Department of Numbers

Bakersfield, California Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Bakersfield fell 0.0 percentage points in November 2023 to 8.5%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 3.6 percentage points higher than the California rate. The unemployment rate in Bakersfield peaked in April 2020 at 18.6% and is now 10.1 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 6.7% in March 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 1.8 percentage points. You can also compare Bakersfield unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% -0.1 +0.1
California 4.9% +0.1 +0.8
Bakersfield 8.5% 0.0 +1.4
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with November 2023 data as December metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Bakersfield, California, National

Bakersfield, California monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Bakersfield, California Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Bakersfield peaked in April 2020 at 70,571. There are now 36,706 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 25,892 in May 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 7,973. Bakersfield employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Bakersfield, California) is also available.

Unemployed Persons November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Bakersfield 33,865 +317 +5,888

Number of Unemployed Persons

Bakersfield, California Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
California
Unemployment Rate
Bakersfield
Unemployment Rate
Bakersfield
Unemployed
December
2023
3.7%
November
2023
3.7% 4.9% 8.5% 33,865
October
2023
3.8% 4.8% 8.5% 33,548
September
2023
3.8% 4.7% 8.4% 33,289
August
2023
3.8% 4.6% 8.4% 33,292
July
2023
3.5% 4.6% 8.3% 32,923
June
2023
3.6% 4.6% 8.2% 32,659
May
2023
3.7% 4.5% 8.0% 31,811
April
2023
3.4% 4.5% 7.7% 30,425
March
2023
3.5% 4.4% 7.5% 29,693
February
2023
3.6% 4.4% 7.3% 28,822
January
2023
3.4% 4.2% 7.1% 28,077

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.