Department of Numbers

Kalamazoo-Portage, Michigan Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Kalamazoo rose 0.1 percentage points in October 2023 to 4.0%. 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 17.3% and is now 13.3 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.9% in July 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.1 percentage points. You can also compare Kalamazoo unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate October 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.9% +0.1 +0.2
Michigan 4.1% +0.2 -0.3
Kalamazoo 4.0% +0.1 -0.3
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with October 2023 data as November 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 27,172. There are now 20,245 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 6,630 in July 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 297. Kalamazoo employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Kalamazoo, Michigan) is also available.

Unemployed Persons October 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Kalamazoo 6,927 +212 -275

Number of Unemployed Persons

Kalamazoo, Michigan Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Michigan
Unemployment Rate
Kalamazoo
Unemployment Rate
Kalamazoo
Unemployed
November
2023
3.7%
October
2023
3.9% 4.1% 4.0% 6,927
September
2023
3.8% 3.9% 3.9% 6,715
August
2023
3.8% 3.7% 3.9% 6,632
July
2023
3.5% 3.6% 3.9% 6,630
June
2023
3.6% 3.6% 4.0% 6,819
May
2023
3.7% 3.7% 4.1% 6,956
April
2023
3.4% 3.8% 4.2% 7,027
March
2023
3.5% 4.1% 4.4% 7,305
February
2023
3.6% 4.3% 4.4% 7,303
January
2023
3.4% 4.3% 4.4% 7,233
December
2022
3.5% 4.3% 4.3% 7,175

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.