Half of Metros Post Long-Term Job Gains

Nearly half of the nation’s 100 major markets have more private-sector jobs today than they did 10 years ago, but only a third managed to post gains during the past 12 months. That’s according to figures released Wednesday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Leading the 47 markets that registered employment gains between July 2000 and the same month this year is Houston, which added 195,600 private-sector jobs during the decade. The Washington area is close behind with a 10-year increase of 189,900.

But only 33 markets posted gains between July 2009 and July 2010. Topping that list is Washington, which picked up 29,400 private-sector jobs during the past year. It’s followed by Boston’s increase of 29,000.

The Detroit area suffered the biggest loss over the decade, with 477,300 private-sector jobs slipping away in 10 years. Other major declines occurred in the Chicago (down 381,900 private-sector jobs) and Los Angeles (down 336,000) markets.

The biggest one-year drops occurred in Chicago, which has lost 73,400 private-sector jobs since mid-2009, and San Francisco-Oakland, which has lost 36,200.

Source: Business First of Buffalo