Twin Cities boasts lowest jobless rate among big U.S. metros

Chamber of Commerce
A 'jobs' sign at the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC.
SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images/File

Unemployment in the Twin Cities region is lower than any other major metropolitan area in the nation.

The metro area's jobless rate was 4 percent in May, slightly better than Austin, Texas, which came in second place among metro areas with 1 million people or more, according to federal Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Unemployment is low across the upper Midwest and should drop further, Minnesota State Economist Laura Kalambokidis said. Demand for workers in neighboring Iowa and North Dakota is also helping to keep the Twin Cities unemployment rate down, she added.

At 2.2 percent, Bismarck, North Dakota had the lowest jobless rate of all metro areas in the country, regardless of size.

Detroit, Providence, Rhode Island and San Bernadino, California had the highest unemployment in the country. The three cities each posted a rate of 8 percent.

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