The Birmingham AL area posted the lowest jobless rate among all large metropolitan areas at 2.7% in October, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Richmond VA ranked second with an unemployment rate of 3.0%. The Detroit area had the highest rate at 7.8%.

Among all metropolitan areas, Idaho Falls ID registered the lowest jobless rate in October at 1.3%, followed by Pocatello ID at 1.9%. The areas with the highest unemployment rates were El Centro CA at 20.3% and Yuma AZ at 13.6%.

Overall, 210 of the 369 metropolitan areas reported higher unemployment rates in October than a year earlier. Rates were lower in 138 and unchanged in 21.