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 |
Unemployment Rate: Columbus, Ohio, National
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. ↩
Department of Numbers
The Department of Numbers contextualizes public data so that individuals can form independent opinions on everyday social and economic matters.
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