Department of Numbers

Chico, California Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Chico rose 0.1 percentage points in November 2023 to 5.5%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.6 percentage points higher than the California rate. The unemployment rate in Chico peaked in April 2020 at 16.5% and is now 11.0 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 4.2% in May 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 1.3 percentage points. You can also compare Chico unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% -0.1 +0.1
California 4.9% +0.1 +0.8
Chico 5.5% +0.1 +0.9
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: Chico, California, National

Chico, California monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Chico, California Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Chico peaked in April 2020 at 15,287. There are now 10,214 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 3,847 in May 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 1,226. Chico employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Chico, California) is also available.

Unemployed Persons November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Chico 5,073 +66 +851

Number of Unemployed Persons

Chico, California Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
California
Unemployment Rate
Chico
Unemployment Rate
Chico
Unemployed
December
2023
3.7%
November
2023
3.7% 4.9% 5.5% 5,073
October
2023
3.8% 4.8% 5.4% 5,007
September
2023
3.8% 4.7% 5.3% 4,863
August
2023
3.8% 4.6% 5.1% 4,717
July
2023
3.5% 4.6% 5.0% 4,637
June
2023
3.6% 4.6% 5.1% 4,701
May
2023
3.7% 4.5% 5.0% 4,654
April
2023
3.4% 4.5% 4.9% 4,493
March
2023
3.5% 4.4% 4.8% 4,407
February
2023
3.6% 4.4% 4.7% 4,315
January
2023
3.4% 4.2% 4.6% 4,235

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.