Department of Numbers

Appleton, Wisconsin Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Appleton rose 0.2 percentage points in September 2023 to 2.7%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.4 percentage points lower than the Wisconsin rate. The unemployment rate in Appleton peaked in April 2020 at 13.0% and is now 10.3 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 1.9% in April 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.8 percentage points. You can also compare Appleton unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.8% 0.0 +0.3
Wisconsin 3.1% +0.2 0.0
Appleton 2.7% +0.2 +0.1
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with September 2023 data as October metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Appleton, Wisconsin, National

Appleton, Wisconsin monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Appleton, Wisconsin Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Appleton peaked in April 2020 at 16,767. There are now 13,187 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 2,497 in April 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 1,083. Appleton employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Appleton, Wisconsin) is also available.

Unemployed Persons September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Appleton 3,580 +293 +122

Number of Unemployed Persons

Appleton, Wisconsin Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Wisconsin
Unemployment Rate
Appleton
Unemployment Rate
Appleton
Unemployed
October
2023
3.9% 3.2%
September
2023
3.8% 3.1% 2.7% 3,580
August
2023
3.8% 2.9% 2.5% 3,287
July
2023
3.5% 2.6% 2.2% 2,912
June
2023
3.6% 2.5% 2.0% 2,720
May
2023
3.7% 2.4% 1.9% 2,546
April
2023
3.4% 2.4% 1.9% 2,497
March
2023
3.5% 2.5% 2.0% 2,624
February
2023
3.6% 2.7% 2.2% 2,878
January
2023
3.4% 2.9% 2.4% 3,130
December
2022
3.5% 3.0% 2.5% 3,321
November
2022
3.6% 3.0% 2.5% 3,332

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.