The unemployment rate in the Baltimore-Towson metro area climbed to 5.4 percent in November, up from 5.1 percent the month before and 3.5 percent in 2007.

Statewide unemployment jumped to 5.1 percent from 4.8 percent in October, led by the Salisbury metro area at 7 percent.

Across the United States, 121 metro areas reported jobless rates of 7 percent or higher, up from just 18 metro areas a year ago.