Department of Numbers

Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, Wisconsin Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Milwaukee fell 0.2 percentage points in January 2023 to 3.3%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.4 percentage points higher than the Wisconsin rate. The unemployment rate in Milwaukee peaked in April 2020 at 14.4% and is now 11.1 percentage points lower. You can also compare Milwaukee unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.4% -0.1 -0.6
Wisconsin 2.9% -0.1 +0.1
Milwaukee 3.3% -0.2 -0.2
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with January 2023 data as February metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, National

Milwaukee, Wisconsin monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Milwaukee peaked in April 2020 at 116,541. There are now 90,045 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. Milwaukee employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is also available.

Unemployed Persons January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Milwaukee 26,496 -1,403 -2,519

Number of Unemployed Persons

Milwaukee, Wisconsin Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Wisconsin
Unemployment Rate
Milwaukee
Unemployment Rate
Milwaukee
Unemployed
February
2023
3.6%
January
2023
3.4% 2.9% 3.3% 26,496
December
2022
3.5% 3.0% 3.5% 27,899
November
2022
3.6% 3.0% 3.6% 28,786
October
2022
3.7% 3.0% 3.6% 28,945
September
2022
3.5% 3.1% 3.5% 28,677
August
2022
3.7% 3.1% 3.4% 28,172
July
2022
3.5% 3.0% 3.4% 28,133
June
2022
3.6% 2.9% 3.4% 28,245
May
2022
3.6% 2.9% 3.5% 28,741
April
2022
3.6% 2.8% 3.5% 28,739
March
2022
3.6% 2.8% 3.5% 28,503

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.