Department of Numbers

South Bend-Mishawaka, Indiana Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for South Bend rose 0.1 percentage points in January 2023 to 3.6%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.5 percentage points higher than the Indiana rate. The unemployment rate in South Bend peaked in April 2020 at 21.0% and is now 17.4 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.7% in March 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.9 percentage points. You can also compare South Bend unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.4% -0.1 -0.6
Indiana 3.1% 0.0 +0.2
South Bend 3.6% +0.1 +0.7
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with January 2023 data as February metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: South Bend, Indiana, National

South Bend, Indiana monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

South Bend, Indiana Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in South Bend peaked in April 2020 at 32,177. There are now 26,544 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 4,145 in March 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 1,488. South Bend employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in South Bend, Indiana) is also available.

Unemployed Persons January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
South Bend 5,633 +81 +1,142

Number of Unemployed Persons

South Bend, Indiana Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Indiana
Unemployment Rate
South Bend
Unemployment Rate
South Bend
Unemployed
February
2023
3.6%
January
2023
3.4% 3.1% 3.6% 5,633
December
2022
3.5% 3.1% 3.5% 5,552
November
2022
3.6% 3.2% 3.5% 5,535
October
2022
3.7% 3.2% 3.4% 5,413
September
2022
3.5% 3.2% 3.3% 5,264
August
2022
3.7% 3.1% 3.3% 5,247
July
2022
3.5% 3.0% 3.2% 4,987
June
2022
3.6% 2.9% 3.0% 4,642
May
2022
3.6% 2.9% 2.8% 4,353
April
2022
3.6% 2.8% 2.7% 4,180
March
2022
3.6% 2.8% 2.7% 4,145

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.