US cities with the highest and lowest unemployment
By: The Associated Press
| Unemployment rates fell in August in nearly 90 percent of large U.S. metro areas, mainly because more people gave up looking for work. |
| The Labor Department said Wednesday that unemployment rates dropped in 329 large cities, the most in four months. Rates rose in 24 cities and were unchanged in 19. |
| Here are the 10 cities with the highest unemployment and the 10 with the lowest: |
| Best and Worst metro areas |
| Figures are in percentages |
| Highest unemployment rates Aug. 2012 |
| El Centro, Calif. 29.9 |
| Yuma, Ariz. 29.9 |
| Yuba City, Calif. 15.9 |
| Merced, Calif. 15.9 |
| Visalia-Porterville, Calif. 15 |
| Modesto, Calif. 14.5 |
| Stockton, Calif. 14.3 |
| Fresno, Calif. 14 |
| Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton, NJ 13.9 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, Calif. 13.6 |
| Lowest unemployment rates Aug. 2012 |
| Bismarck, N.D. 2.6 |
| Fargo, N.D. 3.2 |
| Lincoln, Neb. 3.3 |
| Midland, Texas 3.8 |
| Grand Forks, N.D. 3.9 |
| Sioux Falls, S.D. 3.9 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs, Neb. 4.2 |
| Rapid City, S.D. 4.2 |
| Iowa City, Iowa 4.3 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, Vt. 4.3 |