Unemployment in the Allentown, PA area was at 4% in April 2026. That’s unchanged from a year before. The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who are actively looking for work but not currently employed. It helps indicate the overall condition of the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metro Area job market.

In April 2026,

4%

of the labor force was unemployed in Allentown, PA area

April 2026 had a

+0

percentage point change from April 2025

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Metro area-level unemployment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not account for fluctuations due to seasonal employment patterns, such as tourism or agriculture. That means the data may show large changes month to month. It’s important to view this local data with a long-term lens.

The unemployment rate in Allentown, PA area was lower in April 2026 (YTD) compared with January 2019.

Unemployment rate by month, not seasonally adjusted, 2019-2026 (YTD)

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Unemployment rates differ between urban areas due to various factors. The types of industries present in an area may affect unemployment rates. Seasonal work in industries like tourism can cause unemployment to go up and down. Population changes and local policies also play a role in how many people are employed.

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How does unemployment in the Allentown, PA area compare to other metros?

Among 108 metro areas with more than 250,000 people in the labor force, the Allentown, PA area had the 38th highest unemployment rate in April 2026.

Other areas with similar unemployment rates to the Allentown, PA area’s 4% unemployment rate were the Louisville, KY-IN Metro Area (4%) and the Johnstown, PA area (4%).

In April 2026, the Allentown, PA area had the 38th highest unemployment rate among metro areas with more than 250,000 people in the labor force.

Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted (Circle size corresponds to the size of the labor force)

Source: Bureau of Labor StatisticsUnemployment rate, by metro area (April 2026)Unemployment rate, by metro area (April 2026)1. 16.5%2. 13.9%3. 10.2%4. 9.6%5. 8.9%6. 8.7%7. 8.6%8. 8.5%9. 8.1%10. 7.9%See all (376)Keep exploring