Department of Numbers

Dubuque, Iowa Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Dubuque fell 0.1 percentage points in January 2023 to 3.1%. 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 12.0% and is now 8.9 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.8% in July 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 January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.4% -0.1 -0.6
Iowa 3.0% 0.0 +0.3
Dubuque 3.1% -0.1 -0.8
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: 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 6,774. There are now 5,061 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 1,524 in August 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 189. Dubuque employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Dubuque, Iowa) is also available.

Unemployed Persons January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Dubuque 1,713 -50 -420

Number of Unemployed Persons

Dubuque, Iowa Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Iowa
Unemployment Rate
Dubuque
Unemployment Rate
Dubuque
Unemployed
February
2023
3.6%
January
2023
3.4% 3.0% 3.1% 1,713
December
2022
3.5% 3.0% 3.2% 1,763
November
2022
3.6% 3.1% 3.1% 1,747
October
2022
3.7% 3.1% 3.0% 1,683
September
2022
3.5% 3.1% 2.8% 1,565
August
2022
3.7% 2.9% 2.8% 1,524
July
2022
3.5% 2.8% 2.8% 1,538
June
2022
3.6% 2.6% 2.9% 1,581
May
2022
3.6% 2.4% 3.0% 1,681
April
2022
3.6% 2.3% 3.3% 1,798
March
2022
3.6% 2.4% 3.5% 1,937

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.