Report: Most Markets With Fewer Jobs Than in 2000

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday that just over half of the nation’s 100 largest metropolitan areas have fewer jobs than 10 years ago.

Of the 53 metro areas that saw declines, Detroit led the way with a loss of 498,300 jobs since May 2000. Other areas with six-figure declines were Chicago (down 365,400), Los Angeles (323,500), San Francisco-Oakland (250,500), New York City (188,900), San Jose (185,500), Cleveland (139,700), Boston (119,600).

Of the areas that showed improvement, only two markets added more than 100,000 jobs over the last 10 years, according to Business First of Buffalo. They were Houston, which added 202,900 jobs, and Washington, which added 197,000.

Another interesting fact pointed out by Business First of Buffalo is that the most common peak year for jobs among the nation’s 100 biggest markets came in May 2008 and the next-best was May 2007.