U.S. Metro Areas With the Highest Unemployment Rates
Though the United States has largely bounced back from the recession, with the national unemployment reaching pre-2008 levels, recovery across states and cities has been uneven.
While unemployment is only 2.1 percent in Hawaii as of July, for example, Alaska’s rate is at 6.9 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Likewise, rates across U.S. cities vary significantly. The unemployment rate isn’t just a useless statistic. It’s an important factor in economic growth and development, and it has an impact on career prospects.
In addition to states, cities and metro areas across the U.S. are ranked regularly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics by unemployment rates. Based on the latest available data as of July, here are the 15 metro areas with the highest unemployment rates in the country.
Numbers for unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.
15) Weirton-Steubenville, West Virginia-Ohio
Unemployment rate: 6.5 percent
Population: 124,454
This cross-state metro area is known as the Upper Ohio Valley. Weirton-Steubenville has experienced a slow economy since the fall of the steel industry in the 1980s, but in recent years, city leaders have attempted to attract new businesses, citing its proximity to Pittsburgh, as well as a major international airport and highways.
14) Brownsville-Harlingen, Texas
Unemployment rate: 6.6 percent
Population: 420,392
The ninth most populous metro area in Texas, Brownsville-Harlingen lies along the Rio Grande and Mexican border. One possible reason this area suffers from high unemployment? Its poorly educated workforce. Fewer than 67 percent of adult residents in the area have at least a high school diploma; that’s compared to 88 percent nationally, according to Census data.
13) Hammond, Louisiana
Unemployment rate: 6.6 percent
Population: 128,755
Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond is not only one of the state’s regional universities but also one of the city's largest employers. In addition to a high unemployment rate, about 32 percent of residents in the city live below the poverty line.
12) Yuba, California
Unemployment rate: 6.6 percent
Population: 164,138
This Northern California city is home to the Sutter Buttes, the smallest mountain range in the world. Its economy and residents rely on the largest dried fruit processing plant in the world, Sunsweet Growers Incorporated, as well as employers in retail and health care. Because the area is also heavily agricultural, its unemployment rate tends to fluctuate with the seasons.
11) Modesto, California
Unemployment rate: 6.7 percent
Population: 514,453
Despite its high unemployment rate, Modesto has peaceful residential areas and a strong agriculture industry. The birthplace of filmmaker and "Star Wars" creator George Lucas, it also bills itself as a filming location to production companies through the Modesto Film Commission.
10) McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas
Unemployment rate: 6.9 percent
Population: 774,769
It’s one of the fastest growing metro areas in the country. But it also has the lowest per capita income ($16,450) among the other metro areas and the lowest median household income, an estimated $37,106 according to census data.
9) Madera, California
Unemployment rate: 7 percent
Population: 152,465
Located in the San Joaquin Valley, this town’s economy once revolved around lumber. Today, Madera County is focused on attracting businesses, as well as residents, with its reasonable cost of living.
8) Vineland-Bridgeton, New Jersey
Unemployment rate: 7 percent
Population: 156,898
In addition to a high unemployment rate, Bridgeton has dealt with violent crime rates higher than the national average. To boost the economy, the city relies on a reduced 3.5 percent sales tax rate, compared to the 7 percent rate charged statewide, available at some retailers.
7) Fresno, California
Unemployment rate: 7.2 percent
Population: 972,297
Now California’s fifth largest city, Fresno has grown at an annual rate of about 0.8 percent since 2011. As for the unemployment rate? Job growth might not have been able to keep up with population growth.
6) Hanford-Corcoran, California
Unemployment rate: 7.5 percent
Population: 150,965
Some of the main industries here are hospitality and food processing, but the area’s agriculture sector, which is seasonal, might explain the high unemployment rate.
5) Merced, California
Unemployment rate: 8.1 percent
Population: 255,793
Known as the "Gateway to Yosemite," Merced is less than a two-hours’ drive to the national park, as well as to the Pacific Ocean to the west. In 2005, the city also became home to a University of California campus.
While Merced County has made large employment gains in the educational and health services sectors, its unemployment rate remains high.
4) Bakersfield, California
Unemployment rate: 8.2 percent
Population: 839,631
About 100 miles north of Los Angeles lies Bakersfield, the third-largest California city by land area and home to several higher education institutions. Despite its high unemployment rate, the city is a hub for agriculture, oil production, aerospace, mining, and manufacturing, among other industries.
3) Visalia-Porterville, California
Unemployment rate: 9.3 percent
Population: 459,863
While the Visalia-Porterville metro area is No. 3 on this list, it still ranks high in economic development. Its county, Tulare County, is considered a hot spot for short-term economic growth; its employment is driven by manufacturing, according to an industry publication.
2) El Centro, California
Unemployment rate: 19.3 percent
Population: 163,972
The largest city in the Imperial Valley, El Centro’s high unemployment rate garnered attention shortly after the recession began. Even with adjustments for seasonal variations in employments, it had one of the worst rates in the country. City officials posited, in The Economist in 2009, that many of its residents likely worked across the border in Mexicali, Mexico, depressing the unemployment rate.
1) Yuma, Arizona
Unemployment rate: 20.9 percent
Population: 203,247
The city of Yuma is known for its position on the Colorado River and its deep Old West history.
But this metro area has had one of the worst unemployment rates for years.
In 2013, the unemployment rate here was 34.5 percent, about 4.5 times the national average at the time. As the The Washington Post reported, experts blame the unusually high unemployment rate on its large migrant population that often goes uncounted, as well as seasonal occupations, like farming and tourism.