BLS: Prov. metro jobless rate drops to 6.2% in February

THE PROVIDENCE-Warwick metro area saw its jobless rate in February fall to 6.2 percent from 7.2 percent in February 2015, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
THE PROVIDENCE-Warwick metro area saw its jobless rate in February fall to 6.2 percent from 7.2 percent in February 2015, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

PROVIDENCE – Jobless rates were lower than a year earlier in February in 296 of the 387 metropolitan areas, including the Providence-Warwick metro area, which saw its rate fall to 6.2 percent from 7.2 percent.
Even with the percentage point drop, the rate was still higher than the national unemployment rate, which was 5.2 percent in February, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said Wednesday.
Burlington-South Burlington, Vt., had the lowest unemployment rate in February at 2.6 percent, while El Centro, Calif., had the highest unemployment rate at 18.6 percent.
Seventy-six areas had higher rates than a year earlier, while unemployment rates were unchanged in 15 others, the federal agency said.
The Providence metro also saw its civilian labor force fall over the year in February to 673,800 from 677,600.
Nonfarm payroll employment also increased over the year in 323 metro areas, including the Providence metro, where it grew 1.8 percent, to 566,400 from 556,200. Nonfarm payroll employment decreased in 62 areas and was unchanged in two areas, the BLS said.

The largest over-the-year employment increase occurred in New York-Newark-Jersey City, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa., (+181,700), and the largest over-the-year percentage gain in employment occurred in Cleveland, Tenn. (+9.3 percent).

The largest over-the-year decrease in employment occurred in Lafayette, La., (-9,100). The largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment occurred in Casper, Wyo. (-8.1 percent).

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