Department of Numbers

Merced, California Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Merced rose 0.1 percentage points in September 2023 to 9.3%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 4.6 percentage points higher than the California rate. The unemployment rate in Merced peaked in December 2009 at 18.8% and is now 9.5 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 7.4% in May 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 1.9 percentage points. You can also compare Merced 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
Merced 9.3% +0.1 +1.6
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: Merced, California, National

Merced, California monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Merced, California Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Merced peaked in April 2020 at 21,180. There are now 10,413 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 8,498 in June 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 2,269. Merced employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Merced, California) is also available.

Unemployed Persons September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Merced 10,767 +42 +1,888

Number of Unemployed Persons

Merced, California Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
California
Unemployment Rate
Merced
Unemployment Rate
Merced
Unemployed
October
2023
3.9% 4.8%
September
2023
3.8% 4.7% 9.3% 10,767
August
2023
3.8% 4.6% 9.2% 10,725
July
2023
3.5% 4.6% 9.1% 10,653
June
2023
3.6% 4.6% 9.1% 10,595
May
2023
3.7% 4.5% 8.9% 10,391
April
2023
3.4% 4.5% 8.6% 10,050
March
2023
3.5% 4.4% 8.4% 9,778
February
2023
3.6% 4.4% 8.1% 9,362
January
2023
3.4% 4.2% 7.8% 9,080
December
2022
3.5% 4.1% 7.8% 8,976
November
2022
3.6% 4.1% 7.8% 8,992

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.