Memphis, Tennessee Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Memphis fell 0.1 percentage points in February 2019 to 3.8%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.6 percentage points higher than the Tennessee rate. The unemployment rate in Memphis peaked in July 2009 at 10.4% and is now 6.6 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.8% in January 2018, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.0 percentage points. You can also compare Memphis unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	February 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.8%	-0.2	-0.3
Tennessee	3.2%	-0.1	-0.4
Memphis	3.8%	-0.1	-0.1

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with February 2019 data as March 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 64,727. There are now 40,526 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 23,910 in January 2018, the number of unemployed has now grown by 291. Memphis employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Memphis, Tennessee) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	February 2019	Month/Month	Year/Year
Memphis	24,201	-853	-896

Number of Unemployed Persons

Memphis, Tennessee Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Tennessee Unemployment Rate	Memphis Unemployment Rate	Memphis Unemployed
March 2019	3.8%	3.2%	—	—
February 2019	3.8%	3.2%	3.8%	24,201
January 2019	4.0%	3.3%	3.9%	25,054
December 2018	3.9%	3.3%	3.8%	24,706
November 2018	3.7%	3.3%	4.1%	26,356
October 2018	3.8%	3.3%	4.4%	28,214
September 2018	3.7%	3.4%	4.4%	27,949
August 2018	3.8%	3.5%	4.3%	27,752
July 2018	3.9%	3.5%	4.4%	28,588
June 2018	4.0%	3.6%	4.3%	27,855
May 2018	3.8%	3.6%	4.1%	26,029
April 2018	3.9%	3.6%	4.0%	25,387