Grand Rapids-Wyoming, Michigan Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Grand Rapids fell 0.3 percentage points in December 2011 to 7.4%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 1.9 percentage points lower than the Michigan rate. The unemployment rate in Grand Rapids peaked in September 2009 at 11.5% and is now 4.1 percentage points lower. You can also compare Grand Rapids unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	December 2011	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	8.5%	-0.2	-0.9
Michigan	9.3%	-0.5	-1.8
Grand Rapids	7.4%	-0.3	-2.1

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: 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 16,062 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	December 2011	Month/Month	Year/Year
Grand Rapids	28,368	-1,361	-8,508

Number of Unemployed Persons

Grand Rapids, Michigan Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Michigan Unemployment Rate	Grand Rapids Unemployment Rate	Grand Rapids Unemployed
January 2012	8.3%	—	—	—
December 2011	8.5%	9.3%	7.4%	28,368
November 2011	8.7%	9.8%	7.7%	29,729
October 2011	8.9%	10.6%	8.2%	31,765
September 2011	9.0%	11.1%	8.5%	32,863
August 2011	9.1%	11.2%	8.5%	32,901
July 2011	9.1%	10.9%	8.3%	32,390
June 2011	9.1%	10.5%	8.4%	32,547
May 2011	9.0%	10.3%	8.3%	32,355
April 2011	9.0%	10.2%	8.4%	32,652
March 2011	8.9%	10.3%	8.5%	33,160
February 2011	9.0%	10.4%	8.8%	34,117
January 2011	9.1%	10.7%	9.2%	35,565