Department of Numbers

Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, Pennsylvania Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Allentown fell 0.0 percentage points in November 2023 to 3.9%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.5 percentage points higher than the Pennsylvania rate. The unemployment rate in Allentown peaked in April 2020 at 16.2% and is now 12.3 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.7% in July 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.2 percentage points. You can also compare Allentown unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% -0.1 +0.1
Pennsylvania 3.4% 0.0 -1.0
Allentown 3.9% 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: Allentown, Pennsylvania, National

Allentown, Pennsylvania monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Allentown, Pennsylvania Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Allentown peaked in April 2020 at 69,927. There are now 52,109 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 16,982 in July 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 836. Allentown employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Allentown, Pennsylvania) is also available.

Unemployed Persons November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Allentown 17,818 -16 -1,293

Number of Unemployed Persons

Allentown, Pennsylvania Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Pennsylvania
Unemployment Rate
Allentown
Unemployment Rate
Allentown
Unemployed
December
2023
3.7%
November
2023
3.7% 3.4% 3.9% 17,818
October
2023
3.8% 3.4% 3.9% 17,834
September
2023
3.8% 3.4% 3.9% 17,591
August
2023
3.8% 3.5% 3.9% 17,580
July
2023
3.5% 3.5% 3.7% 16,982
June
2023
3.6% 3.8% 3.8% 17,282
May
2023
3.7% 4.0% 3.8% 17,366
April
2023
3.4% 4.1% 3.9% 17,649
March
2023
3.5% 4.2% 4.0% 18,180
February
2023
3.6% 4.4% 4.1% 18,757
January
2023
3.4% 4.3% 4.2% 18,893

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.