Department of Numbers

Fresno, California Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Fresno fell 0.5 percentage points in December 2011 to 16.0%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 4.9 percentage points higher than the California rate. The unemployment rate in Fresno peaked in August 2011 at 17.4% and is now 1.4 percentage points lower. You can also compare Fresno unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate December 2011 Month/Month Year/Year
National 8.5% -0.2 -0.9
California 11.1% -0.2 -1.4
Fresno 16.0% -0.5 -1.2
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with December 2011 data as January metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Fresno, California, National

Fresno, California monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Fresno, California Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Fresno peaked in December 2010 at 75,986. There are now 6,308 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. Fresno employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Fresno, California) is also available.

Unemployed Persons December 2011 Month/Month Year/Year
Fresno 69,678 -2,011 -6,308

Number of Unemployed Persons

Fresno, California Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
California
Unemployment Rate
Fresno
Unemployment Rate
Fresno
Unemployed
January
2012
8.3%
December
2011
8.5% 11.1% 16.0% 69,678
November
2011
8.7% 11.3% 16.5% 71,689
October
2011
8.9% 11.7% 17.1% 74,098
September
2011
9.0% 11.9% 17.4% 75,221
August
2011
9.1% 12.1% 17.4% 75,630
July
2011
9.1% 12.0% 17.2% 74,801
June
2011
9.1% 11.8% 16.9% 73,106
May
2011
9.0% 11.7% 16.4% 71,230
April
2011
9.0% 11.8% 16.3% 70,777
March
2011
8.9% 12.0% 16.2% 70,436
February
2011
9.0% 12.1% 16.4% 71,587
January
2011
9.1% 12.4% 16.8% 73,926

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.