Department of Numbers

Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Iowa Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Waterloo fell 0.0 percentage points in January 2023 to 3.0%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.0 percentage points lower than the Iowa rate. The unemployment rate in Waterloo peaked in April 2020 at 11.3% and is now 8.3 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.7% in July 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.3 percentage points. You can also compare Waterloo 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
Waterloo 3.0% 0.0 -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: Waterloo, Iowa, National

Waterloo, Iowa monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Waterloo, Iowa Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Waterloo peaked in April 2020 at 10,119. There are now 7,463 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 2,396 in July 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 260. Waterloo employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Waterloo, Iowa) is also available.

Unemployed Persons January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Waterloo 2,656 -44 -676

Number of Unemployed Persons

Waterloo, Iowa Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Iowa
Unemployment Rate
Waterloo
Unemployment Rate
Waterloo
Unemployed
February
2023
3.6%
January
2023
3.4% 3.0% 3.0% 2,656
December
2022
3.5% 3.0% 3.0% 2,700
November
2022
3.6% 3.1% 3.0% 2,651
October
2022
3.7% 3.1% 2.8% 2,538
September
2022
3.5% 3.1% 2.7% 2,428
August
2022
3.7% 2.9% 2.7% 2,411
July
2022
3.5% 2.8% 2.7% 2,396
June
2022
3.6% 2.6% 2.8% 2,451
May
2022
3.6% 2.4% 2.9% 2,596
April
2022
3.6% 2.3% 3.1% 2,757
March
2022
3.6% 2.4% 3.4% 2,982

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.