Grand Rapids-Wyoming, Michigan Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Grand Rapids fell 0.1 percentage points in March 2012 to 6.8%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 1.7 percentage points lower than the Michigan rate. The unemployment rate in Grand Rapids peaked in September 2009 at 11.5% and is now 4.7 percentage points lower. You can also compare Grand Rapids unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	March 2012	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	8.2%	-0.1	-0.7
Michigan	8.5%	-0.3	-2.0
Grand Rapids	6.8%	-0.1	-1.7

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: Grand Rapids, Michigan, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Grand Rapids, Michigan Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Grand Rapids peaked in December 2009 at 44,430. There are now 18,454 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. Grand Rapids employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Grand Rapids, Michigan) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	March 2012	Month/Month	Year/Year
Grand Rapids	25,976	-478	-7,184

Number of Unemployed Persons

Grand Rapids, Michigan Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Michigan Unemployment Rate	Grand Rapids Unemployment Rate	Grand Rapids Unemployed
April 2012	8.1%	8.3%	—	—
March 2012	8.2%	8.5%	6.8%	25,976
February 2012	8.3%	8.8%	6.9%	26,454
January 2012	8.3%	9.0%	7.1%	27,295
December 2011	8.5%	9.3%	7.4%	28,368
November 2011	8.7%	9.6%	7.7%	29,729
October 2011	8.9%	9.9%	8.2%	31,765
September 2011	9.0%	10.2%	8.5%	32,863
August 2011	9.1%	10.4%	8.5%	32,901
July 2011	9.1%	10.6%	8.3%	32,390
June 2011	9.1%	10.6%	8.4%	32,547
May 2011	9.0%	10.6%	8.3%	32,355
April 2011	9.0%	10.5%	8.4%	32,652