September 2011
National Association of REALTORS
Research Division Compilation of Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Data Highlights
Among the 27 metro areas reviewed, the Washington DC area continues to have the lowest unemployment rate, 6.2 percent in August, while Las Vegas continues to have the highest, at 14.3 percent in August. Looking at changes in the last year, 20 large metro areas reviewed saw decreases, or improvement, in the unemployment rate. Two large metro areas reviewed saw an increase, or worsening, in the unemployment rate in that time period, and 5 metro areas had unchanged unemployment rates. By comparison, the unemployment rate in the US decreased by 0.5 percentage points in the year. Portland, OR had the greatest improvement in unemployment rate over the year. The unemployment rate there fell by 1.5 percentage points, from 10.5 percent to 9.0 percent. This good news is reinforced by the fact that in the same period, Portland saw growth in the size of the labor force of 0.5 percent. By comparison, the US labor force declined by 0.2 percent in the same period. Payroll job growth is pictured in the graphs that follow. Fifteen areas saw job gains in the month while 12 areas saw job losses. From one year ago, 23 metro areas have job gains.
0. 00 0. 00 0. 00 0. 00 0 .0
t n c r e P
0 .0 0 .0 0 .0 0 .0
10
2
S ource: Bureau of Labor S tatistics
07
08
09
10
09/29/11
11
14
12
10
4
S ource: Bureau of Labor S tatistics
07
08
09
10
09/29/11
11
12
10
2
S ource: Bureau of Labor S tatistics
07
08
09
10
09/29/11
11
12
10
2
S ource: Bureau of Labor S tatistics
07
08
09
10
09/29/11
11
10
2
S ource: Bureau of Labor S tatistics
07
08
09
10
09/29/11
11
2
S ource: Bureau of Labor S tatistics
07
08
09
10
09/29/11
11
12
10
4
S ource: Bureau of Labor S tatistics
07
08
09
10
09/29/11
11
12
10
2
S ource: Bureau of Labor S tatistics
07
08
09
10
09/29/11
11
10
2
S ource: Bureau of Labor S tatistics
07
08
09
10
09/29/11
11
9 8 7 6 5 4 3
S ource: Bureau of Labor S tatistics
07
08
09
10
09/29/11
11
18 16 14 12 10 8 6
S ource: Bureau of Labor S tatistics
07
08
09
10
09/29/11
11
9 8 7 6 5 4 3
S ource: Bureau of Labor S tatistics
07
08
09
10
09/29/11
11
12
10
4
S ource: Bureau of Labor S tatistics
07
08
09
10
09/29/11
11
07
08
09
10
09/29/11
11
10
2
S ource: Bureau of Labor S tatistics
07
08
09
10
09/29/11
11
14
12
10
4
S ource: Bureau of Labor S tatistics
07
08
09
10
09/29/11
11
Unem ploym Rate, Cincinnati-Midd ent letown-W ing ilm ton, OH Y CS -K -IN A
%
12
10
4
S ource: Bureau of Labor S tatistics
07
08
09
10
09/29/11
11
12
10
4
S ource: Bureau of Labor S tatistics
07
08
09
10
09/29/11
11
10 9 8 7 6 5 4
S ource: Bureau of Labor S tatistics
07
08
09
10
09/29/11
11
12
10
4
S ource: Bureau of Labor S tatistics
07
08
09
10
09/29/11
11
Unem ploym Rate, P ent hiladelphia-Cam den-W ing ilm ton, P A-NJ-DE-MD
%
10
2
S ource: Bureau of Labor S tatistics
07
08
09
10
09/29/11
11
10
2
S ource: Bureau of Labor S tatistics
07
08
09
10
09/29/11
11
12
10
4
S ource: Bureau of Labor S tatistics
07
08
09
10
09/29/11
11
9 8 7 6 5 4 3
S ource: Bureau of Labor S tatistics
07
08
09
10
09/29/11
11
4
S ource: Bureau of Labor S tatistics
07
08
09
10
09/29/11
11
12
10
2
S ource: Bureau of Labor S tatistics
07
08
09
10
09/29/11
11
12
10
4
S ource: Bureau of Labor S tatistics
07
08
09
10
09/29/11
11