Department of Numbers

Fresno, California Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Fresno rose 0.2 percentage points in March 2023 to 6.8%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 2.4 percentage points higher than the California rate. The unemployment rate in Fresno peaked in April 2020 at 17.4% and is now 10.6 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 6.1% in May 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.7 percentage points. You can also compare Fresno unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate March 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.5% -0.1 -0.1
California 4.4% 0.0 0.0
Fresno 6.8% +0.2 +0.4
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with March 2023 data as April metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Fresno, California, National

Fresno, California monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Fresno, California Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Fresno peaked in April 2020 at 77,357. There are now 45,702 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 27,378 in June 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 4,277. Fresno employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Fresno, California) is also available.

Unemployed Persons March 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Fresno 31,655 +1,144 +2,954

Number of Unemployed Persons

Fresno, California Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate		 California
Unemployment Rate		 Fresno
Unemployment Rate		 Fresno
Unemployed
April
2023		 3.4% — — —
March
2023		 3.5% 4.4% 6.8% 31,655
February
2023		 3.6% 4.4% 6.6% 30,511
January
2023		 3.4% 4.2% 6.5% 29,662
December
2022		 3.5% 4.1% 6.4% 29,309
November
2022		 3.6% 4.1% 6.4% 29,374
October
2022		 3.7% 4.1% 6.4% 29,309
September
2022		 3.5% 4.0% 6.3% 28,860
August
2022		 3.7% 3.8% 6.2% 28,255
July
2022		 3.5% 3.8% 6.1% 27,681
June
2022		 3.6% 3.9% 6.1% 27,378
May
2022		 3.6% 4.0% 6.1% 27,501

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. ↩

Data on deptofnumbers.com is for informational purposes only. No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is offered or implied. Nothing on this site constitutes investment advice. Contact [email protected] if you have any questions, comments or suggestions. Privacy policy.