Among U.S. cities with a population of 1 million or more, Detroit had the highest unemployment rate at 17.9 percent as of August 2009. Not surprisingly, this is the highest figure ever recorded for the Detroit metro area (Warren and Livonia included) since the Department of Labor began keeping tabs 26 years ago.

Metro Detroit's unemployment rate increased 7.9 percent year-over-year from August 2008 — also the highest in the nation.

Bureau of Labor Statistics via Christian Science Monitor