Department of Numbers

Dover, Delaware Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Dover fell 0.0 percentage points in September 2023 to 4.8%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.7 percentage points higher than the Delaware rate. The unemployment rate in Dover peaked in May 2020 at 15.2% and is now 10.4 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 4.7% in July 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.1 percentage points. You can also compare Dover unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.8% 0.0 +0.3
Delaware 4.1% 0.0 -0.5
Dover 4.8% 0.0 -0.5
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: Dover, Delaware, National

Dover, Delaware monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Dover, Delaware Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Dover peaked in May 2020 at 12,479. There are now 8,575 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 3,829 in July 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 75. Dover employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Dover, Delaware) is also available.

Unemployed Persons September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Dover 3,904 +10 -319

Number of Unemployed Persons

Dover, Delaware Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Delaware
Unemployment Rate
Dover
Unemployment Rate
Dover
Unemployed
October
2023
3.9% 4.2%
September
2023
3.8% 4.1% 4.8% 3,904
August
2023
3.8% 4.1% 4.8% 3,894
July
2023
3.5% 4.1% 4.7% 3,829
June
2023
3.6% 4.2% 4.8% 3,839
May
2023
3.7% 4.2% 4.8% 3,855
April
2023
3.4% 4.3% 4.9% 3,915
March
2023
3.5% 4.4% 5.0% 4,003
February
2023
3.6% 4.6% 5.1% 4,092
January
2023
3.4% 4.6% 5.3% 4,184
December
2022
3.5% 4.6% 5.3% 4,259
November
2022
3.6% 4.7% 5.4% 4,263

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.