(BLS) — The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics today posted a summary for metropolitan area employment and unemployment for January.
Unemployment rates were higher in January than a year earlier in 252 of the 387 metropolitan areas, lower in 101 areas, and unchanged in 34 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. A total of 15 areas had jobless rates of less than 3.0 percent and 14 areas had rates of at least 8.0 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 9 metropolitan areas, decreased in 6 areas, and was essentially unchanged in 372 areas. The national unemployment rate in January was 4.7 percent, not seasonally adjusted, up from 4.4 percent a year earlier.
This news release presents statistics from two monthly programs. The civilian labor force and unemployment data are based on the same concepts and definitions as those used for the national household survey estimates. These data pertain to people by where they reside. The employment data are from an establishment survey that measures nonfarm employment, hours, and earnings by industry. These data pertain to jobs on payrolls defined by where the establishments are located.
Metropolitan Area Unemployment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
In January, Urban Honolulu, HI, had the lowest unemployment rate, 2.1 percent. El Centro, CA, had the highest rate, 18.6 percent. A total of 212 areas had January jobless rates below the U.S. rate of 4.7 percent, 164 areas had rates above it, and 11 areas had rates equal to that of the nation. (See table 1.)
The largest over-the-year unemployment rate increase in January occurred in Wildwood-The Villages, FL (+2.4 percentage points). Fifty-nine other areas had rate increases of at least 1.0 percentage point. Asheville, NC, had the largest over-the-year rate decrease in January (-2.4 percentage points). Ten other areas had rate declines of at least 1.0 percentage point.
Of the 56 metropolitan areas with a 2020 Census population of 1 million or more, Urban Honolulu, HI, had the lowest jobless rate in January, 2.1 percent. Fresno, CA, had the highest rate, 8.8 percent. Thirty-nine large areas had over-the-year unemployment rate increases, 12 had decreases, and 5 had no change. The largest rate increase occurred in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (+1.6 percentage points). The largest jobless rate declines occurred in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN; Columbus, OH; and Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN (-0.8 percentage point each).
Metropolitan Division Unemployment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
Thirteen of the most populous metropolitan areas are made up of 37 metropolitan divisions, which are essentially separately identifiable employment centers. In January, Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL, had the lowest division unemployment rate, 2.6 percent. Tacoma-Lakewood, WA, had the highest rate among the divisions, 6.4 percent. (See table 2.)
In January, 26 metropolitan divisions had over-the-year unemployment rate increases, 8 had decreases, and 3 had no change. The largest increase occurred in Tacoma-Lakewood, WA (+1.7 percentage points). Eight other divisions had rate increases of at least 1.0 percentage point. The largest unemployment rate decline from January 2025 occurred in Lake County-Porter County-Jasper County, IN (-1.3 percentage points).
Metropolitan Area Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
In January 2026, nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 9 metropolitan areas, decreased in 6 areas, and was essentially unchanged in 372 areas. The largest over-the-year employment increases occurred in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (+19,300), Fresno, CA (+8,100), and Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR (+7,300). The largest over-the-year percentage gains in employment occurred in Merced, CA (+6.0 percent), Barnstable Town, MA (+5.9 percent), and Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ (+4.5 percent). The largest over-the-year employment decreases occurred in Washington Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (-103,900), Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (-30,200), and Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (-22,700). The largest over-the-year percentage decreases occurred in Bloomington, IN (-8.1 percent), Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ (-5.2 percent), and Yuma, AZ (-4.4 percent). (See table 3.)
Over the year, nonfarm employment decreased in 3 metropolitan areas with a 2020 Census population of 1 million or more, increased in 2 areas, and was essentially unchanged in 51 areas. The over-the-year decreases in employment occurred in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (-3.1 percent), Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (-1.8 percent), and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (-1.1 percent). Over the year, employment increased in Fresno, CA (+1.9 percent), and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (+1.7 percent).
Metropolitan Division Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
In January, nonfarm payroll employment decreased over the year in 3 metropolitan divisions, increased in 1 division, and was essentially unchanged in 33 divisions. The over-the-year decreases in employment occurred in Washington, DC-MD (-53,300, or -4.7 percent), Arlington-Alexandria-Reston, VA-WV (-26,800, or -1.7 percent), and Frederick-Gaithersburg-Bethesda, MD (-23,800, or -3.9 percent). The over-the-year increase in employment among the metropolitan divisions occurred in Marietta, GA (+12,000, or +2.1 percent). (See table 4.)