Department of Numbers

Kalamazoo-Portage, Michigan Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Kalamazoo fell 0.0 percentage points in January 2023 to 4.2%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.1 percentage points lower than the Michigan rate. The unemployment rate in Kalamazoo peaked in April 2020 at 17.5% and is now 13.3 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.9% in July 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.3 percentage points. You can also compare Kalamazoo unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.4% -0.1 -0.6
Michigan 4.3% 0.0 -0.1
Kalamazoo 4.2% 0.0 -0.1
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with January 2023 data as February metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Kalamazoo, Michigan, National

Kalamazoo, Michigan monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Kalamazoo, Michigan Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Kalamazoo peaked in April 2020 at 27,273. There are now 20,257 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 6,516 in August 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 500. Kalamazoo employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Kalamazoo, Michigan) is also available.

Unemployed Persons January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Kalamazoo 7,016 +75 -33

Number of Unemployed Persons

Kalamazoo, Michigan Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Michigan
Unemployment Rate
Kalamazoo
Unemployment Rate
Kalamazoo
Unemployed
February
2023
3.6%
January
2023
3.4% 4.3% 4.2% 7,016
December
2022
3.5% 4.3% 4.2% 6,941
November
2022
3.6% 4.4% 4.1% 6,883
October
2022
3.7% 4.4% 4.1% 6,737
September
2022
3.5% 4.3% 4.0% 6,584
August
2022
3.7% 4.3% 3.9% 6,516
July
2022
3.5% 4.1% 3.9% 6,521
June
2022
3.6% 4.0% 4.0% 6,673
May
2022
3.6% 4.0% 4.0% 6,641
April
2022
3.6% 4.0% 4.0% 6,638
March
2022
3.6% 4.1% 4.1% 6,676

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.