Although the national unemployment rate is continuing to inch its way downward, some cities are lagging behind in terms of generating new jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Unemployment in some major metropolitan areas remains aboce then national rate,with inner cities and urban areas suffering the worst, according to the data.

Following are the 10 U.S. metropolitan areas with the highest unemployment rates, in ascending order, with several ties:

10. Rocky Mount, N.C., 8%

9. Fresno, Calif., 8.1%

8. Hanford/Corcoran, Calif., 8.1%

7. Vineland/Bridgeton, N.J., 8.1%

6. Merced, Calif., 8.1%

5. Bakersfield, Calif., 8.4%

4. Lake Havasu City/Kingman, Ariz., 8.4%

3. Visalia/Porterville, Calif. 8.4%

2. El Centro, Calif., 21.6%

1. Yuma, Ariz., 26%