Department of Numbers

Des Moines-West Des Moines, Iowa Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Des Moines fell 0.0 percentage points in March 2023 to 2.7%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.1 percentage points lower than the Iowa rate. The unemployment rate in Des Moines peaked in April 2020 at 11.9% and is now 9.2 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.4% in January 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.3 percentage points. You can also compare Des Moines unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate March 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.5% -0.1 -0.1
Iowa 2.8% -0.1 +0.4
Des Moines 2.7% 0.0 +0.3
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with March 2023 data as April metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Des Moines, Iowa, National

Des Moines, Iowa monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Des Moines, Iowa Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Des Moines peaked in April 2020 at 42,835. There are now 32,647 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 8,869 in March 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 1,319. Des Moines employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Des Moines, Iowa) is also available.

Unemployed Persons March 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Des Moines 10,188 -19 +1,319

Number of Unemployed Persons

Des Moines, Iowa Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Iowa
Unemployment Rate
Des Moines
Unemployment Rate
Des Moines
Unemployed
April
2023
3.4%
March
2023
3.5% 2.8% 2.7% 10,188
February
2023
3.6% 2.9% 2.7% 10,207
January
2023
3.4% 3.0% 2.7% 10,182
December
2022
3.5% 3.0% 2.7% 10,154
November
2022
3.6% 3.1% 2.7% 10,187
October
2022
3.7% 3.1% 2.7% 10,214
September
2022
3.5% 3.1% 2.7% 10,093
August
2022
3.7% 2.9% 2.6% 9,873
July
2022
3.5% 2.8% 2.5% 9,574
June
2022
3.6% 2.6% 2.5% 9,275
May
2022
3.6% 2.4% 2.4% 9,052

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.