Department of Numbers

Dubuque, Iowa Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Dubuque fell 0.0 percentage points in May 2023 to 2.8%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.1 percentage points higher than the Iowa rate. The unemployment rate in Dubuque peaked in April 2020 at 12.3% and is now 9.5 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.5% in April 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.3 percentage points. You can also compare Dubuque unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% +0.3 +0.1
Iowa 2.7% 0.0 +0.3
Dubuque 2.8% 0.0 +0.2
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: Dubuque, Iowa, National

Dubuque, Iowa monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Dubuque, Iowa Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Dubuque peaked in April 2020 at 6,844. There are now 5,273 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 1,433 in April 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 138. Dubuque employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Dubuque, Iowa) is also available.

Unemployed Persons May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Dubuque 1,571 -5 +114

Number of Unemployed Persons

Dubuque, Iowa Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Iowa
Unemployment Rate
Dubuque
Unemployment Rate
Dubuque
Unemployed
June
2023
3.6%
May
2023
3.7% 2.7% 2.8% 1,571
April
2023
3.4% 2.7% 2.8% 1,576
March
2023
3.5% 2.8% 2.9% 1,624
February
2023
3.6% 2.9% 3.0% 1,677
January
2023
3.4% 3.0% 3.0% 1,696
December
2022
3.5% 3.0% 3.1% 1,734
November
2022
3.6% 3.1% 3.1% 1,746
October
2022
3.7% 3.1% 3.1% 1,759
September
2022
3.5% 3.1% 3.1% 1,733
August
2022
3.7% 2.9% 3.0% 1,677
July
2022
3.5% 2.8% 2.8% 1,597

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.