Memphis, Tennessee Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Memphis rose 1.4 percentage points in July 2020 to 12.7%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 3.2 percentage points higher than the Tennessee rate. The unemployment rate in Memphis peaked in April 2020 at 13.4% and is now 0.7 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 11.0% in May 2020, the unemployment rate has now grown by 1.7 percentage points. You can also compare Memphis unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	July 2020	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	10.2%	-0.9	+6.5
Tennessee	9.5%	-0.1	+6.1
Memphis	12.7%	+1.4	+8.5

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with July 2020 data as August metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Memphis, Tennessee, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Memphis, Tennessee Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Memphis peaked in April 2020 at 80,788. There are now 1,637 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 69,051 in May 2020, the number of unemployed has now grown by 10,100. Memphis employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Memphis, Tennessee) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	July 2020	Month/Month	Year/Year
Memphis	79,151	+10,009	+51,968

Number of Unemployed Persons

Memphis, Tennessee Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Tennessee Unemployment Rate	Memphis Unemployment Rate	Memphis Unemployed
August 2020	8.4%	—	—	—
July 2020	10.2%	9.5%	12.7%	79,151
June 2020	11.1%	9.6%	11.3%	69,142
May 2020	13.3%	11.0%	11.0%	69,051
April 2020	14.7%	15.5%	13.4%	80,788
March 2020	4.4%	3.3%	4.0%	26,170
February 2020	3.5%	3.4%	4.1%	26,512
January 2020	3.6%	3.3%	4.1%	26,329
December 2019	3.5%	3.3%	4.0%	26,146
November 2019	3.5%	3.3%	4.1%	26,306
October 2019	3.6%	3.3%	4.1%	26,482
September 2019	3.5%	3.3%	4.1%	26,707