Bismarck, North Dakota Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Bismarck fell 0.1 percentage points in December 2011 to 3.1%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.2 percentage points lower than the North Dakota rate. The unemployment rate in Bismarck peaked in March 2009 at 3.9% and is now 0.8 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.1% in May 2011, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.0 percentage points. You can also compare Bismarck unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	December 2011	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	8.5%	-0.2	-0.9
North Dakota	3.3%	-0.1	-0.5
Bismarck	3.1%	-0.1	-0.8

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: Bismarck, North Dakota, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Bismarck, North Dakota Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Bismarck peaked in December 2009 at 2,454. There are now 522 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 1,929 in May 2011, the number of unemployed has now grown by 3. Bismarck employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Bismarck, North Dakota) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	December 2011	Month/Month	Year/Year
Bismarck	1,932	-64	-489

Number of Unemployed Persons

Bismarck, North Dakota Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	North Dakota Unemployment Rate	Bismarck Unemployment Rate	Bismarck Unemployed
January 2012	8.3%	—	—	—
December 2011	8.5%	3.3%	3.1%	1,932
November 2011	8.7%	3.4%	3.2%	1,996
October 2011	8.9%	3.5%	3.4%	2,051
September 2011	9.0%	3.5%	3.4%	2,055
August 2011	9.1%	3.5%	3.4%	2,047
July 2011	9.1%	3.3%	3.3%	2,015
June 2011	9.1%	3.2%	3.2%	1,964
May 2011	9.0%	3.2%	3.1%	1,929
April 2011	9.0%	3.3%	3.2%	1,976
March 2011	8.9%	3.6%	3.4%	2,119
February 2011	9.0%	3.7%	3.6%	2,227
January 2011	9.1%	3.8%	3.7%	2,321