Department of Numbers

Joplin, Missouri Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Joplin 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 Joplin peaked in April 2020 at 11.3% and is now 8.4 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.2% in April 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.7 percentage points. You can also compare Joplin 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
Joplin 2.9% +0.1 +0.5
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: 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 9,145. There are now 6,642 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 1,806 in June 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 697. Joplin employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Joplin, Missouri) is also available.

Unemployed Persons September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Joplin 2,503 +59 +510

Number of Unemployed Persons

Joplin, Missouri Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate		 Missouri
Unemployment Rate		 Joplin
Unemployment Rate		 Joplin
Unemployed
October
2023		 3.9% 3.1% — —
September
2023		 3.8% 2.9% 2.9% 2,503
August
2023		 3.8% 2.8% 2.8% 2,444
July
2023		 3.5% 2.7% 2.8% 2,379
June
2023		 3.6% 2.6% 2.7% 2,303
May
2023		 3.7% 2.5% 2.5% 2,171
April
2023		 3.4% 2.5% 2.4% 2,053
March
2023		 3.5% 2.5% 2.4% 1,993
February
2023		 3.6% 2.6% 2.4% 2,005
January
2023		 3.4% 2.7% 2.4% 2,033
December
2022		 3.5% 2.7% 2.4% 2,031
November
2022		 3.6% 2.7% 2.4% 2,043

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. ↩

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