Department of Numbers

Lawrence, Kansas Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Lawrence fell 0.1 percentage points in May 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 12.6% and is now 9.8 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.4% in December 2021, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.4 percentage points. You can also compare Lawrence unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% +0.3 +0.1
Kansas 2.9% 0.0 +0.4
Lawrence 2.8% -0.1 +0.4
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: 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 7,980. There are now 6,055 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 1,563 in February 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 362. Lawrence employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Lawrence, Kansas) is also available.

Unemployed Persons May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Lawrence 1,925 -14 +305

Number of Unemployed Persons

Lawrence, Kansas Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Kansas
Unemployment Rate
Lawrence
Unemployment Rate
Lawrence
Unemployed
June
2023
3.6%
May
2023
3.7% 2.9% 2.8% 1,925
April
2023
3.4% 2.9% 2.9% 1,939
March
2023
3.5% 2.9% 2.8% 1,909
February
2023
3.6% 2.9% 2.8% 1,882
January
2023
3.4% 2.9% 2.8% 1,843
December
2022
3.5% 2.9% 2.8% 1,833
November
2022
3.6% 2.9% 2.8% 1,840
October
2022
3.7% 3.0% 2.8% 1,841
September
2022
3.5% 2.9% 2.7% 1,810
August
2022
3.7% 2.8% 2.7% 1,760
July
2022
3.5% 2.7% 2.6% 1,703

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.