Grand Rapids-Wyoming, Michigan Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Grand Rapids fell 0.4 percentage points in March 2018 to 3.3%. 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 9.1 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.2% in April 2017, 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	March 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	4.1%	0.0	-0.4
Michigan	4.7%	-0.1	+0.1
Grand Rapids	3.3%	-0.4	0.0

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with March 2018 data as April 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 43,147 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 18,361 in May 2017, the number of unemployed has now grown by 785.

Unemployed Persons	March 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
Grand Rapids	19,146	-2,155	+237

Number of Unemployed Persons

Grand Rapids, Michigan Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Michigan Unemployment Rate	Grand Rapids Unemployment Rate	Grand Rapids Unemployed
April 2018	3.9%	—	—	—
March 2018	4.1%	4.7%	3.3%	19,146
February 2018	4.1%	4.8%	3.7%	21,301
January 2018	4.1%	4.7%	3.7%	21,497
December 2017	4.1%	4.7%	3.9%	22,329
November 2017	4.1%	4.7%	3.8%	22,014
October 2017	4.1%	4.7%	3.8%	21,640
September 2017	4.2%	4.7%	3.8%	21,939
August 2017	4.4%	4.6%	3.8%	21,892
July 2017	4.3%	4.5%	3.6%	20,448
June 2017	4.3%	4.4%	3.3%	18,874
May 2017	4.3%	4.4%	3.2%	18,361