Department of Numbers

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, California Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Los Angeles rose 0.1 percentage points in September 2023 to 4.8%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.1 percentage points higher than the California rate. The unemployment rate in Los Angeles peaked in May 2020 at 18.5% and is now 13.7 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 4.0% in August 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.8 percentage points. You can also compare Los Angeles unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.8% 0.0 +0.3
California 4.7% +0.1 +0.7
Los Angeles 4.8% +0.1 +0.7
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with September 2023 data as October metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Los Angeles, California, National

Los Angeles, California monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Los Angeles, California Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Los Angeles peaked in May 2020 at 1,153,581. There are now 833,179 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 265,105 in August 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 55,297. Los Angeles employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Los Angeles, California) is also available.

Unemployed Persons September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Los Angeles 320,402 +10,711 +53,378

Number of Unemployed Persons

Los Angeles, California Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
California
Unemployment Rate
Los Angeles
Unemployment Rate
Los Angeles
Unemployed
October
2023
3.9% 4.8%
September
2023
3.8% 4.7% 4.8% 320,402
August
2023
3.8% 4.6% 4.7% 309,691
July
2023
3.5% 4.6% 4.6% 303,981
June
2023
3.6% 4.6% 4.6% 304,979
May
2023
3.7% 4.5% 4.6% 301,401
April
2023
3.4% 4.5% 4.5% 295,068
March
2023
3.5% 4.4% 4.4% 292,664
February
2023
3.6% 4.4% 4.3% 285,343
January
2023
3.4% 4.2% 4.2% 276,039
December
2022
3.5% 4.1% 4.2% 273,655
November
2022
3.6% 4.1% 4.2% 273,027

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.