What is the Latest US Unemployment Rate?

The latest announcement of US unemployment rate figures again make grim reading. Following the monthly announcement by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, (BLS); whilst not all areas have seen an increase, the total figures are well above those posted for the same period last year.

The figures, which are not adjusted according to seasonal demand and fluctuations, are still very much indicative that the recession is still evident. Of the three hundred and seventy two metropolitan areas, just fifteen reported increases in those in employment. There were also signs of recovery however; where ninety seven areas had jobless figures below seven percent, of which twenty one were below five percent. The situation is really borne out by the one hundred and twenty seven areas with rates in excess of ten percent.

On average, the rate across the entire country was reported at nine point four percent. Indicative of just how grim the reality, can be seen in the microcosm of New York; where the figures, of nine percent and three hundred and sixteen thousand unemployed, far exceed the losses felt after the terrorist attacks in September 2001.

New York does however have its reputation to fall back on; as with many major cities across the world; tourism rates continue to soar following the relative collapse of the dollar. The construction industry also maintains strength, helped by the Obama administration's stimulus in this sector

Nationally, California has been worst hit, and this has only been helped by a reduction in the number of workers coming across the Mexican border. To highlight this fact, the single biggest increase in unemployment rates was seen in El Centro, where just three point two percent short of a quarter of the population are now registered unemployed.

Even where falls have been towards the lower end, scant consolation is found. In Iowa, both Iowa City and Ames have seen percentage rates of just three point seven and three point eight respectively. Heading the way in this regards however, has been Bismarck, N. D., with a rise of just three point five percent.

As mentioned earlier, the national average is nine point four percent. However, when consideration is given to the fact that one hundred and forty eight metropolitan areas returned figures considerably above this, the true extent really becomes clear. However, this does of course mean that two hundred fell short of the average, and nine were in complete parity.

Unsurprisingly, in areas where the population exceeds one million, results left little room for encouragement. Fourteen of the forty nine areas posted unemployment rates of ten percent or above, with Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, California coming in at thirteen percent. This was topped only by Detroit Warren Livonia, Michigan, which hit a total of fourteen point nine percent for the month.

In those ten areas with the highest populations, the lowest figure was five point seven percent; this in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Indeed, results over the last year are far from good, with the lowest unemployment rate increase being one point seven percent.

Whilst shoots of recovery may yet be a little way off, the fact that employers have cut the lowest total number of jobs, (three hundred and forty five thousand), since September 2008 should at least give some solace to these figures. That the forecasts predicted far worse results too, the government will hope that signs of sustained growth and better unemployment rate numbers will be reported when June's results are delivered towards the end of this month.