Department of Numbers

Tucson, Arizona Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Tucson fell 0.0 percentage points in November 2023 to 4.1%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.2 percentage points lower than the Arizona rate. The unemployment rate in Tucson peaked in April 2020 at 13.3% and is now 9.2 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.3% in April 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.8 percentage points. You can also compare Tucson unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% -0.1 +0.1
Arizona 4.3% +0.1 +0.3
Tucson 4.1% 0.0 +0.3
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with November 2023 data as December metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Tucson, Arizona, National

Tucson, Arizona monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Tucson, Arizona Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Tucson peaked in April 2020 at 63,004. There are now 42,344 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 16,538 in April 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 4,122. Tucson employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Tucson, Arizona) is also available.

Unemployed Persons November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Tucson 20,660 +136 +1,947

Number of Unemployed Persons

Tucson, Arizona Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Arizona
Unemployment Rate
Tucson
Unemployment Rate
Tucson
Unemployed
December
2023
3.7%
November
2023
3.7% 4.3% 4.1% 20,660
October
2023
3.8% 4.2% 4.1% 20,524
September
2023
3.8% 4.0% 4.0% 19,934
August
2023
3.8% 3.8% 3.9% 19,413
July
2023
3.5% 3.6% 3.8% 18,718
June
2023
3.6% 3.5% 3.6% 17,691
May
2023
3.7% 3.4% 3.4% 16,960
April
2023
3.4% 3.4% 3.3% 16,538
March
2023
3.5% 3.5% 3.4% 16,655
February
2023
3.6% 3.7% 3.5% 17,071
January
2023
3.4% 3.8% 3.6% 17,727

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.