The New Orleans area reported the lowest jobless rate in February, 3.1%, among U.S. metropolitan areas with populations of 1 million or more, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The Washington DC metropolitan area, which had the lowest jobless rate in January, ranked second in February at 3.3%. Detroit again reported the highest jobless rate among large metropolitan areas in February at 7.7%.

Among metropolitan areas of all sizes, the Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux LA and Logan UT areas reported the lowest jobless rates in February at 2.5% each. The El Centro CA area had the highest at 15.9%.

Overall, 246 of the 369 metropolitan areas posted higher unemployment rates in February than a year ago, 101 reported lower jobless rages, and 22 had no change.