Grand Rapids-Wyoming, Michigan Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Grand Rapids fell 0.3 percentage points in February 2019 to 2.6%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 1.4 percentage points lower than the Michigan rate. The unemployment rate in Grand Rapids peaked in July 2009 at 12.4% and is now 9.8 percentage points lower. You can also compare Grand Rapids unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	February 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.8%	-0.2	-0.3
Michigan	4.0%	0.0	-0.4
Grand Rapids	2.6%	-0.3	-1.1

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with February 2019 data as March 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 June 2009 at 62,293. There are now 46,981 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area.

Unemployed Persons	February 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
Grand Rapids	15,312	-1,667	-5,989

Number of Unemployed Persons

Grand Rapids, Michigan Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Michigan Unemployment Rate	Grand Rapids Unemployment Rate	Grand Rapids Unemployed
March 2019	3.8%	4.0%	—	—
February 2019	3.8%	4.0%	2.6%	15,312
January 2019	4.0%	4.0%	2.9%	16,979
December 2018	3.9%	4.0%	3.1%	18,286
November 2018	3.7%	4.0%	3.1%	18,105
October 2018	3.8%	4.0%	3.2%	18,496
September 2018	3.7%	3.9%	2.9%	17,065
August 2018	3.8%	3.9%	2.7%	15,842
July 2018	3.9%	4.0%	2.7%	15,744
June 2018	4.0%	4.0%	2.8%	16,325
May 2018	3.8%	4.2%	3.0%	17,195
April 2018	3.9%	4.3%	3.3%	19,486