Memphis, Tennessee Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Memphis fell 0.0 percentage points in October 2018 to 4.4%. 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 July 2009 at 10.4% and is now 6.0 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.8% in January 2018, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.6 percentage points. You can also compare Memphis unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	October 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.7%	0.0	-0.4
Tennessee	3.7%	+0.1	+0.4
Memphis	4.4%	0.0	+0.5

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with October 2018 data as November 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 36,501 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 4,316. Memphis employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Memphis, Tennessee) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	October 2018	Month/Month	Year/Year
Memphis	28,226	+277	+3,581

Number of Unemployed Persons

Memphis, Tennessee Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Tennessee Unemployment Rate	Memphis Unemployment Rate	Memphis Unemployed
November 2018	3.7%	—	—	—
October 2018	3.7%	3.7%	4.4%	28,226
September 2018	3.7%	3.6%	4.4%	27,949
August 2018	3.9%	3.6%	4.3%	27,752
July 2018	3.9%	3.5%	4.4%	28,588
June 2018	4.0%	3.5%	4.3%	27,855
May 2018	3.8%	3.5%	4.1%	26,029
April 2018	3.9%	3.4%	4.0%	25,387
March 2018	4.1%	3.4%	3.9%	25,134
February 2018	4.1%	3.4%	3.9%	25,097
January 2018	4.1%	3.3%	3.8%	23,910
December 2017	4.1%	3.3%	3.9%	24,540