Department of Numbers

Modesto, California Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Modesto rose 0.2 percentage points in May 2023 to 6.0%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 1.5 percentage points higher than the California rate. The unemployment rate in Modesto peaked in February 2010 at 17.7% and is now 11.7 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 5.1% in April 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.9 percentage points. You can also compare Modesto unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% +0.3 +0.1
California 4.5% 0.0 +0.5
Modesto 6.0% +0.2 +0.9
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with May 2023 data as June metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Modesto, California, National

Modesto, California monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Modesto, California Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Modesto peaked in March 2010 at 42,809. There are now 28,140 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 12,304 in May 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 2,365. Modesto employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Modesto, California) is also available.

Unemployed Persons May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Modesto 14,669 +571 +2,365

Number of Unemployed Persons

Modesto, California Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate		 California
Unemployment Rate		 Modesto
Unemployment Rate		 Modesto
Unemployed
June
2023		 3.6% — — —
May
2023		 3.7% 4.5% 6.0% 14,669
April
2023		 3.4% 4.5% 5.8% 14,098
March
2023		 3.5% 4.4% 5.7% 13,895
February
2023		 3.6% 4.4% 5.6% 13,681
January
2023		 3.4% 4.2% 5.6% 13,535
December
2022		 3.5% 4.1% 5.5% 13,464
November
2022		 3.6% 4.1% 5.6% 13,524
October
2022		 3.7% 4.1% 5.6% 13,574
September
2022		 3.5% 4.0% 5.5% 13,446
August
2022		 3.7% 3.8% 5.4% 13,175
July
2022		 3.5% 3.8% 5.3% 12,802

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. ↩

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