Department of Numbers

Merced, California Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Merced fell 0.3 percentage points in December 2011 to 18.0%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 6.9 percentage points higher than the California rate. The unemployment rate in Merced peaked in December 2010 at 19.3% and is now 1.3 percentage points lower. You can also compare Merced 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
Merced 18.0% -0.3 -1.3
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: Merced, California, National

Merced, California monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Merced, California Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Merced peaked in December 2010 at 20,687. There are now 1,660 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. Merced employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Merced, California) is also available.

Unemployed Persons December 2011 Month/Month Year/Year
Merced 19,027 -376 -1,660

Number of Unemployed Persons

Merced, California Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
California
Unemployment Rate
Merced
Unemployment Rate
Merced
Unemployed
January
2012
8.3%
December
2011
8.5% 11.1% 18.0% 19,027
November
2011
8.7% 11.3% 18.3% 19,403
October
2011
8.9% 11.7% 18.8% 19,969
September
2011
9.0% 11.9% 18.9% 20,138
August
2011
9.1% 12.1% 19.1% 20,286
July
2011
9.1% 12.0% 19.0% 20,251
June
2011
9.1% 11.8% 18.9% 20,134
May
2011
9.0% 11.7% 18.6% 19,914
April
2011
9.0% 11.8% 18.6% 19,931
March
2011
8.9% 12.0% 18.7% 19,948
February
2011
9.0% 12.1% 18.8% 20,112
January
2011
9.1% 12.4% 19.1% 20,466

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.