Memphis, Tennessee Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Memphis fell 0.0 percentage points in August 2019 to 4.2%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.7 percentage points higher than the Tennessee rate. The unemployment rate in Memphis peaked in August 2009 at 10.4% and is now 6.2 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.9% in February 2019, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.3 percentage points. You can also compare Memphis unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	August 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.7%	0.0	-0.1
Tennessee	3.5%	0.0	0.0
Memphis	4.2%	0.0	+0.1

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with August 2019 data as September 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 February 2010 at 64,199. There are now 36,547 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 24,791 in March 2019, the number of unemployed has now grown by 2,861. Memphis employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Memphis, Tennessee) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	August 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
Memphis	27,652	+251	+1,304

Number of Unemployed Persons

Memphis, Tennessee Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Tennessee Unemployment Rate	Memphis Unemployment Rate	Memphis Unemployed
September 2019	3.5%	3.4%	—	—
August 2019	3.7%	3.5%	4.2%	27,652
July 2019	3.7%	3.5%	4.2%	27,401
June 2019	3.7%	3.4%	4.0%	26,050
May 2019	3.6%	3.3%	3.9%	25,275
April 2019	3.6%	3.2%	3.9%	24,963
March 2019	3.8%	3.2%	3.9%	24,791
February 2019	3.8%	3.2%	3.9%	24,802
January 2019	4.0%	3.3%	4.0%	25,248
December 2018	3.9%	3.3%	4.0%	25,465
November 2018	3.7%	3.3%	4.0%	25,416
October 2018	3.8%	3.3%	4.0%	25,463