The Oklahoma City metropolitan area registered the lowest jobless rate in July, 4.0%, among U.S. metropolitan areas with populations of 1 million or more, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The New Orleans and Washington areas ranked second with unemployment rates of 4.1% each. The Detroit area had the highest jobless rate among large metropolitan areas at 9.4% in July.

Sioux Falls SD reported the lowest unemployment rate among metropolitan areas of all sizes in July at 2.4%. The area with the highest jobless rate in July was El Centro CA at 23.3%.

Overall, 338 of 369 metropolitan areas reported higher unemployment rates in July than a year earlier. Twenty-five reported lower jobless rates, and six were unchanged.