Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Iowa Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Waterloo fell 0.2 percentage points in February 2019 to 2.5%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.1 percentage points higher than the Iowa rate. The unemployment rate in Waterloo peaked in February 2010 at 6.2% and is now 3.7 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.2% in November 2018, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.3 percentage points. You can also compare Waterloo unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	February 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.8%	-0.2	-0.3
Iowa	2.4%	0.0	-0.3
Waterloo	2.5%	-0.2	-0.7

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with February 2019 data as March metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Waterloo, Iowa, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Waterloo, Iowa Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Waterloo peaked in July 2009 at 5,723. There are now 3,496 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 1,898 in November 2018, the number of unemployed has now grown by 329. Waterloo employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Waterloo, Iowa) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	February 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
Waterloo	2,227	-221	-565

Number of Unemployed Persons

Waterloo, Iowa Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Iowa Unemployment Rate	Waterloo Unemployment Rate	Waterloo Unemployed
March 2019	3.8%	2.4%	—	—
February 2019	3.8%	2.4%	2.5%	2,227
January 2019	4.0%	2.4%	2.7%	2,448
December 2018	3.9%	2.4%	2.4%	2,130
November 2018	3.7%	2.4%	2.2%	1,898
October 2018	3.8%	2.4%	2.3%	2,012
September 2018	3.7%	2.4%	2.5%	2,199
August 2018	3.8%	2.4%	2.7%	2,356
July 2018	3.9%	2.4%	2.7%	2,412
June 2018	4.0%	2.5%	2.7%	2,344
May 2018	3.8%	2.6%	2.7%	2,326
April 2018	3.9%	2.6%	2.8%	2,486