Department of Numbers

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, Indiana Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Indianapolis rose 0.1 percentage points in May 2023 to 2.8%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.3 percentage points lower than the Indiana rate. The unemployment rate in Indianapolis peaked in April 2020 at 13.2% and is now 10.4 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.6% in January 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.2 percentage points. You can also compare Indianapolis unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% +0.3 +0.1
Indiana 3.1% +0.1 +0.2
Indianapolis 2.8% +0.1 -0.1
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: Indianapolis, Indiana, National

Indianapolis, Indiana monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Indianapolis, Indiana Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Indianapolis peaked in April 2020 at 134,738. There are now 102,627 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 29,440 in January 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 2,671. Indianapolis employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Indianapolis, Indiana) is also available.

Unemployed Persons May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Indianapolis 32,111 +1,837 +186

Number of Unemployed Persons

Indianapolis, Indiana Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Indiana
Unemployment Rate
Indianapolis
Unemployment Rate
Indianapolis
Unemployed
June
2023
3.6%
May
2023
3.7% 3.1% 2.8% 32,111
April
2023
3.4% 3.0% 2.7% 30,274
March
2023
3.5% 3.1% 2.7% 30,230
February
2023
3.6% 3.1% 2.6% 29,685
January
2023
3.4% 3.1% 2.6% 29,694
December
2022
3.5% 3.1% 2.7% 30,593
November
2022
3.6% 3.2% 2.7% 30,565
October
2022
3.7% 3.2% 2.7% 30,727
September
2022
3.5% 3.2% 2.8% 31,227
August
2022
3.7% 3.1% 2.8% 31,786
July
2022
3.5% 3.0% 2.9% 32,183

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.