Department of Numbers

Lawrence, Kansas Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Lawrence fell 0.0 percentage points in January 2023 to 2.8%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.1 percentage points lower than the Kansas rate. The unemployment rate in Lawrence peaked in April 2020 at 12.7% and is now 9.9 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.3% in May 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.5 percentage points. You can also compare Lawrence unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.4% -0.1 -0.6
Kansas 2.9% 0.0 +0.4
Lawrence 2.8% 0.0 +0.3
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: Lawrence, Kansas, National

Lawrence, Kansas monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Lawrence, Kansas Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Lawrence peaked in April 2020 at 7,942. There are now 6,112 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 1,538 in June 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 292. Lawrence employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Lawrence, Kansas) is also available.

Unemployed Persons January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Lawrence 1,830 +23 +176

Number of Unemployed Persons

Lawrence, Kansas Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Kansas
Unemployment Rate
Lawrence
Unemployment Rate
Lawrence
Unemployed
February
2023
3.6%
January
2023
3.4% 2.9% 2.8% 1,830
December
2022
3.5% 2.9% 2.8% 1,807
November
2022
3.6% 2.9% 2.7% 1,739
October
2022
3.7% 3.0% 2.6% 1,687
September
2022
3.5% 2.9% 2.5% 1,618
August
2022
3.7% 2.8% 2.4% 1,585
July
2022
3.5% 2.7% 2.4% 1,555
June
2022
3.6% 2.6% 2.3% 1,538
May
2022
3.6% 2.5% 2.3% 1,549
April
2022
3.6% 2.4% 2.4% 1,554
March
2022
3.6% 2.4% 2.4% 1,587

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.