Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, Michigan Unemployment
The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Detroit rose 0.1 percentage points in May 2021 to 4.4%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.6 percentage points lower than the Michigan rate. The unemployment rate in Detroit peaked in April 2020 at 24.7% and is now 20.3 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 4.3% in April 2021, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.1 percentage points. You can also compare Detroit unemployment with unemployment in other cities.
| Unemployment Rate | May 2021 | Month/Month | Year/Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| National | 5.8% | -0.3 | -7.5 |
| Michigan | 5.0% | +0.1 | -15.8 |
| Detroit | 4.4% | +0.1 | -19.9 |
Unemployment Rate: Detroit, Michigan, National
Note: Recessions shown in gray.
Detroit, Michigan Unemployed
The number of people unemployed in Detroit peaked in April 2020 at 480,837. There are now 391,247 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 86,737 in April 2021, the number of unemployed has now grown by 2,853. Detroit employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Detroit, Michigan) is also available.
| Unemployed Persons | May 2021 | Month/Month | Year/Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | 89,590 | +2,853 | -383,918 |
Number of Unemployed Persons
Detroit, Michigan Unemployment History
| Date | National Unemployment Rate |
Michigan Unemployment Rate |
Detroit Unemployment Rate |
Detroit Unemployed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2021 |
5.9% | — | — | — |
| May 2021 |
5.8% | 5.0% | 4.4% | 89,590 |
| April 2021 |
6.1% | 4.9% | 4.3% | 86,737 |
| March 2021 |
6.0% | 5.1% | 4.5% | 91,108 |
| February 2021 |
6.2% | 5.2% | 4.5% | 90,674 |
| January 2021 |
6.3% | 5.7% | 5.2% | 105,002 |
| December 2020 |
6.7% | 8.2% | 10.3% | 218,613 |
| November 2020 |
6.7% | 8.2% | 10.2% | 216,858 |
| October 2020 |
6.9% | 8.1% | 10.1% | 215,027 |
| September 2020 |
7.8% | 8.2% | 10.3% | 217,386 |
| August 2020 |
8.4% | 8.5% | 10.6% | 224,247 |
| July 2020 |
10.2% | 9.0% | 11.1% | 235,314 |
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. ↩
Department of Numbers
The Department of Numbers contextualizes public data so that individuals can form independent opinions on everyday social and economic matters.
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