Metropolitan Yuma, Ariz., and El Centro, Calif., have the two highest unemployment rates in the country, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In the Yuma metropolitan area, it was 29.8 percent, compared with the national unemployment rate in October was 7.9 percent.
The unemployment rate has almost doubled in the Yuma metropolitan area during Barack Obama’s presidency. In January 2009, when Obama was inaugurated, the unemployment rate in Yuma was 15.4 percent, according to BLS.
After Yuma and El Centro, the Merced, Calif., metropolitan area had the third highest unemployment rate in October. Unemployment was 14.7 percent there.
The Bismarck, North Dakota metropolitan area had the nation’s lowest unemployment rate of 2.2 percent.
