Department of Numbers

Lafayette-West Lafayette, Indiana Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Lafayette fell 0.0 percentage points in September 2023 to 3.2%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.4 percentage points lower than the Indiana rate. The unemployment rate in Lafayette peaked in April 2020 at 13.6% and is now 10.4 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.7% in January 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.5 percentage points. You can also compare Lafayette unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.8% 0.0 +0.3
Indiana 3.6% +0.2 +0.4
Lafayette 3.2% 0.0 +0.4
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: Lafayette, Indiana, National

Lafayette, Indiana monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Lafayette, Indiana Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Lafayette peaked in May 2020 at 13,377. There are now 9,821 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 3,058 in January 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 498. Lafayette employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Lafayette, Indiana) is also available.

Unemployed Persons September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Lafayette 3,556 +59 +395

Number of Unemployed Persons

Lafayette, Indiana Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Indiana
Unemployment Rate
Lafayette
Unemployment Rate
Lafayette
Unemployed
October
2023
3.9% 3.6%
September
2023
3.8% 3.6% 3.2% 3,556
August
2023
3.8% 3.4% 3.2% 3,497
July
2023
3.5% 3.3% 3.1% 3,441
June
2023
3.6% 3.2% 3.0% 3,314
May
2023
3.7% 3.1% 3.0% 3,288
April
2023
3.4% 3.0% 2.8% 3,129
March
2023
3.5% 3.1% 2.8% 3,111
February
2023
3.6% 3.1% 2.8% 3,075
January
2023
3.4% 3.1% 2.7% 3,058
December
2022
3.5% 3.1% 2.8% 3,115
November
2022
3.6% 3.2% 2.8% 3,115

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.