Department of Numbers

Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, Pennsylvania Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Allentown fell 0.0 percentage points in January 2023 to 3.8%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.5 percentage points lower than the Pennsylvania rate. The unemployment rate in Allentown peaked in April 2020 at 16.6% and is now 12.8 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.8% in December 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.0 percentage points. You can also compare Allentown unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.4% -0.1 -0.6
Pennsylvania 4.3% 0.0 -0.2
Allentown 3.8% 0.0 -1.5
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: Allentown, Pennsylvania, National

Allentown, Pennsylvania monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Allentown, Pennsylvania Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Allentown peaked in April 2020 at 70,898. There are now 53,368 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 17,507 in December 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 23. Allentown employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Allentown, Pennsylvania) is also available.

Unemployed Persons January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Allentown 17,530 +23 -6,227

Number of Unemployed Persons

Allentown, Pennsylvania Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Pennsylvania
Unemployment Rate
Allentown
Unemployment Rate
Allentown
Unemployed
February
2023
3.6%
January
2023
3.4% 4.3% 3.8% 17,530
December
2022
3.5% 4.3% 3.8% 17,507
November
2022
3.6% 4.4% 3.9% 17,718
October
2022
3.7% 4.4% 4.0% 18,055
September
2022
3.5% 4.3% 4.1% 18,578
August
2022
3.7% 4.3% 4.2% 19,142
July
2022
3.5% 4.3% 4.2% 19,066
June
2022
3.6% 4.3% 4.3% 19,436
May
2022
3.6% 4.3% 4.4% 19,777
April
2022
3.6% 4.3% 4.6% 20,547
March
2022
3.6% 4.4% 4.7% 21,195

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.