Merced, California Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Merced rose 0.1 percentage points in December 2018 to 7.7%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 3.5 percentage points higher than the California rate. The unemployment rate in Merced peaked in December 2009 at 18.1% and is now 10.4 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 7.6% in November 2018, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.1 percentage points. You can also compare Merced unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	December 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.9%	+0.2	-0.2
California	4.2%	+0.1	-0.3
Merced	7.7%	+0.1	-0.5

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with December 2018 data as January 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 11,617 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 94. Merced employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Merced, California) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	December 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
Merced	9,162	+94	-402

Number of Unemployed Persons

Merced, California Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	California Unemployment Rate	Merced Unemployment Rate	Merced Unemployed
January 2019	4.0%	—	—	—
December 2018	3.9%	4.2%	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%	4.2%	8.0%	9,419
July 2018	3.9%	4.2%	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%	4.2%	8.0%	9,315
March 2018	4.0%	4.3%	8.0%	9,299
February 2018	4.1%	4.3%	8.2%	9,458