Unemployment

Unemployment is a measure of the rate of the labor force that is jobless. It is a lagging indicator that generally increases or decreases with the rest of the economy. Unemployment is typically uneven spatially and among demographic groups. There can be significant seasonal variation in unemployment. It is important to understand how the unemployment rate has changed over time, whether there are periods of the year where the rate is lower or higher, and if seasonality of unemployment has changed over time.

Monthly unemployment allow visibility of seasonal trends in employment. Select county(ies) and year(s) of interest to assess trends over geography and time to make comparisons. For the most recent unemployment rate, visit the BLS website directly.

Questions to ask of the data…

Are there areas with higher unemployment? How does unemployment vary by age group?
Is there seasonal variation in unemployment? If so, why?
Which local industry has shown the greatest growth? How has this growth compared to other regions? What do you think has caused this growth?
Have there been any surprises, such as a sector that has grown or declined faster than anticipated? Why do you think this is so?
Does this information support popular perceptions?

Looking at a variety of indicators is useful. For example, after identifying a "high-growth" industry, you might want to also look at wages in that industry--the jobs may not be very high paying, and the growth may not be as great of a local boon as it appeared.