Des Moines-West Des Moines, Iowa Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Des Moines fell 0.0 percentage points in December 2011 to 5.7%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.1 percentage points higher than the Iowa rate. The unemployment rate in Des Moines peaked in November 2010 at 6.2% and is now 0.5 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 5.7% in November 2011, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.0 percentage points. You can also compare Des Moines unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	December 2011	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	8.5%	-0.2	-0.9
Iowa	5.6%	-0.1	-0.5
Des Moines	5.7%	0.0	-0.5

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: Des Moines, Iowa, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Des Moines, Iowa Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Des Moines peaked in May 2011 at 19,507. There are now 1,794 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. Des Moines employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Des Moines, Iowa) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	December 2011	Month/Month	Year/Year
Des Moines	17,713	-119	-1,602

Number of Unemployed Persons

Des Moines, Iowa Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Iowa Unemployment Rate	Des Moines Unemployment Rate	Des Moines Unemployed
January 2012	8.3%	—	—	—
December 2011	8.5%	5.6%	5.7%	17,713
November 2011	8.7%	5.7%	5.7%	17,832
October 2011	8.9%	6.0%	5.9%	18,367
September 2011	9.0%	6.0%	5.9%	18,580
August 2011	9.1%	6.1%	6.0%	19,011
July 2011	9.1%	6.0%	6.1%	19,268
June 2011	9.1%	6.0%	6.2%	19,467
May 2011	9.0%	6.0%	6.2%	19,507
April 2011	9.0%	6.0%	6.2%	19,479
March 2011	8.9%	6.1%	6.2%	19,433
February 2011	9.0%	6.0%	6.1%	19,221
January 2011	9.1%	6.1%	6.1%	19,180