Last fall, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the recession was "very likely over" -- at least by the numbers -- and the United States had moved into a period of recovery.

That was September. Most job seekers, especially the 5.9 million long-term unemployed workers who have been out of work for six months or more, are still waiting for that renewal.

The national unemployment rate in October was 9.5 percent, not seasonally adjusted, up from 6.1 percent a year earlier. Fifteen metro areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15 percent, while 13 others registered rates below 5 percent. Overall, 138 areas recorded unemployment rates above the U.S. average, 229 areas reported rates below it, and 5 areas had the same rate, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

But the unemployment rate is a lag indicator. Looking at other BLS figures, there are signs that the economy is healing. Many U.S. metros experienced some -- albeit small -- job growth from the period of July 2009-October 2009 (most recent data available at press time).

According to seasonally adjusted data from the BLS, out of the largest 281 metros in the United States, 77 cities added jobs the July-October 2009 period. Eleven metros saw no change in the number of employed persons; however, another 193 metros saw declines in jobs.

The best...

Of those 77 cities whose employment increased from July-October 2009, here are 19 that saw growth by 1 percent or more.

Merced, Calif.
No. of employed in July: 55,200
No. of employed in October: 56,700
Percent change: +2.7

Morgantown, W.Va.
No. of employed in July: 62,800
No. of employed in October: 64,300
Percent change: +2.4

Dubuque, Iowa
No. of employed in July: 53,200
No. of employed in October: 54,300
Percent change: +2.1

Wilmington, N.C.
No. of employed in July: 138,400
No. of employed in October: 141,300
Percent change: +2.1

Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton, N.J.
No. of employed in July: 60,200
No. of employed in October: 61,400
Percent change: +2

Mansfield, Ohio
No. of employed in July: 53,800
No. of employed in October: 54,900
Percent change: +2

Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, N.C.-S.C.
No. of employed in July: 798,200
No. of employed in October: 810,500
Percent change: +1.5

Portsmouth, N.H.-Maine
No. of employed in July: 53,900
No. of employed in October: 54,600
Percent change: +1.3

Raleigh-Cary, N.C.
No. of employed in July: 500,400
No. of employed in October: 506,700
Percent change: +1.3

Iowa City, Iowa
No. of employed in July: 91,000
No. of employed in October: 92,100
Percent change: +1.2

Springfield, Ohio
No. of employed in July: 50,400
No. of employed in October: 51,000
Percent change: +1.2

Fresno, Calif.
No. of employed in July: 289,900
No. of employed in October: 293,100
Percent change: +1.1

Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Goleta, Calif.
No. of employed in July: 167,700
No. of employed in October: 169,600
Percent change: +1.1

Rockford, Ill.
No. of employed in July: 152,00
No. of employed in October: 153,700
Percent change: +1.1

Glens Falls, N.Y.                                   
No. of employed in July: 52,600
No. of employed in October: 53,200
Percent change: +1.1

Athens-Clarke County, Ga.                               
No. of employed in July: 83,700
No. of employed in October: 84.5
Percent change: +1

Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Iowa
No. of employed in July: 87,300
No. of employed in October: 88,200
Percent change: +1

Johnson City, Tenn.
No. of employed in July: 79,000
No. of employed in October: 79,800
Percent change: +1

Spokane, Wash.
No. of employed in July: 210,100
No. of employed in October: 212,200
Percent change: +1

And the worst

There were also 193 metros that experienced declines in jobs from July-October 2009. Here are the 15 that had the greatest losses.

Greenville, N.C.
No. of employed in July: 76,400
No. of employed in October: 74,900
Percent change: -2

Columbus, Ga.-Ala.
No. of employed in July: 120,200
No. of employed in October: 117,700
Percent change: -2.1

Dalton, Ga.
No. of employed in July: 68,000
No. of employed in October: 66,600
Percent change: -2.1

Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, S.C.
No. of employed in July: 119,400
No. of employed in October: 116,800
Percent change: -2.2

Lafayette, Ind.
No. of employed in July: 96,700
No. of employed in October: 94,500
Percent change: -2.3

Bellingham, Wash.
No. of employed in July: 82,200
No. of employed in October: 80,300
Percent change: -2.3

Greeley, Colo.
No. of employed in July: 79,700
No. of employed in October: 77,800
Percent change: -2.4

Barnstable Town, Mass.
No. of employed in July: 96,000
No. of employed in October: 93,700
Percent change: -2.4

St. George, Utah
No. of employed in July: 49,600
No. of employed in October: 48,400
Percent change: -2.4

Gainesville, Ga.
No. of employed in July: 75,300
No. of employed in October: 73,400
Percent change: -2.5

Lima, Ohio
No. of employed in July: 53,600
No. of employed in October: 52,200
Percent change: -2.6

Rochester-Dover, N.H.-Maine
No. of employed in July: 58,200
No. of employed in October: 56,400
Percent change: -3.1

Yuma, Ariz.
No. of employed in July: 51,500
No. of employed in October: 49,800
Percent change: -3.3

Missoula, Mont.
No. of employed in July: 55,100
No. of employed in October: 52,800
Percent change: -4.2

Grand Junction, Colo.
No. of employed in July: 64,800
No. of employed in October: 61,400
Percent change: -5.2