Report: 99 of 100 Largest Markets Lost Jobs in ’09

A report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released Tuesday reveals 99 of the 100 largest labor markets in the United States lost jobs during 2009. The only market not to lose jobs last year was McAllen-Edinburg, a metro area in Texas settled along the Mexican border.

Chicago, with 182,300, had the biggest number of job losses and was one of five markets with at least 100,000 lost jobs in ’09. The others were Los Angeles (down 164,200 jobs), New York City (150,400), Detroit (114,500) and Atlanta (105,300).

Year-end unemployment figures were also released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics Tuesday. Of the top 100 markets, 34 ended 2009 with an unemployment rate of 10 percent or more with Fresno, Calif. the worst at 16.8 percent. The best was the 5-percent rate of Omaha, Neb.