Department of Numbers

Joplin, Missouri Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Joplin fell 0.0 percentage points in January 2023 to 2.4%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.3 percentage points lower than the Missouri rate. The unemployment rate in Joplin peaked in April 2020 at 11.1% and is now 8.7 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.3% in September 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.1 percentage points. You can also compare Joplin unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.4% -0.1 -0.6
Missouri 2.7% 0.0 -0.2
Joplin 2.4% 0.0 -0.9
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with January 2023 data as February metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Joplin, Missouri, National

Joplin, Missouri monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Joplin, Missouri Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Joplin peaked in April 2020 at 8,964. There are now 6,922 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 1,941 in September 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 101. Joplin employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Joplin, Missouri) is also available.

Unemployed Persons January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Joplin 2,042 -12 -726

Number of Unemployed Persons

Joplin, Missouri Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Missouri
Unemployment Rate
Joplin
Unemployment Rate
Joplin
Unemployed
February
2023
3.6%
January
2023
3.4% 2.7% 2.4% 2,042
December
2022
3.5% 2.7% 2.4% 2,054
November
2022
3.6% 2.7% 2.4% 2,048
October
2022
3.7% 2.7% 2.4% 2,000
September
2022
3.5% 2.6% 2.3% 1,941
August
2022
3.7% 2.4% 2.4% 2,018
July
2022
3.5% 2.2% 2.4% 2,060
June
2022
3.6% 2.1% 2.6% 2,196
May
2022
3.6% 2.1% 2.8% 2,408
April
2022
3.6% 2.3% 2.9% 2,482
March
2022
3.6% 2.5% 3.1% 2,614

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.