Department of Numbers

Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Iowa Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Waterloo rose 0.1 percentage points in May 2023 to 2.9%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.2 percentage points higher than the Iowa rate. The unemployment rate in Waterloo peaked in April 2020 at 11.5% and is now 8.6 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.5% in March 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.4 percentage points. You can also compare Waterloo 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
Waterloo 2.9% +0.1 +0.3
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: 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 10,124. There are now 7,551 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 2,225 in April 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 348. Waterloo employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Waterloo, Iowa) is also available.

Unemployed Persons May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Waterloo 2,573 +86 +308

Number of Unemployed Persons

Waterloo, Iowa Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Iowa
Unemployment Rate
Waterloo
Unemployment Rate
Waterloo
Unemployed
June
2023
3.6%
May
2023
3.7% 2.7% 2.9% 2,573
April
2023
3.4% 2.7% 2.8% 2,487
March
2023
3.5% 2.8% 2.9% 2,537
February
2023
3.6% 2.9% 2.9% 2,586
January
2023
3.4% 3.0% 2.9% 2,614
December
2022
3.5% 3.0% 3.0% 2,664
November
2022
3.6% 3.1% 3.0% 2,678
October
2022
3.7% 3.1% 3.0% 2,692
September
2022
3.5% 3.1% 3.0% 2,652
August
2022
3.7% 2.9% 2.9% 2,573
July
2022
3.5% 2.8% 2.8% 2,463

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.