Department of Numbers

Ames, Iowa Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Ames fell 0.1 percentage points in March 2013 to 3.7%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 1.2 percentage points lower than the Iowa rate. The unemployment rate in Ames peaked in November 2009 at 4.8% and is now 1.1 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.7% in November 2012, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.0 percentage points. You can also compare Ames unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate March 2013 Month/Month Year/Year
National 7.6% -0.1 -0.6
Iowa 4.9% -0.1 -0.5
Ames 3.7% -0.1 -0.4
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with March 2013 data as April metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Ames, Iowa, National

Ames, Iowa monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Ames, Iowa Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Ames peaked in March 2010 at 2,381. There are now 595 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 1,754 in December 2012, the number of unemployed has now grown by 32. Ames employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Ames, Iowa) is also available.

Unemployed Persons March 2013 Month/Month Year/Year
Ames 1,786 -23 -198

Number of Unemployed Persons

Ames, Iowa Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Iowa
Unemployment Rate
Ames
Unemployment Rate
Ames
Unemployed
April
2013
7.5% 4.7%
March
2013
7.6% 4.9% 3.7% 1,786
February
2013
7.7% 5.0% 3.8% 1,809
January
2013
7.9% 5.0% 3.8% 1,786
December
2012
7.8% 5.0% 3.7% 1,754
November
2012
7.8% 4.9% 3.7% 1,769
October
2012
7.9% 5.1% 3.8% 1,792
September
2012
7.8% 5.0% 3.8% 1,822
August
2012
8.1% 5.3% 3.9% 1,856
July
2012
8.2% 5.5% 3.9% 1,895
June
2012
8.2% 5.3% 4.0% 1,931
May
2012
8.2% 5.3% 4.1% 1,960
April
2012
8.1% 5.2% 4.1% 1,977

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.