Ames, Iowa Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Ames rose 0.1 percentage points in April 2018 to 1.8%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 1.0 percentage points lower than the Iowa rate. The unemployment rate in Ames peaked in July 2009 at 4.9% and is now 3.1 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 1.7% in January 2018, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.1 percentage points. You can also compare Ames unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	April 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.9%	-0.2	-0.5
Iowa	2.8%	0.0	-0.5
Ames	1.8%	+0.1	-0.3

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with April 2018 data as May metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Ames, Iowa, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Ames, Iowa Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Ames peaked in July 2009 at 2,405. There are now 1,385 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 981 in January 2018, the number of unemployed has now grown by 39. Ames employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Ames, Iowa) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	April 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
Ames	1,020	+36	-187

Number of Unemployed Persons

Ames, Iowa Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Iowa Unemployment Rate	Ames Unemployment Rate	Ames Unemployed
May 2018	3.8%	2.7%	—	—
April 2018	3.9%	2.8%	1.8%	1,020
March 2018	4.1%	2.8%	1.7%	984
February 2018	4.1%	2.9%	1.7%	986
January 2018	4.1%	2.9%	1.7%	981
December 2017	4.1%	2.9%	1.8%	1,012
November 2017	4.1%	2.9%	1.8%	1,037
October 2017	4.1%	2.9%	1.8%	1,057
September 2017	4.2%	3.0%	1.9%	1,092
August 2017	4.4%	3.0%	2.0%	1,121
July 2017	4.3%	3.1%	2.0%	1,126
June 2017	4.3%	3.2%	2.0%	1,142