Department of Numbers

Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, Pennsylvania Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Allentown fell 0.1 percentage points in May 2023 to 3.8%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.2 percentage points lower than the Pennsylvania rate. The unemployment rate in Allentown peaked in April 2020 at 16.2% and is now 12.4 percentage points lower. You can also compare Allentown unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% +0.3 +0.1
Pennsylvania 4.0% -0.1 -0.3
Allentown 3.8% -0.1 -0.5
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: 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 69,927. There are now 52,586 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. Allentown employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Allentown, Pennsylvania) is also available.

Unemployed Persons May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Allentown 17,341 -308 -1,885

Number of Unemployed Persons

Allentown, Pennsylvania Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Pennsylvania
Unemployment Rate
Allentown
Unemployment Rate
Allentown
Unemployed
June
2023
3.6%
May
2023
3.7% 4.0% 3.8% 17,341
April
2023
3.4% 4.1% 3.9% 17,649
March
2023
3.5% 4.2% 4.0% 18,180
February
2023
3.6% 4.4% 4.1% 18,757
January
2023
3.4% 4.3% 4.2% 18,893
December
2022
3.5% 4.3% 4.2% 19,113
November
2022
3.6% 4.4% 4.2% 19,111
October
2022
3.7% 4.4% 4.2% 19,115
September
2022
3.5% 4.3% 4.2% 19,174
August
2022
3.7% 4.3% 4.2% 19,253
July
2022
3.5% 4.3% 4.3% 19,296

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.