Department of Numbers

Duluth, Minnesota Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Duluth rose 0.1 percentage points in October 2023 to 3.9%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.7 percentage points higher than the Minnesota rate. The unemployment rate in Duluth peaked in May 2020 at 14.0% and is now 10.1 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.2% in February 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.7 percentage points. You can also compare Duluth unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate October 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.9% +0.1 +0.2
Minnesota 3.2% +0.1 +0.2
Duluth 3.9% +0.1 +0.2
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: Duluth, Minnesota, National

Duluth, Minnesota monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Duluth, Minnesota Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Duluth peaked in May 2020 at 19,667. There are now 14,178 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 4,443 in March 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 1,046. Duluth employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Duluth, Minnesota) is also available.

Unemployed Persons October 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Duluth 5,489 +115 +335

Number of Unemployed Persons

Duluth, Minnesota Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Minnesota
Unemployment Rate
Duluth
Unemployment Rate
Duluth
Unemployed
November
2023
3.7%
October
2023
3.9% 3.2% 3.9% 5,489
September
2023
3.8% 3.1% 3.8% 5,374
August
2023
3.8% 3.1% 3.8% 5,339
July
2023
3.5% 3.0% 3.6% 5,139
June
2023
3.6% 2.9% 3.5% 4,987
May
2023
3.7% 2.9% 3.4% 4,830
April
2023
3.4% 2.8% 3.3% 4,648
March
2023
3.5% 2.8% 3.3% 4,654
February
2023
3.6% 3.0% 3.5% 4,882
January
2023
3.4% 2.9% 3.5% 4,959
December
2022
3.5% 2.9% 3.6% 5,135

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.