Department of Numbers

Cleveland-Elyria, Ohio Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Cleveland fell 0.1 percentage points in November 2023 to 3.7%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.1 percentage points higher than the Ohio rate. The unemployment rate in Cleveland peaked in April 2020 at 21.0% and is now 17.3 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.6% in July 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.1 percentage points. You can also compare Cleveland unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% -0.1 +0.1
Ohio 3.6% 0.0 -0.5
Cleveland 3.7% -0.1 -0.8
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: Cleveland, Ohio, National

Cleveland, Ohio monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Cleveland, Ohio Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Cleveland peaked in April 2020 at 208,234. There are now 169,133 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 37,099 in July 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 2,002. Cleveland employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Cleveland, Ohio) is also available.

Unemployed Persons November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Cleveland 39,101 +15 -6,787

Number of Unemployed Persons

Cleveland, Ohio Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Ohio
Unemployment Rate
Cleveland
Unemployment Rate
Cleveland
Unemployed
December
2023
3.7%
November
2023
3.7% 3.6% 3.7% 39,101
October
2023
3.8% 3.6% 3.8% 39,086
September
2023
3.8% 3.4% 3.7% 38,562
August
2023
3.8% 3.4% 3.6% 37,372
July
2023
3.5% 3.3% 3.6% 37,099
June
2023
3.6% 3.4% 3.7% 38,430
May
2023
3.7% 3.6% 3.8% 38,940
April
2023
3.4% 3.7% 3.9% 39,716
March
2023
3.5% 3.8% 4.0% 41,284
February
2023
3.6% 3.9% 4.2% 42,937
January
2023
3.4% 4.0% 4.3% 44,059

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.