Department of Numbers

Kalamazoo-Portage, Michigan Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Kalamazoo fell 0.1 percentage points in March 2012 to 7.4%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 1.1 percentage points lower than the Michigan rate. The unemployment rate in Kalamazoo peaked in January 2010 at 11.5% and is now 4.1 percentage points lower. You can also compare Kalamazoo 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
Kalamazoo 7.4% -0.1 -1.6
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: Kalamazoo, Michigan, National

Kalamazoo, Michigan monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Kalamazoo, Michigan Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Kalamazoo peaked in January 2010 at 19,315. There are now 7,385 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. Kalamazoo employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Kalamazoo, Michigan) is also available.

Unemployed Persons March 2012 Month/Month Year/Year
Kalamazoo 11,930 -187 -3,278

Number of Unemployed Persons

Kalamazoo, Michigan Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Michigan
Unemployment Rate
Kalamazoo
Unemployment Rate
Kalamazoo
Unemployed
April
2012
8.1% 8.3%
March
2012
8.2% 8.5% 7.4% 11,930
February
2012
8.3% 8.8% 7.5% 12,117
January
2012
8.3% 9.0% 7.6% 12,376
December
2011
8.5% 9.3% 7.8% 12,834
November
2011
8.7% 9.6% 8.0% 13,345
October
2011
8.9% 9.9% 8.6% 14,287
September
2011
9.0% 10.2% 8.8% 14,797
August
2011
9.1% 10.4% 8.9% 14,989
July
2011
9.1% 10.6% 8.7% 14,733
June
2011
9.1% 10.6% 8.7% 14,782
May
2011
9.0% 10.6% 8.7% 14,737
April
2011
9.0% 10.5% 8.9% 14,933

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.