Department of Numbers

Cape Girardeau, Missouri Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Cape Girardeau rose 0.1 percentage points in September 2023 to 2.9%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.0 percentage points lower than the Missouri rate. The unemployment rate in Cape Girardeau peaked in April 2020 at 10.5% and is now 7.6 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.3% in April 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.6 percentage points. You can also compare Cape Girardeau unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.8% 0.0 +0.3
Missouri 2.9% +0.1 +0.3
Cape Girardeau 2.9% +0.1 +0.4
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with September 2023 data as October metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Cape Girardeau, Missouri, National

Cape Girardeau, Missouri monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Cape Girardeau, Missouri Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Cape Girardeau peaked in April 2020 at 4,829. There are now 3,439 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 1,078 in May 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 312. Cape Girardeau employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Cape Girardeau, Missouri) is also available.

Unemployed Persons September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Cape Girardeau 1,390 +37 +216

Number of Unemployed Persons

Cape Girardeau, Missouri Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Missouri
Unemployment Rate
Cape Girardeau
Unemployment Rate
Cape Girardeau
Unemployed
October
2023
3.9% 3.1%
September
2023
3.8% 2.9% 2.9% 1,390
August
2023
3.8% 2.8% 2.8% 1,353
July
2023
3.5% 2.7% 2.7% 1,301
June
2023
3.6% 2.6% 2.6% 1,253
May
2023
3.7% 2.5% 2.4% 1,180
April
2023
3.4% 2.5% 2.3% 1,129
March
2023
3.5% 2.5% 2.3% 1,107
February
2023
3.6% 2.6% 2.4% 1,128
January
2023
3.4% 2.7% 2.4% 1,161
December
2022
3.5% 2.7% 2.5% 1,175
November
2022
3.6% 2.7% 2.5% 1,181

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.