AP — Unemployment rates rose in more than two-thirds of U.S. cities last month, evidence that the slowdown in hiring in May was felt nationwide.
Here are the cities with the highest and lowest unemployment rates last month:
| Best and Worst Metro areas | |
| Figures are in percentages | |
| Highest unemployment rates | May 2012 |
| Yuma, Ariz. | 28.9 |
| El Centro, Calif. | 26.8 |
| Yuba City, Calif. | 17.9 |
| Merced, Calif. | 17.3 |
| Modesto, Calif. | 15.6 |
| Fresno, Calif. | 14.9 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, Calif. | 14.8 |
| Visalia-Porterville, Calif. | 14.7 |
| Stockton, Calif. | 14.5 |
| Madera-Chowchilla, Calif. | 14.3 |
| Lowest unemployment rates | May 2012 |
| Bismarck, N.D. | 2.5 |
| Fargo, N.D. | 3.0 |
| Lincoln, Neb. | 3.4 |
| Burlington-S. Burlington Vt. | 3.5 |
| Iowa City, Iowa | 3.6 |
| Grand Forks, N.D. | 3.7 |
| Sioux Falls, S.D. | 3.8 |
| Midland, Texas | 3.8 |
| Ames, Iowa | 3.9 |
| Portsmouth, N.H. | 4.1 |
