Grand Rapids-Wyoming, Michigan Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Grand Rapids fell 0.0 percentage points in August 2019 to 2.9%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 1.3 percentage points lower than the Michigan rate. The unemployment rate in Grand Rapids peaked in July 2009 at 12.3% and is now 9.4 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.8% in June 2018, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.1 percentage points. You can also compare Grand Rapids unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	August 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.7%	0.0	-0.1
Michigan	4.2%	-0.1	+0.3
Grand Rapids	2.9%	0.0	+0.1

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with August 2019 data as September metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Grand Rapids, Michigan, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Grand Rapids, Michigan Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Grand Rapids peaked in July 2009 at 61,748. There are now 44,524 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 16,119 in July 2018, the number of unemployed has now grown by 1,105.

Unemployed Persons	August 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
Grand Rapids	17,224	+474	+1,017

Number of Unemployed Persons

Grand Rapids, Michigan Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Michigan Unemployment Rate	Grand Rapids Unemployment Rate	Grand Rapids Unemployed
September 2019	3.5%	4.2%	—	—
August 2019	3.7%	4.2%	2.9%	17,224
July 2019	3.7%	4.3%	2.9%	16,750
June 2019	3.7%	4.2%	2.8%	16,549
May 2019	3.6%	4.2%	2.8%	16,587
April 2019	3.6%	4.1%	2.9%	16,842
March 2019	3.8%	4.0%	2.9%	16,820
February 2019	3.8%	4.0%	2.9%	16,766
January 2019	4.0%	4.0%	3.0%	17,145
December 2018	3.9%	4.0%	3.0%	17,106
November 2018	3.7%	4.0%	3.0%	17,104
October 2018	3.8%	4.0%	2.9%	16,911