Rochester, Minnesota Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Rochester rose 0.1 percentage points in October 2018 to 2.4%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.4 percentage points lower than the Minnesota rate. The unemployment rate in Rochester peaked in June 2009 at 6.8% and is now 4.4 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.3% in September 2018, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.1 percentage points. You can also compare Rochester unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	October 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.7%	0.0	-0.4
Minnesota	2.8%	0.0	-0.5
Rochester	2.4%	+0.1	-0.4

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: Rochester, Minnesota, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Rochester, Minnesota Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Rochester peaked in June 2009 at 7,953. There are now 4,996 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 2,828 in September 2018, the number of unemployed has now grown by 129.

Unemployed Persons	October 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
Rochester	2,957	+129	-432

Number of Unemployed Persons

Rochester, Minnesota Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Minnesota Unemployment Rate	Rochester Unemployment Rate	Rochester Unemployed
November 2018	3.7%	—	—	—
October 2018	3.7%	2.8%	2.4%	2,957
September 2018	3.7%	2.8%	2.3%	2,828
August 2018	3.9%	2.9%	2.4%	2,909
July 2018	3.9%	3.0%	2.4%	2,893
June 2018	4.0%	3.1%	2.5%	3,023
May 2018	3.8%	3.1%	2.5%	3,020
April 2018	3.9%	3.2%	2.7%	3,305
March 2018	4.1%	3.2%	2.7%	3,310
February 2018	4.1%	3.2%	2.8%	3,479
January 2018	4.1%	3.3%	2.9%	3,540
December 2017	4.1%	3.3%	3.0%	3,671