Department of Numbers

Columbus, Ohio Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Columbus fell 0.0 percentage points in May 2023 to 3.2%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.4 percentage points lower than the Ohio rate. The unemployment rate in Columbus peaked in April 2020 at 12.9% and is now 9.7 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.2% in March 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.0 percentage points. You can also compare Columbus unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% +0.3 +0.1
Ohio 3.6% -0.1 -0.3
Columbus 3.2% 0.0 -0.2
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with May 2023 data as June metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Columbus, Ohio, National

Columbus, Ohio monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Columbus, Ohio Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Columbus peaked in April 2020 at 135,023. There are now 99,239 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 35,736 in April 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 48. Columbus employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Columbus, Ohio) is also available.

Unemployed Persons May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Columbus 35,784 +48 -2,405

Number of Unemployed Persons

Columbus, Ohio Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Ohio
Unemployment Rate
Columbus
Unemployment Rate
Columbus
Unemployed
June
2023
3.6%
May
2023
3.7% 3.6% 3.2% 35,784
April
2023
3.4% 3.7% 3.2% 35,736
March
2023
3.5% 3.8% 3.2% 36,432
February
2023
3.6% 3.9% 3.3% 36,570
January
2023
3.4% 4.0% 3.3% 37,169
December
2022
3.5% 4.1% 3.4% 38,283
November
2022
3.6% 4.1% 3.4% 38,333
October
2022
3.7% 4.2% 3.4% 38,507
September
2022
3.5% 4.1% 3.5% 38,807
August
2022
3.7% 4.1% 3.5% 38,974
July
2022
3.5% 4.0% 3.5% 38,887

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.