Merced, California Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Merced fell 0.9 percentage points in May 2020 to 17.1%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.8 percentage points higher than the California rate. The unemployment rate in Merced peaked in December 2009 at 18.2% and is now 1.1 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 7.6% in December 2019, the unemployment rate has now grown by 9.5 percentage points. You can also compare Merced unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	May 2020	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	13.3%	-1.4	+9.7
California	16.3%	-0.1	+12.2
Merced	17.1%	-0.9	+9.0

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with May 2020 data as June 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 April 2020 at 20,913. There are now 1,308 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. Merced employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Merced, California) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	May 2020	Month/Month	Year/Year
Merced	19,605	-1,308	+10,140

Number of Unemployed Persons

Merced, California Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	California Unemployment Rate	Merced Unemployment Rate	Merced Unemployed
June 2020	11.1%	—	—	—
May 2020	13.3%	16.3%	17.1%	19,605
April 2020	14.7%	16.4%	18.0%	20,913
March 2020	4.4%	5.5%	10.8%	12,618
February 2020	3.5%	3.9%	7.8%	9,116
January 2020	3.6%	3.9%	7.8%	9,096
December 2019	3.5%	3.9%	7.6%	8,911
November 2019	3.5%	3.9%	7.7%	9,023
October 2019	3.6%	3.9%	7.9%	9,138
September 2019	3.5%	3.9%	8.0%	9,251
August 2019	3.7%	3.9%	8.1%	9,341
July 2019	3.7%	4.0%	8.2%	9,399