Unemployment: The Worst-Hit Cities (MAP)

Unemployment rates climbed in all U.S. metropolitan areas from last May to this May, the government announced on Tuesday.

Of metro areas with a population of more than a million, Detroit wins the sad prize of highest unemployment, with a rate of 14.9 percent. The Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that El Centro, Calif. had the highest overall rate: 26.8 percent. Fifteen areas reported jobless rates of at least 15 percent: Seven in California, three in Michigan, and two in Indiana.

Oklahoma City and San Antonio, Texas, were the largest metro areas with the lowest rates, with 5.7 and 5.8 percent unemployment, respectively. The lowest rate of all cities was in Bismarck, N.D., at 3.5 percent, with Iowa City right behind at 3.7 and Ames, Iowa at 3.8 percent.

Overall, 148 metro areas reported unemployment above the national rate of 9.1 percent, and 215 areas reported lower rates.

The Brookings Institution released a study on June 17 that found that found that the recession is hurting U.S. cities at "radically varying levels." Unemployment was one of the key factors in Brookings' "MetroMonitor" report, which found that Detroit was the weakest-performing city in the country, economically speaking. San Antonio and Oklahoma City came out on top.

Here's a map from the Labor Department. Areas whose unemployment rates are higher than the national average are in dark gray; areas with lower unemployment are in light gray.

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Click here for a PDF of the BLS report.

Comments

[DrInsula]

Umm...I believe we are talking here about the US. I do not know what nation's map you were looking at when you claimed that "metro areas with low unemployment have universities, etc.," but on THIS map, EVERY metro area in the dark grey HIGH unemployment) has well respected universities, VA hospitals, and yes; county government offices! In fact, these are some of the worst-hit areas, and I should know, as I live in one in Southern California.

[enochsmoky]

I noticed that the metro areas with low unemployment have either big university, state or county government employment. The lesson that you can take from this is that the government workers very rarely take a hit with job loss, salary or benefit reductions. When will Americans in the private sector wake up and realize that they are subsidizing an evergrowing, inefficient public sector that is bought and paid for by the Democratic party?

[antifluff]

This is the change you can believe in, as promised. Hope you like it, because it will spread to every town and every state. There is no free lunch.

[Harry Scrote]

I know... and you and your ilk tell us that again and again.

[rogerthat21]

Take back the trillions of $$$ given to the banks, who just sit on it and make it totally ineffective then start government incentive to create realistic industries that give employment and generate real productive income, some of which would hopefully be from exports.

Every other country, especially China and most of Europe have goverment incentives to protect it's industries. No matter what you call it it's a form of protectionism and its inevitable. We should stop being naive and take care of our own house. The only ones who win if we don't are the multinational corporations who don't care where they get their hand out.

hat tip to: http://investmintideas.blogspot.com for the good articles

[GafferTapeLvr]

Spam much? 18 identical cut and paste posts on separate articles and blogs.

[logicalchoice]

You think this is bad. Wait until the states go down and see how high that number gets with all the firefighters, police, teachers, secretaries and executives out of work.

[VoteLibertarian]

Its funny the places with the lowest unemployments rates are states that will take the biggest hit from the cap n trade scam, agro and energy.. As I have seen many times at anti-war rallies I've attended, the socialists hold up signs that read "Let's all be miserable together." I give Socialists credit, at least they don't hide the fact that their policies don't really boost anyones quality of life, its just about reducing the size of the playing field.

[Harry Scrote]

Because republicanism has worked so well for us these last few years....

[confidance government]

Its interesting that the map correlates well with where the housing bubble was largest and the decaying, rotting, manufacturing industry around Michigan.

[SonofLiberty1]

Krugman is talking about a "Jobless Recovery".

I think it's time to redefine recovery here as in it's NOT a recovery until the jobs come back!

[confidance government]

I think you would be better served by not listening to his blatherings. In 2003 he wrote a piece in the NYT reccomending a "housing bubble" to replace the "internet bubble." He has the vision and foresight of the blind.

[logicalchoice]

That man wrote a paper about trade between countries and is now acting like he is the leading expert on all aspects of the economy.

Tip: Get a second opinion.

[Winston Smith]

If we could truly develop a renewable energy infrastructure we wouldn't really have to work but that would never happen. Schemers would still find ways to enslave the masses and the ignorant masses would still procreate like bunnies until the system broke...we are doomed.

[Harrier]

Look, all I can tell you I live in Long Beach, CA and been told there are 30,000 people who lost their jobs within the past 6 months. There are no records kept on people still looking for jobs who have been laid off for longer than 6 months. I know that number is even bigger. I have a roommate who has a masters degree in two fields and despite his strong efforts to find work, he has been unable to get a job for over 2 years. With aerospace coming down, manufacturing being farmed out because the US refuses to protect it, all jobs supporting manufacturing and related services are gone. Now we are seeing engineering, clerical, accounting and IT, software engineering jobs going oversea.

When I grew up, I was waiting on tables and had retail jobs to get me through college. But over that last 5 years, noticed college graduates filling those positions. I also found the older workers getting laid off in far more disproportionate in getting let go and although the government has been aware, nothing has been done. In fact, the work place has gotten more hostile to workers over 40.

The vast majority of lay off are 50 and over. There is no stimulus plan. No money has been released to add more jobs anywhere. Banks are using tax payer monies to far out more US jobs overseas. Clearly laws need to be put in place to protect the US worker.

[SonofLiberty1]

This past year, when the gas prices were still high, I did get a call from a head hunter and she said it's very competititve....

Time was that you could count on Temp agencies to come through...

Not anymore if you are middle aged I'm afraid!

I'm beginning to wonder just who has jobs?

Since when is a "Jobless Recovery" a recovery?

[DuganS1]

There are unemployment numbers that take into account people still looking for jobs who have been laid off for longer than 6 months.

[Blurp]

Wow! California is in REALLY bad shape. Nearly the whole state is dark grey.

[rupertmundy]

That is because the State has been run by progressive democrats for nearly ten years. Who says California still doesn't lead the nation?!

[The Meek]

Are you Californians going to let that comment slide by unopposed?

[Harry Scrote]

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL! Oh, and ha ha too!

[goingnow]

Thank you so much for bringing this map to us. Maps are always my favorite part of HuffPo. Luckily my city is only in a light gray, but probably if it was a map of foreclosures it would be dark grey. Are there any maps of foreclosures?

[tlgeiger62]

Yes there is and if you overlay it on top of the Unemployment map, it's pretty much lights out.

[cdrach]

but CNBC says there are green shoots as far as the eye can see-and they are always right. but then again we can't all be talking heads that hype up a Wall Street which produces noting tangible except demanding companies cut to the bone for the almighty "stock price"

[gemzenith]

How can wishful thinking become an actual predictive"poll"?

[StevieRae]

These regional numbers just emphasize that since we don't have a nation-wide crisis, addressing the issues of those most impacted will lack the national response. . It's that human trait showing itself again how when driving by a serious car accident, the reaction is usually, "glad it wasn't me."

It's the ultimate NIMBY expression. And this societal attitude emanates is from a country that espouses itself to the world to be a Christian nation.

Unfortunately, most don't realize that this economic meltdown will have an insidious impact on everyone. We just understand it now.