Department of Numbers

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Cedar Rapids rose 0.1 percentage points in November 2023 to 3.8%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.5 percentage points higher than the Iowa rate. The unemployment rate in Cedar Rapids peaked in April 2020 at 12.4% and is now 8.6 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.7% in February 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 1.1 percentage points. You can also compare Cedar Rapids unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% -0.1 +0.1
Iowa 3.3% +0.1 +0.2
Cedar Rapids 3.8% +0.1 +0.6
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: Cedar Rapids, Iowa, National

Cedar Rapids, Iowa monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Cedar Rapids peaked in April 2020 at 17,959. There are now 12,476 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 3,910 in February 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 1,573. Cedar Rapids employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Cedar Rapids, Iowa) is also available.

Unemployed Persons November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Cedar Rapids 5,483 -4 +784

Number of Unemployed Persons

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Iowa
Unemployment Rate
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment Rate
Cedar Rapids
Unemployed
December
2023
3.7%
November
2023
3.7% 3.3% 3.8% 5,483
October
2023
3.8% 3.2% 3.7% 5,487
September
2023
3.8% 3.0% 3.7% 5,361
August
2023
3.8% 2.9% 3.6% 5,253
July
2023
3.5% 2.7% 3.3% 4,902
June
2023
3.6% 2.7% 3.3% 4,781
May
2023
3.7% 2.7% 3.2% 4,673
April
2023
3.4% 2.7% 3.1% 4,588
March
2023
3.5% 2.8% 3.2% 4,627
February
2023
3.6% 2.9% 3.2% 4,661
January
2023
3.4% 3.0% 3.2% 4,660

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.