Merced, California Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Merced rose 0.5 percentage points in January 2019 to 8.2%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 4.0 percentage points higher than the California rate. The unemployment rate in Merced peaked in December 2009 at 18.1% and is now 9.9 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 7.6% in November 2018, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.6 percentage points. You can also compare Merced unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	January 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	4.0%	+0.1	-0.1
California	4.2%	+0.1	-0.2
Merced	8.2%	+0.5	+0.2

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with January 2019 data as February metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Merced, California, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Merced, California Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Merced peaked in December 2010 at 20,779. There are now 11,116 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 9,068 in November 2018, the number of unemployed has now grown by 595. Merced employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Merced, California) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	January 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
Merced	9,663	+501	+368

Number of Unemployed Persons

Merced, California Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	California Unemployment Rate	Merced Unemployment Rate	Merced Unemployed
February 2019	3.8%	4.2%	—	—
January 2019	4.0%	4.2%	8.2%	9,663
December 2018	3.9%	4.1%	7.7%	9,162
November 2018	3.7%	4.1%	7.6%	9,068
October 2018	3.8%	4.1%	8.0%	9,450
September 2018	3.7%	4.1%	8.0%	9,466
August 2018	3.8%	4.1%	8.0%	9,419
July 2018	3.9%	4.1%	8.3%	9,715
June 2018	4.0%	4.2%	8.6%	10,057
May 2018	3.8%	4.2%	8.2%	9,573
April 2018	3.9%	4.3%	8.0%	9,315
March 2018	4.0%	4.3%	8.0%	9,299