Jul. 8, 2008 at 11:06am

Unemployment rates continue climb

Unemployment rates were higher in May than a year earlier in 328 of the 369 metropolitan areas,  lower in 30 areas, and unchanged in 11 areas, the U.S. Department of  Labor reported today. Six areas reported jobless rates of at least 10 percent, while 16 areas registered rates below 3 percent. The national unemployment rate in May was 5.2 percent, not seasonally adjusted, up from 4.3 percent a year earlier. 

Pierce County's unemployment rate stands at 4.4 percent, up from 3.9 percent a year ago. Olympia's stands at 5.1 percent, up a percentage point from 2007.
 
In May, 40 metropolitan areas reported jobless rates of at least 7 percent, up from 16 areas a year earlier, while 89 areas posted rates below 4 percent, down from 164 areas in May 2007. El Centro,  Calif., continued to have the highest unemployment rate, at 19.2 percent, followed by the adjacent area of Yuma, Ariz., at 17.6 percent. 

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