Des Moines-West Des Moines, Iowa Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Des Moines fell 0.2 percentage points in March 2012 to 5.3%. 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 0.9 percentage points lower. You can also compare Des Moines unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	March 2012	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	8.2%	-0.1	-0.7
Iowa	5.2%	-0.1	-0.7
Des Moines	5.3%	-0.2	-0.9

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with March 2012 data as April 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 2,855 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	March 2012	Month/Month	Year/Year
Des Moines	16,652	-292	-2,781

Number of Unemployed Persons

Des Moines, Iowa Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Iowa Unemployment Rate	Des Moines Unemployment Rate	Des Moines Unemployed
April 2012	8.1%	5.1%	—	—
March 2012	8.2%	5.2%	5.3%	16,652
February 2012	8.3%	5.3%	5.5%	16,944
January 2012	8.3%	5.4%	5.5%	17,176
December 2011	8.5%	5.6%	5.7%	17,713
November 2011	8.7%	5.6%	5.7%	17,832
October 2011	8.9%	5.8%	5.9%	18,367
September 2011	9.0%	5.9%	5.9%	18,580
August 2011	9.1%	6.0%	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%	5.9%	6.2%	19,479