Department of Numbers

Detroit-Warren-Livonia, Michigan Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Detroit fell 0.4 percentage points in March 2013 to 9.9%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 1.4 percentage points higher than the Michigan rate. The unemployment rate in Detroit peaked in September 2009 at 16.0% and is now 6.1 percentage points lower. You can also compare Detroit unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate March 2013 Month/Month Year/Year
National 7.6% -0.1 -0.6
Michigan 8.5% -0.3 -0.5
Detroit 9.9% -0.4 -0.2
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: Detroit, Michigan, National

Detroit, Michigan monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Detroit, Michigan Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Detroit peaked in September 2009 at 335,397. There are now 136,813 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. Detroit employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Detroit, Michigan) is also available.

Unemployed Persons March 2013 Month/Month Year/Year
Detroit 198,584 -8,961 -4,612

Number of Unemployed Persons

Detroit, Michigan Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Michigan
Unemployment Rate
Detroit
Unemployment Rate
Detroit
Unemployed
April
2013
7.5% 8.4%
March
2013
7.6% 8.5% 9.9% 198,584
February
2013
7.7% 8.8% 10.3% 207,545
January
2013
7.9% 8.9% 10.6% 213,334
December
2012
7.8% 8.9% 10.7% 215,330
November
2012
7.8% 9.0% 10.7% 215,286
October
2012
7.9% 9.1% 10.7% 215,532
September
2012
7.8% 9.2% 10.7% 215,855
August
2012
8.1% 9.3% 10.7% 215,814
July
2012
8.2% 9.3% 10.7% 214,601
June
2012
8.2% 9.3% 10.6% 211,929
May
2012
8.2% 9.2% 10.4% 208,432
April
2012
8.1% 9.1% 10.2% 205,113

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.