Department of Numbers

Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Iowa Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Waterloo fell 0.0 percentage points in November 2023 to 3.4%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.1 percentage points higher than the Iowa rate. The unemployment rate in Waterloo peaked in April 2020 at 11.5% and is now 8.1 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.5% in March 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.9 percentage points. You can also compare Waterloo unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% -0.1 +0.1
Iowa 3.3% +0.1 +0.2
Waterloo 3.4% 0.0 +0.4
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: Waterloo, Iowa, National

Waterloo, Iowa monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Waterloo, Iowa Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Waterloo peaked in April 2020 at 10,124. There are now 7,104 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 2,225 in April 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 795. Waterloo employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Waterloo, Iowa) is also available.

Unemployed Persons November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Waterloo 3,020 +19 +342

Number of Unemployed Persons

Waterloo, Iowa Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Iowa
Unemployment Rate
Waterloo
Unemployment Rate
Waterloo
Unemployed
December
2023
3.7%
November
2023
3.7% 3.3% 3.4% 3,020
October
2023
3.8% 3.2% 3.4% 3,001
September
2023
3.8% 3.0% 3.2% 2,866
August
2023
3.8% 2.9% 3.1% 2,799
July
2023
3.5% 2.7% 3.0% 2,689
June
2023
3.6% 2.7% 2.9% 2,606
May
2023
3.7% 2.7% 2.9% 2,574
April
2023
3.4% 2.7% 2.8% 2,487
March
2023
3.5% 2.8% 2.9% 2,537
February
2023
3.6% 2.9% 2.9% 2,586
January
2023
3.4% 3.0% 2.9% 2,614

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.