Ninety-eight of the nation’s 100 largest labor markets lost jobs between the midpoints of 2008 and 2009, according to a report issued Wednesday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The biggest losses occurred in the nation’s three largest markets — New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago — each of which lost in excess of 200,000 jobs from June 2008 to the same month this year.

The Los Angeles area suffered the biggest reversal, with a one-year loss of 259,100 jobs. New York City lost 226,900 jobs in the same period, and Chicago lost 207,600.

Three other markets lost between 100,000 and 200,000 jobs during the past year: Detroit, Phoenix and Atlanta.

The only exceptions to the rule of overall decline were Baton Rouge, La., which picked up 500 jobs between mid-2008 and mid-2009, and McAllen-Edinburg, Texas, which added 300 jobs.

The 100 major labor markets, taken as a group, lost 3.46 million jobs over the 12-month span.

The following are the top 100 markets, listed in order from biggest gains to biggest losses in nonfarm employment between June 2008 and June 2009:

The 10 markets with gains and fewers losses were:

• Baton Rouge, La., gain of 500 jobs

• McAllen-Edinburg, Texas, gain of 300 jobs

• Austin, loss of 1,200 jobs

• Jackson, Miss., loss of 3,800 jobs

• Huntsville, Ala., loss of 3,800 jobs

• Worcester, Mass., loss of 4,100 jobs

• El Paso, Texas, loss of 4,300 jobs

• New Orleans, loss of 4,800 jobs

• Oklahoma City, loss of 4,900 jobs

• Syracuse, N.Y., loss of 4,900 jobs

The Markets with the largest losses were: