.9
Columbus, GA-AL
5.6
5.6
0.0
The Villages, FL
5.6
5.9
-0.3
Albany, GA
5.5
5.1
0.4
Albany, OR
5.5
5.3
0.2
Bellingham, WA
5.5
5.7
-0.2
Bloomington, IL
5.5
4.6
0.9
Champaign-Urbana, IL
5.5
4.7
0.8
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL
5.5
5.1
0.4
Flint, MI
5.5
6.1
-0.6
Jacksonville, NC
5.5
5.2
0.3
Michigan City-La Porte, IN
5.5
5.1
0.4
Olympia-Tumwater, WA
5.5
5.6
-0.1
Prescott, AZ
5.5
4.8
0.7
Texarkana, TX-AR
5.5
4.8
0.7
Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL
5.4
4.9
0.5
Glens Falls, NY
5.4
6.6
-1.2
Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, MS
5.4
5.3
0.1
Rome, GA
5.4
4.6
0.8
Shreveport-Bossier City, LA
5.4
5.0
0.4
Springfield, OH
5.4
4.8
0.6
Terre Haute, IN
5.4
4.8
0.6
Tucson, AZ
5.4
4.7
0.7
Binghamton, NY
5.3
6.6
-1.3
Bremerton-Silverdale, WA
5.3
5.5
-0.2
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA
5.3
5.9
-0.6
Sebring, FL
5.3
5.4
-0.1
Cleveland-Elyria, OH
5.2
5.4
-0.2
Corpus Christi, TX
5.2
5.9
-0.7
Duluth, MN-WI
5.2
5.0
0.2
Houma-Thibodaux, LA
5.2
5.0
0.2
Johnstown, PA
5.2
6.1
-0.9
Mobile, AL
5.2
5.3
-0.1
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
5.2
5.2
0.0
Albuquerque, NM
5.1
5.0
0.1
Coeur d'Alene, ID
5.1
5.2
-0.1
Dayton, OH
5.1
4.7
0.4
East Stroudsburg, PA
5.1
6.1
-1.0
Eugene, OR
5.1
4.9
0.2
Lafayette, LA
5.1
5.1
0.0
Lima, OH
5.1
5.0
0.1
Salem, OR
5.1
4.8
0.3
Utica-Rome, NY
5.1
6.0
-0.9
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY
5.0
6.0
-1.0
Carson City, NV
5.0
5.8
-0.8
Colorado Springs, CO
5.0
3.7
1.3
Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL
5.0
5.0
0.0
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
5.0
4.4
0.6
Williamsport, PA
5.0
5.9
-0.9
Macon-Bibb County, GA
4.9
5.0
-0.1
New Bern, NC
4.9
4.6
0.3
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
4.8
4.9
-0.1
Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA
4.8
5.8
-1.0
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
4.8
4.9
-0.1
Goldsboro, NC
4.8
4.8
0.0
Hot Springs, AR
4.8
4.7
0.1
Missoula, MT
4.8
4.4
0.4
Morgantown, WV
4.8
4.6
0.2
New Orleans-Metairie, LA
4.8
4.5
0.3
Niles-Benton Harbor, MI
4.8
5.4
-0.6
Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI
4.8
5.3
-0.5
Ocala, FL
4.8
5.0
-0.2
Pittsfield, MA
4.8
5.5
-0.7
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA
4.8
5.3
-0.5
St. Cloud, MN
4.8
4.4
0.4
Baton Rouge, LA
4.7
4.3
0.4
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
4.7
5.1
-0.4
Casper, WY
4.7
5.6
-0.9
Erie, PA
4.7
5.8
-1.1
Greensboro-High Point, NC
4.7
4.6
0.1
Greenville, NC
4.7
4.6
0.1
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT
4.7
5.2
-0.5
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV
4.7
5.3
-0.6
Muncie, IN
4.7
4.2
0.5
Muskegon, MI
4.7
5.5
-0.8
Syracuse, NY
4.7
5.8
-1.1
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA
4.7
4.5
0.2
Dothan, AL
4.6
4.5
0.1
El Paso, TX
4.6
4.6
0.0
Hinesville, GA
4.6
4.8
-0.2
Killeen-Temple, TX
4.6
4.3
0.3
Kokomo, IN
4.6
3.8
0.8
New Haven, CT
4.6
5.1
-0.5
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
4.6
4.6
0.0
Santa Fe, NM
4.6
4.5
0.1
Warner Robins, GA
4.6
4.8
-0.2
Brunswick, GA
4.5
4.4
0.1
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
4.5
4.3
0.2
Columbus, OH
4.5
4.1
0.4
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
4.5
5.0
-0.5
Elmira, NY
4.5
6.0
-1.5
Gadsden, AL
4.5
4.5
0.0
Grand Island, NE
4.5
5.0
-0.5
Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV
4.5
4.8
-0.3
Hattiesburg, MS
4.5
4.4
0.1
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
4.5
4.9
-0.4
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
4.5
4.5
0.0
Monroe, MI
4.5
5.0
-0.5
Rochester, NY
4.5
5.4
-0.9
Springfield, MA-CT
4.5
5.0
-0.5
Valdosta, GA
4.5
4.4
0.1
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
4.4
5.1
-0.7
Battle Creek, MI
4.4
5.0
-0.6
Bloomington, IN
4.4
3.8
0.6
Fort Smith, AR-OK
4.4
4.6
-0.2
Great Falls, MT
4.4
4.5
-0.1
Jackson, MS
4.4
4.3
0.1
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
4.4
4.8
-0.4
Longview, TX
4.4
4.7
-0.3
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
4.4
4.7
-0.3
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
4.4
4.3
0.1
Port St. Lucie, FL
4.4
4.7
-0.3
Punta Gorda, FL
4.4
4.5
-0.1
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA
4.4
4.2
0.2
Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL
4.4
4.8
-0.4
Wilmington, NC
4.4
4.3
0.1
Billings, MT
4.3
4.1
0.2
Burlington, NC
4.3
4.0
0.3
Cheyenne, WY
4.3
4.5
-0.2
Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY
4.3
4.6
-0.3
Jackson, MI
4.3
5.0
-0.7
Laredo, TX
4.3
4.0
0.3
Lewiston, ID-WA
4.3
4.2
0.1
Memphis, TN-MS-AR
4.3
4.5
-0.2
Midland, MI
4.3
5.2
-0.9
Montgomery, AL
4.3
4.2
0.1
Pittsburgh, PA
4.3
5.2
-0.9
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
4.3
4.2
0.1
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
4.3
3.9
0.4
Altoona, PA
4.2
4.8
-0.6
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
4.2
4.2
0.0
Bangor, ME
4.2
3.9
0.3
Bowling Green, KY
4.2
4.3
-0.1
Clarksville, TN-KY
4.2
4.5
-0.3
Danbury, CT
4.2
4.5
-0.3
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL
4.2
4.5
-0.3
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
4.2
4.0
0.2
Lawton, OK
4.2
4.4
-0.2
Leominster-Gardner, MA
4.2
4.9
-0.7
Morristown, TN
4.2
4.6
-0.4
Savannah, GA
4.2
4.1
0.1
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
4.2
4.4
-0.2
Winston-Salem, NC
4.2
4.2
0.0
Athens-Clarke County, GA
4.1
4.0
0.1
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
4.1
4.6
-0.5
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
4.1
4.2
-0.1
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL
4.1
4.3
-0.2
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
4.1
3.1
1.0
Johnson City, TN
4.1
4.4
-0.3
Kingston, NY
4.1
5.2
-1.1
Lake Charles, LA
4.1
3.9
0.2
Lansing-East Lansing, MI
4.1
4.7
-0.6
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
4.1
4.7
-0.6
Racine, WI
4.1
4.0
0.1
Reading, PA
4.1
4.7
-0.6
Topeka, KS
4.1
3.9
0.2
Wichita, KS
4.1
4.1
0.0
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
4.0
4.9
-0.9
Auburn-Opelika, AL
4.0
4.0
0.0
California-Lexington Park, MD
4.0
4.5
-0.5
Decatur, AL
4.0
4.2
-0.2
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
4.0
3.8
0.2
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI
4.0
4.6
-0.6
Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA
4.0
4.2
-0.2
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
4.0
4.0
0.0
Napa, CA
4.0
3.9
0.1
Owensboro, KY
4.0
4.7
-0.7
Reno, NV
4.0
4.4
-0.4
St. Louis, MO-IL
4.0
3.9
0.1
Sumter, SC
4.0
5.2
-1.2
Trenton, NJ
4.0
4.4
-0.4
Tuscaloosa, AL
4.0
4.2
-0.2
Twin Falls, ID
4.0
3.6
0.4
Tyler, TX
4.0
4.0
0.0
Victoria, TX
4.0
4.4
-0.4
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
3.9
3.9
0.0
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
3.9
3.7
0.2
Florence, SC
3.9
4.7
-0.8
Lewiston-Auburn, ME
3.9
3.5
0.4
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
3.9
3.8
0.1
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL
3.9
4.2
-0.3
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL
3.9
4.3
-0.4
Raleigh, NC
3.9
3.8
0.1
Tallahassee, FL
3.9
4.0
-0.1
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
3.9
4.0
-0.1
Waco, TX
3.9
3.9
0.0
Worcester, MA-CT
3.9
4.4
-0.5
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL
3.8
3.9
-0.1
Cleveland, TN
3.8
4.1
-0.3
Dover, DE
3.8
4.8
-1.0
Eau Claire, WI
3.8
3.5
0.3
Fort Collins, CO
3.8
2.8
1.0
Gainesville, FL
3.8
4.0
-0.2
Greeley, CO
3.8
3.0
0.8
Huntsville, AL
3.8
3.9
-0.1
Ithaca, NY
3.8
4.6
-0.8
Jacksonville, FL
3.8
3.9
-0.1
Kansas City, MO-KS
3.8
4.0
-0.2
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
3.8
4.0
-0.2
North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL
3.8
3.9
-0.1
Ogden-Clearfield, UT
3.8
3.4
0.4
Pocatello, ID
3.8
3.8
0.0
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
3.8
3.6
0.2
Tulsa, OK
3.8
4.3
-0.5
Wichita Falls, TX
3.8
3.6
0.2
Boise City, ID
3.7
3.7
0.0
Chattanooga, TN-GA
3.7
4.0
-0.3
Elkhart-Goshen, IN
3.7
2.5
1.2
Fort Wayne, IN
3.7
3.3
0.4
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
3.7
3.3
0.4
Jackson, TN
3.7
4.3
-0.6
Janesville-Beloit, WI
3.7
3.6
0.1
Jonesboro, AR
3.7
3.8
-0.1
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
3.7
3.3
0.4
Lebanon, PA
3.7
4.4
-0.7
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
3.7
3.8
-0.1
Abilene, TX
3.6
3.6
0.0
Asheville, NC
3.6
3.6
0.0
Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA
3.6
4.4
-0.8
Evansville, IN-KY
3.6
3.3
0.3
Lawrence, KS
3.6
3.2
0.4
Lynchburg, VA
3.6
4.3
-0.7
Manhattan, KS
3.6
3.1
0.5
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
3.6
3.3
0.3
Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL
3.6
3.8
-0.2
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL
3.6
3.8
-0.2
Rochester, MN
3.6
3.5
0.1
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX
3.6
3.5
0.1
St. George, UT
3.6
3.6
0.0
St. Joseph, MO-KS
3.6
3.4
0.2
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
3.6
3.9
-0.3
York-Hanover, PA
3.6
4.5
-0.9
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA
3.5
3.8
-0.3
Boulder, CO
3.5
2.7
0.8
Cedar Rapids, IA
3.5
3.9
-0.4
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL
3.5
3.7
-0.2
Gainesville, GA
3.5
3.6
-0.1
Lexington-Fayette, KY
3.5
3.6
-0.1
Oklahoma City, OK
3.5
3.7
-0.2
Rapid City, SD
3.5
3.7
-0.2
San Angelo, TX
3.5
3.4
0.1
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA
3.5
3.4
0.1
Sherman-Denison, TX
3.5
3.5
0.0
Bismarck, ND
3.4
3.8
-0.4
Cape Girardeau, MO-IL
3.4
3.7
-0.3
Columbia, SC
3.4
4.2
-0.8
Corvallis, OR
3.4
3.1
0.3
Dubuque, IA
3.4
3.8
-0.4
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA
3.4
4.2
-0.8
Idaho Falls, ID
3.4
3.4
0.0
Knoxville, TN
3.4
3.7
-0.3
La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
3.4
3.3
0.1
Mankato-North Mankato, MN
3.4
3.1
0.3
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI
3.4
3.3
0.1
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
3.4
3.8
-0.4
Austin-Round Rock, TX
3.3
3.1
0.2
Enid, OK
3.3
3.6
-0.3
Grand Forks, ND-MN
3.3
3.4
-0.1
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC
3.3
4.2
-0.9
Lancaster, PA
3.3
4.0
-0.7
Lubbock, TX
3.3
3.2
0.1
Portland-South Portland, ME
3.3
3.0
0.3
Richmond, VA
3.3
3.7
-0.4
Santa Rosa, CA
3.3
3.2
0.1
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
3.2
3.6
-0.4
College Station-Bryan, TX
3.2
3.2
0.0
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
3.2
3.3
-0.1
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO
3.2
3.1
0.1
Gettysburg, PA
3.2
3.9
-0.7
Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
3.2
3.7
-0.5
Green Bay, WI
3.2
3.2
0.0
Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC
3.2
4.0
-0.8
Joplin, MO
3.2
3.2
0.0
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD
3.2
3.6
-0.4
Spartanburg, SC
3.2
4.1
-0.9
Springfield, MO
3.2
3.2
0.0
State College, PA
3.2
3.7
-0.5
Winchester, VA-WV
3.2
3.4
-0.2
Amarillo, TX
3.1
2.9
0.2
Appleton, WI
3.1
3.1
0.0
Columbus, IN
3.1
2.9
0.2
Fargo, ND-MN
3.1
3.3
-0.2
Jefferson City, MO
3.1
3.3
-0.2
Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA
3.1
3.3
-0.2
Roanoke, VA
3.1
3.6
-0.5
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
3.1
3.1
0.0
Charleston-North Charleston, SC
3.0
3.7
-0.7
Charlottesville, VA
3.0
3.3
-0.3
Fond du Lac, WI
3.0
3.0
0.0
Harrisonburg, VA
3.0
3.4
-0.4
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
3.0
3.0
0.0
Staunton-Waynesboro, VA
3.0
3.5
-0.5
Ann Arbor, MI
2.9
3.4
-0.5
Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI
2.9
2.4
0.5
Wausau, WI
2.9
2.9
0.0
Dover-Durham, NH-ME
2.8
2.9
-0.1
Odessa, TX
2.8
3.2
-0.4
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI
2.8
2.9
-0.1
Salt Lake City, UT
2.8
3.1
-0.3
Sioux Falls, SD
2.8
3.1
-0.3
Columbia, MO
2.7
2.7
0.0
Lincoln, NE
2.7
2.8
-0.1
Manchester, NH
2.7
3.0
-0.3
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
2.7
3.0
-0.3
Portsmouth, NH-ME
2.7
2.9
-0.2
Sheboygan, WI
2.7
2.7
0.0
Urban Honolulu, HI
2.7
2.3
0.4
Madison, WI
2.6
2.6
0.0
Provo-Orem, UT
2.6
2.8
-0.2
Logan, UT-ID
2.5
2.7
-0.2
Iowa City, IA
2.3
2.5
-0.2
Midland, TX
2.3
2.4
-0.1
Burlington-South Burlington, VT
2.1
2.5
-0.4
Ames, IA
1.9
1.9
0.0
Unemployment rates were lower than a year earlier in 199 of the 389 metropolitan areas, higher in 150 areas, and unchanged in 40 areas.
Ocean City, New Jersey, had the largest over-the-year unemployment rate decrease in January (–1.7 percentage points). An additional 17 areas had rate declines of at least 1.0 percentage point. The largest over-the-year rate increase occurred in Panama City, Florida, (+1.6 percentage points).
These data are from the Local Area Unemployment Statistics program and are not seasonally adjusted. Data for the most recent month are preliminary. To learn more, see "Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment — January 2019 ." Also see Charts related to the latest "Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment" news release .
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