Department of Numbers

Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, Wisconsin Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Milwaukee rose 0.2 percentage points in September 2023 to 3.3%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.2 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. From a post peak low of 2.7% in April 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.6 percentage points. You can also compare Milwaukee 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
Milwaukee 3.3% +0.2 +0.2
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: 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 116,457. There are now 89,502 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 21,599 in April 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 5,356. Milwaukee employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is also available.

Unemployed Persons September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Milwaukee 26,955 +1,647 +1,597

Number of Unemployed Persons

Milwaukee, Wisconsin Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Wisconsin
Unemployment Rate
Milwaukee
Unemployment Rate
Milwaukee
Unemployed
October
2023
3.9% 3.2%
September
2023
3.8% 3.1% 3.3% 26,955
August
2023
3.8% 2.9% 3.1% 25,308
July
2023
3.5% 2.6% 2.9% 23,393
June
2023
3.6% 2.5% 2.8% 22,668
May
2023
3.7% 2.4% 2.7% 22,056
April
2023
3.4% 2.4% 2.7% 21,599
March
2023
3.5% 2.5% 2.8% 22,248
February
2023
3.6% 2.7% 2.9% 23,403
January
2023
3.4% 2.9% 3.0% 24,285
December
2022
3.5% 3.0% 3.1% 25,016
November
2022
3.6% 3.0% 3.1% 25,066

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.