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The Metro Areas With the Most Job Growth in 2017

While the nation's largest metro areas generally outperformed the rest of the country, some mid-sized and small regions made significant employment gains.

orlando-metro-job-growth
Orlando registered the top annual job growth of any large region. Tourism has helped drive the expansion.
(Shutterstock)
While 2017 was a fairly good year for the national economy, it was more of a mixed bag for metro areas.

When 12-month averages are compared with 2016, a total of 117 metro areas registered strong job growth exceeding 2 percent. Another 155 mostly smaller regional economies, however, either lost jobs or grew by less than 1 percent.

The Labor Department on Tuesday published updated regional job estimates through December. We’ve reviewed the data and have identified a few metro areas that enjoyed notable employment gains throughout 2017.

 

Large Metro Areas (500,000+ Employment)

Annual Average Growth: 1.8 percent

The nation’s largest metro areas generally outperformed the rest of the country, as has been the case throughout much of the recovery from the recession.

Orlando, Fla., registered the top annual growth of any large region, with its monthly average employment climbing 3.5 percent for the year.

Tourism has helped drive the expansion as the area welcomes record numbers of visitors and increased traffic to its airport. The construction industry is another major reason for the job gains, propelled by demand for residential homes, an airport expansion and other public works projects.

“There’s a tremendous amount of momentum right now, so the [economy in the] short run looks pretty good for Orlando,” says Sean Snaith, a University of Central Florida economist.

Job growth also remained particularly strong in the Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro, Tenn., metro area, where payrolls climbed an average of 3.2 percent for the year. Labor Department estimates point to leisure and hospitality as the region’s fastest-growing large industry. Sizable gains in the professional and business services sector similarly helped boost the area’s economy.

Other regions experiencing among the strongest annual average job increases last year included Atlanta, Riverside-San Bernardino, Calif., and Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas, all of which expanded by an average of about 3.1 percent.

The only large metro areas experiencing slight year-over-year job losses were Rochester, N.Y., and Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, Va. 

 
Region 2016-17 Average Change (%) 2017 Monthly Average 2016 Monthly Average
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL 3.5% 1,248,450 1,206,308
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN 3.2% 980,208 949,642
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 3.1% 1,444,742 1,400,758
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 3.1% 3,617,317 3,508,450
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 3.1% 2,750,325 2,667,767
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV 3.0% 978,075 949,175
Raleigh, NC 3.0% 619,475 601,542
Jacksonville, FL 2.8% 686,358 667,475
Salt Lake City, UT 2.8% 720,867 701,392
Austin-Round Rock, TX 2.7% 1,027,075 999,775
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL 2.7% 1,332,167 1,296,775
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 2.7% 2,004,383 1,952,042
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX 2.5% 1,042,167 1,016,517
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC 2.5% 1,177,992 1,149,450
Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI 2.5% 557,475 544,075
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 2.5% 2,648,550 2,585,117
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 2.2% 2,017,292 1,972,933
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 2.2% 2,001,575 1,958,542
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 2.2% 1,169,400 1,144,533
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN 2.1% 1,066,083 1,044,067
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN 2.1% 1,102,492 1,080,058
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH NECTA 2.0% 2,757,092 2,702,725
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN 2.0% 673,492 660,258
Columbus, OH 2.0% 1,084,233 1,063,450
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 1.9% 2,388,592 2,343,467
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 1.9% 2,011,883 1,974,200
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO 1.9% 1,460,133 1,432,958
Kansas City, MO-KS 1.8% 1,086,558 1,067,083
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA 1.8% 966,608 949,550
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 1.8% 3,285,958 3,229,433
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 1.7% 2,919,967 2,870,325
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 1.7% 1,089,192 1,071,308
Richmond, VA 1.6% 675,083 664,308
Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA 1.6% 505,408 497,450
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA 1.6% 1,444,942 1,422,625
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 1.3% 3,040,158 3,000,600
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 1.3% 9,645,542 9,522,750
Memphis, TN-MS-AR 1.2% 645,767 638,250
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1.2% 6,039,442 5,970,208
St. Louis, MO-IL 1.1% 1,378,067 1,363,192
Oklahoma City, OK 1.1% 635,150 628,417
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD 1.0% 1,409,342 1,395,175
Pittsburgh, PA 1.0% 1,175,000 1,163,192
Cleveland-Elyria, OH 0.8% 1,063,108 1,054,533
Birmingham-Hoover, AL 0.8% 524,792 520,658
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA NECTA 0.8% 588,033 583,458
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 0.7% 4,682,033 4,651,067
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT NECTA 0.5% 572,758 569,792
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY 0.3% 562,983 561,258
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI 0.2% 863,800 862,292
New Orleans-Metairie, LA 0.1% 576,417 575,933
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC -0.3% 769,425 771,817
Rochester, NY -0.5% 530,492 532,917
Source: Governing calculations of BLS total nonfarm employment estimates.
 

Medium Size Metro Areas (100,000 – 500,000 Employment)

Annual Average Growth: 1.5 percent

Several mid-sized metro areas also experienced major growth over the 12-month period, often thanks to single industries.

In the Lake Charles, La., region, it’s investments in liquified natural gas that are driving sharp employment gains, many of which are construction related. Total employment there jumped nearly 5 percent for the year.

The Elkhart-Goshen, Ind., area is home to two large and growing recreational vehicle manufacturers, which have helped to prop up the region’s economy. “It’s the renaissance in the recreation vehicle industry that is certainly driving things forward,” says Mark Dobson, president of the Economic Development Corporation of Elkhart County.

In Colorado, the Greeley area experienced an upswing during its oil and natural gas boom. But in nearby Fort Collins, the job growth has been more broad-based. The area, home to Colorado State University, is benefitting from increases in construction, education, health and manufacturing, says Ryan Gedney, senior economist with the state labor department.

Population growth, of course, also accounts for much of the job gains that many places are experiencing.

Colorado is somewhat unique in that most of its new residents are of working age, rather than consisting more of retirees as is the case in Florida and elsewhere. "It gives us an advantage in being able to maintain steady-to-high job growth compared to the rest of the nation,” Gedney says.

 
Region 2016-17 Average Change (%) 2017 Monthly Average 2016 Monthly Average
Lake Charles, LA 4.7% 113,758 108,617
Elkhart-Goshen, IN 4.5% 137,367 131,392
North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL 4.0% 306,133 294,367
Fort Collins, CO 3.9% 167,267 160,958
Provo-Orem, UT 3.9% 247,042 237,808
Boise City, ID 3.6% 316,850 305,800
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO 3.5% 253,908 245,433
College Station-Bryan, TX 3.4% 117,533 113,717
Greeley, CO 3.3% 102,400 99,150
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL 3.2% 221,300 214,542
Gainesville, FL 3.1% 143,617 139,308
Ogden-Clearfield, UT 3.0% 254,333 246,983
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL 2.8% 215,033 209,133
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC 2.8% 164,617 160,108
Wilmington, NC 2.8% 126,825 123,367
Iowa City, IA 2.8% 103,358 100,567
Chattanooga, TN-GA 2.7% 258,783 251,867
Barnstable Town, MA NECTA 2.7% 108,592 105,708
El Paso, TX 2.7% 318,058 309,633
Boulder, CO 2.7% 190,025 185,042
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA 2.6% 308,442 300,483
Spartanburg, SC 2.6% 150,817 146,958
Reno, NV 2.6% 226,375 220,608
Tallahassee, FL 2.6% 181,983 177,358
Savannah, GA 2.6% 180,150 175,625
Killeen-Temple, TX 2.6% 147,733 144,042
Modesto, CA 2.6% 176,492 172,083
Olympia-Tumwater, WA 2.6% 115,925 113,033
Ocala, FL 2.5% 103,375 100,808
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA 2.5% 366,992 357,900
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC 2.5% 310,692 303,025
Huntsville, AL 2.5% 231,608 225,983
Ann Arbor, MI 2.4% 221,542 216,417
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI 2.4% 149,550 146,108
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN 2.3% 105,275 102,933
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL 2.3% 113,583 111,058
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC 2.3% 239,417 234,100
Fresno, CA 2.3% 343,075 335,467
Tyler, TX 2.3% 106,750 104,383
Springfield, MO 2.3% 214,500 209,750
Charleston-North Charleston, SC 2.2% 353,767 346,175
Charlottesville, VA 2.2% 116,792 114,317
Appleton, WI 2.2% 127,867 125,175
Visalia-Porterville, CA 2.1% 126,608 123,975
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX 2.1% 257,883 252,533
Port St. Lucie, FL 2.1% 145,908 142,900
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL 2.1% 176,367 172,733
Corpus Christi, TX 2.1% 194,500 190,508
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA 2.1% 344,883 337,842
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL 2.0% 200,950 197,042
Portland-South Portland, ME NECTA 2.0% 205,450 201,467
Tuscaloosa, AL 2.0% 107,192 105,125
Colorado Springs, CO 1.9% 284,467 279,133
Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL 1.9% 145,000 142,283
Eugene, OR 1.9% 159,658 156,683
Laredo, TX 1.9% 104,233 102,325
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA 1.9% 116,258 114,133
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA 1.8% 184,208 180,900
Columbia, MO 1.8% 100,450 98,675
Lexington-Fayette, KY 1.8% 280,883 275,992
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA 1.7% 102,633 100,883
Lancaster, PA 1.7% 253,875 249,567
Fargo, ND-MN 1.7% 142,992 140,583
Salisbury, MD-DE 1.7% 159,033 156,383
Evansville, IN-KY 1.6% 160,925 158,342
Stockton-Lodi, CA 1.6% 229,192 225,567
St. Cloud, MN 1.6% 109,800 108,075
Kennewick-Richland, WA 1.6% 112,092 110,333
Lansing-East Lansing, MI 1.6% 234,367 230,742
Salem, OR 1.6% 163,583 161,058
Asheville, NC 1.6% 190,400 187,467
Madison, WI 1.6% 403,033 396,867
Salinas, CA 1.5% 138,592 136,500
Lincoln, NE 1.5% 190,900 188,033
Manchester, NH NECTA 1.5% 112,217 110,533
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ 1.5% 131,592 129,625
Duluth, MN-WI 1.5% 137,208 135,175
Reading, PA 1.5% 179,483 176,842
Fort Wayne, IN 1.5% 222,108 218,858
Springfield, MA-CT NECTA 1.5% 337,775 332,842
Lubbock, TX 1.5% 147,558 145,425
Trenton, NJ 1.4% 268,825 265,167
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA 1.3% 243,833 240,600
Amarillo, TX 1.3% 121,892 120,300
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA 1.3% 137,650 135,858
Topeka, KS 1.3% 114,008 112,567
Baton Rouge, LA 1.2% 409,792 404,892
Dayton, OH 1.2% 389,100 384,467
Worcester, MA-CT NECTA 1.2% 286,258 282,892
Roanoke, VA 1.2% 164,058 162,158
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC 1.2% 152,142 150,408
Bakersfield, CA 1.1% 258,700 255,917
Brownsville-Harlingen, TX 1.1% 143,092 141,558
Santa Rosa, CA 1.0% 203,725 201,625
Sioux Falls, SD 1.0% 154,267 152,683
Urban Honolulu, HI 1.0% 480,883 475,983
Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC 1.0% 413,567 409,517
Greensboro-High Point, NC 1.0% 361,433 357,925
Rochester, MN 1.0% 119,950 118,808
Columbia, SC 0.9% 396,858 393,200
Syracuse, NY 0.9% 319,100 316,275
Albuquerque, NM 0.9% 391,592 388,183
Montgomery, AL 0.8% 174,525 173,108
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY 0.8% 467,208 463,533
Utica-Rome, NY 0.8% 127,608 126,633
Cedar Rapids, IA 0.7% 144,775 143,708
Macon-Bibb County, GA 0.6% 103,150 102,508
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA 0.6% 261,750 260,158
New Haven, CT NECTA 0.6% 283,467 281,767
Jackson, MS 0.6% 280,375 278,717
Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI NECTA 0.6% 129,500 128,758
Springfield, IL 0.6% 115,858 115,200
Wichita, KS 0.6% 299,000 297,333
Toledo, OH 0.6% 312,650 310,933
Fayetteville, NC 0.6% 130,608 129,892
Winston-Salem, NC 0.5% 262,300 260,975
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR 0.5% 355,675 353,883
York-Hanover, PA 0.5% 184,333 183,458
Binghamton, NY 0.4% 104,375 103,908
Knoxville, TN 0.4% 394,617 392,883
Columbus, GA-AL 0.4% 121,275 120,750
Waco, TX 0.4% 119,142 118,633
Flint, MI 0.4% 140,533 140,025
Erie, PA 0.3% 128,892 128,467
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL 0.3% 258,242 257,417
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI 0.3% 141,558 141,158
Tulsa, OK 0.3% 445,650 444,392
Lynchburg, VA 0.3% 104,267 103,975
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT NECTA 0.3% 411,233 410,150
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH 0.2% 138,200 137,883
Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA 0.2% 121,917 121,650
Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV 0.2% 107,358 107,150
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL 0.2% 183,417 183,067
Green Bay, WI 0.2% 175,683 175,417
Tucson, AZ 0.1% 373,592 373,358
Burlington-South Burlington, VT NECTA 0.1% 124,958 124,883
Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, MS 0.0% 155,025 154,992
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ 0.0% 363,417 363,358
Champaign-Urbana, IL 0.0% 109,058 109,042
Charleston, WV 0.0% 119,067 119,058
Canton-Massillon, OH -0.1% 172,042 172,150
Mobile, AL -0.1% 179,008 179,242
Peoria, IL -0.3% 175,133 175,600
Akron, OH -0.3% 339,067 340,033
Fort Smith, AR-OK -0.4% 113,417 113,842
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX -0.6% 163,075 164,108
Anchorage, AK -0.7% 177,317 178,500
Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA -0.9% 222,392 224,392
Rockford, IL -0.9% 150,058 151,483
Lafayette, LA -1.3% 199,150 201,783
Shreveport-Bossier City, LA -1.3% 178,942 181,342
Source: Governing calculations of BLS total nonfarm employment estimates.
 

Small Metro Areas (Employment Less Than 100,000)

Annual Average Growth: 1.1 percent

Job growth among small, less-populated areas has generally trailed that of larger regions. But there were a few notable exceptions last year.

St. George, Utah -- known for recreation and tourism -- recorded job growth exceeding 5 percent for the year as every one of its major sectors expanded. Several retirement destinations, including Sebring, Fla., and The Villages, Fla., experienced similarly steep employment increases.

Elsewhere, some smaller regions are experiencing large upticks in employment following strong gains in their states’ population centers. That’s the case in Oregon, where Portland initially led the state out of the recovery.

Last year, the Bend-Redmond metro area’s economy grew by an average of 3.4 percent. The state employment department reports the region is attracting many professionals who work remotely and want to enjoy its high quality of life and recreational amenities. Further south, the small Grants Pass, Ore., region is also adding significant numbers of jobs in construction, health care and social assistance.

 
Region 2016-17 Average Change (%) 2017 Monthly Average 2016 Monthly Average
St. George, UT 5.2% 64,108 60,933
Sebring, FL 4.6% 26,983 25,808
Auburn-Opelika, AL 4.1% 65,425 62,850
The Villages, FL 3.8% 28,258 27,225
Madera, CA 3.6% 38,158 36,850
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL 3.5% 75,267 72,692
Redding, CA 3.5% 67,575 65,275
Columbus, IN 3.5% 54,125 52,283
Punta Gorda, FL 3.5% 49,117 47,458
New Bedford, MA NECTA 3.4% 69,867 67,558
Ocean City, NJ 3.4% 43,675 42,233
Bend-Redmond, OR 3.4% 81,000 78,367
Gainesville, GA 3.2% 89,483 86,683
Wenatchee, WA 3.1% 45,717 44,325
Lewiston, ID-WA 3.1% 29,200 28,317
Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ 3.1% 60,317 58,500
Athens-Clarke County, GA 3.1% 96,783 93,892
Kokomo, IN 3.0% 42,867 41,608
Cleveland, TN 3.0% 49,450 48,008
Grants Pass, OR 3.0% 26,217 25,458
Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL 3.0% 51,842 50,350
Yakima, WA 2.9% 85,892 83,500
Walla Walla, WA 2.8% 28,317 27,542
Gettysburg, PA 2.8% 35,542 34,583
Chico, CA 2.8% 82,258 80,042
Yuba City, CA 2.7% 43,550 42,400
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA 2.6% 50,392 49,125
Bowling Green, KY 2.5% 76,992 75,083
Napa, CA 2.5% 72,792 70,992
Dover-Durham, NH-ME NECTA 2.5% 54,850 53,500
Harrisonburg, VA 2.5% 68,475 66,808
Bellingham, WA 2.4% 93,233 91,025
Albany, OR 2.4% 44,633 43,583
Yuma, AZ 2.4% 55,300 54,017
Morristown, TN 2.3% 46,608 45,542
Janesville-Beloit, WI 2.3% 69,250 67,683
Medford, OR 2.2% 86,725 84,817
Logan, UT-ID 2.2% 61,175 59,833
Hattiesburg, MS 2.2% 64,750 63,333
Enid, OK 2.2% 28,375 27,758
Hinesville, GA 2.2% 20,333 19,892
Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI 2.1% 76,142 74,550
Ithaca, NY 2.1% 65,342 64,017
Kankakee, IL 2.0% 45,283 44,375
Ames, IA 2.0% 53,692 52,633
Warner Robins, GA 2.0% 74,058 72,617
Gadsden, AL 2.0% 39,000 38,242
Florence, SC 1.9% 89,058 87,375
Jonesboro, AR 1.9% 56,875 55,800
Glens Falls, NY 1.9% 56,608 55,575
Rapid City, SD 1.8% 68,433 67,217
Burlington, NC 1.8% 61,983 60,892
Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ 1.8% 48,908 48,067
Terre Haute, IN 1.7% 71,917 70,683
Winchester, VA-WV 1.7% 63,175 62,092
Sherman-Denison, TX 1.7% 47,033 46,250
Coeur d'Alene, ID 1.7% 62,475 61,442
Lewiston-Auburn, ME NECTA 1.6% 51,617 50,783
Staunton-Waynesboro, VA 1.6% 51,133 50,317
Hot Springs, AR 1.6% 38,358 37,758
El Centro, CA 1.5% 52,733 51,933
Rome, GA 1.5% 41,300 40,675
Hammond, LA 1.5% 45,375 44,692
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC 1.5% 77,558 76,392
Panama City, FL 1.5% 85,008 83,733
Pocatello, ID 1.5% 36,400 35,858
Idaho Falls, ID 1.5% 64,667 63,708
Jackson, TN 1.4% 69,150 68,167
Wausau, WI 1.4% 73,283 72,242
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA 1.4% 78,650 77,533
Missoula, MT 1.4% 60,867 60,008
Fond du Lac, WI 1.4% 48,650 47,967
Carson City, NV 1.4% 29,075 28,667
Leominster-Gardner, MA NECTA 1.4% 52,242 51,508
La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN 1.4% 79,558 78,450
Billings, MT 1.4% 86,167 84,975
Hanford-Corcoran, CA 1.4% 39,217 38,675
Merced, CA 1.4% 66,042 65,150
Albany, GA 1.3% 62,625 61,792
Grand Island, NE 1.3% 42,700 42,133
Midland, TX 1.3% 88,508 87,350
Pittsfield, MA NECTA 1.3% 42,333 41,783
Kingston, NY 1.3% 62,425 61,633
Johnson City, TN 1.3% 80,250 79,233
Valdosta, GA 1.2% 56,717 56,033
Morgantown, WV 1.2% 71,158 70,325
Prescott, AZ 1.1% 63,017 62,308
Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY 1.1% 57,883 57,242
Watertown-Fort Drum, NY 1.1% 42,967 42,492
Battle Creek, MI 1.1% 59,700 59,058
Pueblo, CO 1.1% 62,358 61,700
Niles-Benton Harbor, MI 1.0% 62,558 61,917
New Bern, NC 1.0% 45,258 44,800
Corvallis, OR 1.0% 42,033 41,608
Mankato-North Mankato, MN 1.0% 57,867 57,300
Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA 1.0% 42,592 42,175
Saginaw, MI 1.0% 89,500 88,633
Bloomington, IL 1.0% 94,133 93,225
Lawrence, KS 0.9% 54,417 53,950
Dover, DE 0.8% 69,467 68,883
Owensboro, KY 0.8% 53,792 53,342
Cheyenne, WY 0.8% 46,800 46,417
Danbury, CT NECTA 0.8% 79,442 78,825
Flagstaff, AZ 0.8% 66,792 66,275
Jackson, MI 0.8% 58,167 57,725
Jacksonville, NC 0.8% 49,175 48,808
Monroe, LA 0.7% 79,717 79,125
Great Falls, MT 0.7% 36,083 35,817
East Stroudsburg, PA 0.7% 57,908 57,492
Dothan, AL 0.7% 57,958 57,550
Brunswick, GA 0.7% 44,000 43,692
Dalton, GA 0.7% 70,308 69,817
Decatur, AL 0.7% 54,208 53,833
Odessa, TX 0.7% 70,117 69,650
Manhattan, KS 0.7% 44,467 44,175
Bloomington, IN 0.7% 76,317 75,817
Joplin, MO 0.7% 81,433 80,900
Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA 0.7% 60,283 59,892
Clarksville, TN-KY 0.6% 89,583 89,033
Lebanon, PA 0.6% 51,892 51,575
Lima, OH 0.6% 53,042 52,733
Lawton, OK 0.6% 45,983 45,717
Muncie, IN 0.6% 51,675 51,383
California-Lexington Park, MD 0.5% 45,533 45,308
Sheboygan, WI 0.5% 61,983 61,700
State College, PA 0.4% 77,575 77,233
Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ 0.4% 34,342 34,192
Racine, WI 0.4% 77,617 77,283
Longview, WA 0.4% 39,308 39,142
Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL 0.4% 57,283 57,067
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI 0.4% 97,000 96,642
Springfield, OH 0.4% 50,092 49,908
Las Cruces, NM 0.4% 72,758 72,500
Abilene, TX 0.4% 68,117 67,875
Bremerton-Silverdale, WA 0.4% 89,467 89,150
Carbondale-Marion, IL 0.3% 57,867 57,667
Muskegon, MI 0.3% 63,700 63,500
Santa Fe, NM 0.3% 63,825 63,633
Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL 0.2% 46,233 46,125
Jefferson City, MO 0.2% 77,200 77,042
Monroe, MI 0.2% 42,583 42,500
Bangor, ME NECTA 0.1% 66,417 66,333
Portsmouth, NH-ME NECTA 0.1% 91,083 90,975
Sumter, SC 0.1% 39,117 39,075
Dubuque, IA 0.1% 59,792 59,742
Longview, TX 0.1% 97,108 97,033
Johnstown, PA 0.1% 55,908 55,867
Wichita Falls, TX 0.1% 57,708 57,675
St. Joseph, MO-KS 0.0% 63,575 63,575
Midland, MI 0.0% 37,650 37,667
Victoria, TX -0.1% 42,083 42,117
Mansfield, OH -0.1% 52,792 52,858
Greenville, NC -0.2% 78,700 78,833
Grand Junction, CO -0.2% 61,042 61,175
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA -0.3% 90,642 90,908
Waterbury, CT NECTA -0.3% 66,992 67,208
Homosassa Springs, FL -0.4% 33,117 33,233
San Angelo, TX -0.5% 48,733 48,967
Decatur, IL -0.5% 51,233 51,483
Cumberland, MD-WV -0.6% 39,108 39,325
Altoona, PA -0.6% 60,833 61,208
Goldsboro, NC -0.6% 41,467 41,725
Grand Forks, ND-MN -0.6% 57,225 57,583
Wheeling, WV-OH -0.6% 66,192 66,608
Bay City, MI -0.8% 36,025 36,308
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD -0.8% 88,208 88,908
Texarkana, TX-AR -0.8% 60,292 60,775
Bismarck, ND -0.8% 73,383 73,983
Pine Bluff, AR -0.8% 33,100 33,375
Williamsport, PA -0.9% 52,850 53,333
Rocky Mount, NC -0.9% 56,483 57,008
Alexandria, LA -1.0% 62,842 63,467
Eau Claire, WI -1.1% 84,942 85,900
Farmington, NM -1.1% 48,217 48,775
Fairbanks, AK -1.4% 37,258 37,783
Elmira, NY -1.4% 36,742 37,267
Danville, IL -1.5% 28,217 28,642
Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH -1.7% 41,258 41,967
Parkersburg-Vienna, WV -1.7% 40,125 40,833
Beckley, WV -2.2% 44,333 45,317
Michigan City-La Porte, IN -2.2% 40,658 41,583
Cape Girardeau, MO-IL -2.8% 42,942 44,167
Casper, WY -3.1% 37,575 38,783
Houma-Thibodaux, LA -3.5% 85,758 88,892
Source: Governing calculations of BLS total nonfarm employment estimates.
 

About the data

Numbers reported reflect 12-month averages for non-seasonally adjusted Labor Department estimates for nonfarm employment. Estimates for December are preliminary. Figures were compiled for 388 metropolitan statistical areas and New England City and Town Areas (NECTAs).

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