13 Cities Where Some of the Job News is Good

The Labor Department reported metro area employment data this week, and it's clear that while all cities have suffered in this recession, there's no question the damage has been worse in some spots. Consider that Kokomo, Ind., suffered the highest percentage point increase in the unemployment rate over the past year--an 11.8 point rise.

Here's a look at 13 metro areas the Labor Department highlighted for topping one or more measures, including employment change in number or by percentage between June 2009 and June 2008, as well as lowest unemployment rates in June. (Keep in mind that some of the cities may actually have added jobs, but still have high unemployment.)

[See 10 cities with the most job postings per capita]

• Champaign-Urbana, Ill.: Employment rose by 1,400, or 1.3 percent, over the year
• Fargo, N.D.: Employment increased by 1,100 over the year
• Lewiston, Idaho (also includes part of Wash.): Employment jumped by 1,000, or 4.4 percent--the highest of all metros
• Kennewick, Wash.: Employment totals rose by 900
• Sandusky, Ohio: Employment jumped by 1.7 percent
• Grand Forks, N.D (also Minn).: Employment was up by 1.5 percent
• Odessa, Texas: Employment increased by 1.3 percent
• Bismarck, N.D.: The unemployment rate was a rock bottom 3.8 percent
• Manhattan, Kan.: The unemployment rate was a low 4.6 percent
• Rapid City, S.D.: Unemployment was 4.6 percent
• Oklahoma City, Okla.: The lowest unemployment rate--6 percent--of a metro area with more than 1 million residents.
• Washington, DC: Unemployment was a low 6.6 percent in this mega metro (which includes parts of Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia)
• San Antonio, Texas: The city's unemployment ranked third lowest among the big metros at 6.9 percent