Las Vegas and the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario area in Southern California posted the highest jobless rates in August — both at 12.3 percent — among large metropolitan areas with populations of 1 million or more, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.

Oklahoma City posted the lowest jobless rate in August among large metropolitan areas at 4.6 percent.

Among metropolitan areas of all sizes, El Centro, Calif., and Yuma, Ariz., recorded the highest unemployment rates in August at 29.9 percent each. Bismarck, N.D., registered the lowest unemployment rate at 2.6 percent.

Fifty-four metropolitan areas reported jobless rates of at least 10.0 percent, down from 99 areas a year earlier, while 123 areas posted rates below 7.0 percent, up from 73 areas in August of last year.