Department of Numbers

Columbus, Indiana Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Columbus rose 0.1 percentage points in November 2023 to 3.1%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.6 percentage points lower than the Indiana rate. The unemployment rate in Columbus peaked in April 2020 at 17.6% and is now 14.5 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.1% in February 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 1.0 percentage points. You can also compare Columbus unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% -0.1 +0.1
Indiana 3.7% +0.1 +0.5
Columbus 3.1% +0.1 +0.6
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with November 2023 data as December metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Columbus, Indiana, National

Columbus, Indiana monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Columbus, Indiana Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Columbus peaked in April 2020 at 7,328. There are now 5,950 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 936 in February 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 442. Columbus employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Columbus, Indiana) is also available.

Unemployed Persons November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Columbus 1,378 +26 +274

Number of Unemployed Persons

Columbus, Indiana Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Indiana
Unemployment Rate
Columbus
Unemployment Rate
Columbus
Unemployed
December
2023
3.7%
November
2023
3.7% 3.7% 3.1% 1,378
October
2023
3.8% 3.6% 3.0% 1,352
September
2023
3.8% 3.6% 3.0% 1,333
August
2023
3.8% 3.4% 2.9% 1,294
July
2023
3.5% 3.3% 2.8% 1,253
June
2023
3.6% 3.2% 2.7% 1,195
May
2023
3.7% 3.1% 2.6% 1,165
April
2023
3.4% 3.0% 2.5% 1,100
March
2023
3.5% 3.1% 2.4% 1,092
February
2023
3.6% 3.1% 2.4% 1,071
January
2023
3.4% 3.1% 2.4% 1,076

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.