Kalamazoo-Portage, Michigan Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Kalamazoo rose 0.2 percentage points in October 2018 to 3.7%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.2 percentage points lower than the Michigan rate. The unemployment rate in Kalamazoo peaked in February 2010 at 11.6% and is now 7.9 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.3% in August 2018, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.4 percentage points. You can also compare Kalamazoo unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	October 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.7%	0.0	-0.4
Michigan	3.9%	-0.1	-0.8
Kalamazoo	3.7%	+0.2	-0.9

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with October 2018 data as November metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Kalamazoo, Michigan, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Kalamazoo, Michigan Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Kalamazoo peaked in September 2009 at 19,801. There are now 13,671 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 5,513 in August 2018, the number of unemployed has now grown by 617. Kalamazoo employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Kalamazoo, Michigan) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	October 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
Kalamazoo	6,130	+322	-1,583

Number of Unemployed Persons

Kalamazoo, Michigan Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Michigan Unemployment Rate	Kalamazoo Unemployment Rate	Kalamazoo Unemployed
November 2018	3.7%	—	—	—
October 2018	3.7%	3.9%	3.7%	6,130
September 2018	3.7%	4.0%	3.5%	5,808
August 2018	3.9%	4.1%	3.3%	5,513
July 2018	3.9%	4.3%	3.6%	6,001
June 2018	4.0%	4.4%	3.8%	6,445
May 2018	3.8%	4.6%	3.9%	6,634
April 2018	3.9%	4.7%	4.3%	7,324
March 2018	4.1%	4.7%	4.4%	7,417
February 2018	4.1%	4.8%	4.6%	7,873
January 2018	4.1%	4.7%	4.6%	7,688
December 2017	4.1%	4.7%	4.7%	7,940