| Rank | Metro area | August 2026 | August 2025 | Change | Labor force |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland, OH | 1.8% | 3.6% | −1.8 pts | 1,108,660 |
| 2 | Bismarck, ND | 2.0% | 2.3% | −0.3 pts | 74,747 |
| 3 | Minot, ND | 2.1% | 2.5% | −0.4 pts | 40,943 |
| 3 | Rapid City, SD | 2.1% | 2.1% | 0.0 pts | 81,890 |
| 5 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | 2.2% | 2.1% | +0.1 pts | 177,228 |
| 6 | Bozeman, MT | 2.3% | 2.4% | −0.1 pts | 79,520 |
| 7 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | 2.4% | 2.5% | −0.1 pts | 126,792 |
| 8 | Fargo, ND-MN | 2.6% | 2.7% | −0.1 pts | 155,857 |
| 8 | Grand Island, NE | 2.6% | 3.0% | −0.4 pts | 43,323 |
| 8 | Lincoln, NE | 2.6% | 2.8% | −0.2 pts | 199,110 |
| 11 | Portland-South Portland, ME | 2.7% | 2.6% | +0.1 pts | 320,840 |
| 12 | Casper, WY | 2.8% | 2.9% | −0.1 pts | 40,095 |
| 12 | Gainesville, GA | 2.8% | 3.1% | −0.3 pts | 111,582 |
| 12 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | 2.8% | 2.8% | 0.0 pts | 57,009 |
| 12 | Helena, MT | 2.8% | 3.0% | −0.2 pts | 48,068 |
| 12 | Missoula, MT | 2.8% | 3.0% | −0.2 pts | 73,683 |
| 17 | Cheyenne, WY | 2.9% | 3.0% | −0.1 pts | 46,987 |
| 17 | Decatur, AL | 2.9% | 2.5% | +0.4 pts | 77,996 |
| 17 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | 2.9% | 3.4% | −0.5 pts | 327,409 |
| 17 | Hattiesburg, MS | 2.9% | 3.9% | −1.0 pts | 69,053 |
| 17 | Iowa City, IA | 2.9% | 3.1% | −0.2 pts | 101,559 |
| 17 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | 2.9% | 2.4% | +0.5 pts | 84,747 |
| 17 | Madison, WI | 2.9% | 2.6% | +0.3 pts | 410,356 |
| 17 | Savannah, GA | 2.9% | 3.2% | −0.3 pts | 222,415 |
| 17 | Sheboygan, WI | 2.9% | 2.8% | +0.1 pts | 64,391 |
Jobs ranking · BLS LAUS, August 2026 (preliminary, not seasonally adjusted)
Which cities have the lowest unemployment rates?
Cleveland, OH had the lowest unemployment rate of any U.S. metro area in August 2026, at 1.8%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Bismarck, ND (2.0%) and Minot, ND (2.1%) followed. 230 of 387 metro areas were below the 4.3% national rate, and the typical metro stood at 4.1%.
How is unemployment measured on this list?
This list ranks all 387 U.S. metropolitan statistical areas by their August 2026 unemployment rate from the BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics program. The rate is the share of the labor force without a job and looking for one. Metro rates are not seasonally adjusted, and August 2026 figures are preliminary.
BLS builds metro estimates from the national household survey, state unemployment-insurance claims and payroll counts. They describe where people live, not where they work. Across the 387 metros, 6,539,061 people were unemployed out of a labor force of 149,244,932 in August 2026. For the economic backdrop to housing demand, see job growth and housing statistics.
Which metros have the lowest unemployment rates?
Cleveland, OH led at 1.8% in August 2026, followed by Bismarck, ND at 2.0% and Minot, ND at 2.1%. 27 metro areas had rates under 3.0%, and 4 of the 25 lowest are in North Dakota. The median metro rate was 4.1%.
Tied rates share a rank. Linked names open the WealthyBud market page for that metro, with prices, inventory and rent yield. Small metros dominate the top of the list, so check labor-force size before reading too much into a single month.
Which big cities have the lowest unemployment?
Among the 56 metros with at least one million residents, Cleveland, OH had the lowest rate at 1.8%, then Omaha, NE-IA at 3.0%. Fresno, CA had the highest big-metro rate, 7.8%. Population for this cut is the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimate for each metro.
| Rank | Metro area | Rate | Change vs August 2025 | Population (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland, OH | 1.8% | −1.8 pts | 2,165,775 |
| 2 | Omaha, NE-IA | 3.0% | −0.1 pts | 1,009,836 |
| 3 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 3.1% | +0.1 pts | 2,197,416 |
| 3 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | 3.1% | −0.5 pts | 1,595,720 |
| 5 | Columbus, OH | 3.3% | −0.9 pts | 2,242,028 |
| 5 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 3.3% | −0.3 pts | 2,205,695 |
| 7 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 3.4% | −0.2 pts | 6,482,182 |
| 7 | Birmingham, AL | 3.4% | +0.6 pts | 1,197,766 |
| 9 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 3.6% | −0.7 pts | 2,312,858 |
| 9 | Richmond, VA | 3.6% | +0.1 pts | 1,389,338 |
| 11 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 3.7% | −0.5 pts | 2,938,830 |
| 11 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 3.7% | 0.0 pts | 6,391,072 |
| 11 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 3.7% | −0.2 pts | 1,308,377 |
| 11 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 3.7% | 0.0 pts | 1,797,213 |
| 15 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 3.8% | +0.2 pts | 1,575,010 |
Big metros with low unemployment and growing populations are worth comparing on the fastest-growing metros list and the best places to invest in real estate ranking.
Where is unemployment highest?
El Centro, CA had the highest unemployment rate in August 2026, 21.9%, against 22.0% a year earlier. Yuma, AZ followed at 19.0%. 6 metros were at 8.0% or higher, and 6 of the 10 highest rates were in California metro areas.
| Metro area | August 2026 | August 2025 | Change | Labor force |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Centro, CA | 21.9% | 22.0% | −0.1 pts | 76,269 |
| Yuma, AZ | 19.0% | 19.0% | 0.0 pts | 103,136 |
| Visalia, CA | 10.4% | 10.6% | −0.2 pts | 215,947 |
| Merced, CA | 8.9% | 9.4% | −0.5 pts | 121,939 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 8.5% | 8.6% | −0.1 pts | 59,867 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 8.4% | 8.7% | −0.3 pts | 414,048 |
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | 7.9% | 7.1% | +0.8 pts | 35,343 |
| Fresno, CA | 7.8% | 7.9% | −0.1 pts | 542,284 |
| Vineland, NJ | 7.4% | 9.1% | −1.7 pts | 65,164 |
| Grants Pass, OR | 7.2% | 7.7% | −0.5 pts | 35,688 |
Where did unemployment fall the most?
Compared with August 2025, unemployment fell in 234 metro areas and rose in 126. Among metros with at least 250,000 residents, Cleveland, OH had the largest drop, 1.8 percentage points to 1.8%. Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ had the largest increase, +1.2 points.
| # | Metro area | August 2025 | August 2026 | Change | Population (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland, OH | 3.6% | 1.8% | −1.8 pts | 2,165,775 |
| 2 | Reading, PA | 5.6% | 4.3% | −1.3 pts | 440,072 |
| 3 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 5.5% | 4.3% | −1.2 pts | 887,615 |
| 4 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 6.6% | 5.4% | −1.2 pts | 372,047 |
| 5 | Erie, PA | 5.1% | 3.9% | −1.2 pts | 265,832 |
| 6 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 4.9% | 3.7% | −1.2 pts | 617,427 |
| 7 | Asheville, NC | 4.2% | 3.1% | −1.1 pts | 422,345 |
| 8 | Cedar Rapids, IA | 5.0% | 3.9% | −1.1 pts | 279,285 |
| 9 | Lancaster, PA | 4.3% | 3.2% | −1.1 pts | 563,159 |
| 10 | Rockford, IL | 5.6% | 4.5% | −1.1 pts | 337,242 |
How is this list calculated?
Universe: the 387 metropolitan statistical areas in the BLS metro release, excluding Puerto Rico. Each is ranked by its August 2026 not-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate, lowest first, with ties sharing a rank. The change compares the same month a year earlier, which removes most seasonal effects.
- Load the BLS LAUS metro file and keep the not-seasonally-adjusted series for metropolitan statistical areas.
- Read the August 2026 unemployment rate, unemployed count and labor force for each metro, plus the August 2025 rate.
- Drop Puerto Rico’s six metros, as the BLS release does, leaving 387.
- Join Census Vintage 2025 population by metro code for the size filters.
- Sort by unemployment rate, lowest first. No values are estimated or filled in.
Frequently asked questions
Which city has the lowest unemployment rate?
Cleveland, OH had the lowest unemployment rate of any U.S. metro area in August 2026, 1.8%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Bismarck, ND was second at 2.0% and Minot, ND third at 2.1%. The figures are preliminary and not seasonally adjusted.
Which big city has the lowest unemployment rate?
Among metros with at least one million residents, Cleveland, OH had the lowest unemployment rate in August 2026, at 1.8%. Omaha, NE-IA followed at 3.0%. Fresno, CA had the highest rate of the 56 large metros, 7.8%. Rates are preliminary and not seasonally adjusted, so compare them with the same month a year earlier.
Which city has the highest unemployment rate?
El Centro, CA had the highest metro unemployment rate in August 2026, 21.9%, followed by Yuma, AZ at 19.0%. 6 of the 10 highest rates were in California. 6 metro areas were at 8.0% or more, and the typical metro was at 4.1%.
What is the U.S. unemployment rate right now?
The national unemployment rate was 4.3% in August 2026 on a not seasonally adjusted basis, the BLS metro release says, little changed from a year earlier. 230 of 387 metro areas were below that rate and 142 were above it.
Is unemployment going up or down in U.S. cities?
Mostly down over the past year. Rates were lower than in August 2025 in 234 of 387 metro areas and higher in 126, with the rest unchanged. The largest drop among metros with 250,000+ residents was in Cleveland, OH, 1.8 percentage points.
Why does unemployment matter for real estate investors?
A low jobless rate usually means steady demand for rentals and fewer missed rent payments. A high or rising rate can signal weaker demand and longer vacancies. Investors often pair it with job growth, population growth and rent levels before choosing a market.
Key takeaways
- Cleveland, OH had the lowest metro unemployment rate in August 2026, 1.8%.
- 230 of 387 metros were below the 4.3% national rate; the median metro was 4.1%.
- Cleveland, OH led metros with more than a million residents at 1.8%.
- El Centro, CA had the highest rate, 21.9%.
- Unemployment was lower than a year earlier in 234 metros and higher in 126.
For education only, not investment advice. Metro unemployment rates are survey-based estimates and are revised; August 2026 values are preliminary.