In 2025, it was estimated that over 163 million Americans were in some form of employment, while 4.16 percent of the total workforce was unemployed. This was the lowest unemployment rate since the 1950s, although these figures are expected to rise in 2023 and beyond. 1980s-2010s Since the 1980s, the total United States labor force has generally risen as the population has grown, however, the annual average unemployment rate has fluctuated significantly, usually increasing in times of crisis, before falling more slowly during periods of recovery and economic stability. For example, unemployment peaked at 9.7 percent during the early 1980s recession, which was largely caused by the ripple effects of the Iranian Revolution on global oil prices and inflation. Other notable spikes came during the early 1990s; again, largely due to inflation caused by another oil shock, and during the early 2000s recession. The Great Recession then saw the U.S. unemployment rate soar to 9.6 percent, following the collapse of the U.S. housing market and its impact on the banking sector, and it was not until 2016 that unemployment returned to pre-recession levels. 2020s 2019 had marked a decade-long low in unemployment, before the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic saw the sharpest year-on-year increase in unemployment since the Great Depression, and the total number of workers fell by almost 10 million people. Despite the continuation of the pandemic in the years that followed, alongside the associated supply-chain issues and onset of the inflation crisis, unemployment reached just 3.67 percent in 2022 - current projections are for this figure to rise in 2023 and the years that follow, although these forecasts are subject to change if recent years are anything to go by.

Unemployment Rate in Sweden increased to 8.90 percent in October from 8.30 percent in September of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Sweden Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

In 2024, the unemployment rate of Europe's five largest economies ranged from 3.4 percent in Germany, to 11.35 percent in Spain. Throughout this provided time period, unemployment has consistently been lowest in Germany, and except for 2005, 2006, and 2007, highest in Spain, when Germany briefly had a higher unemployment rate.

From the late 19th century until the 1980s, the United States' unemployment rate was generally somewhere between three and ten percent of the total workforce. The periods when it peaked were in times of recession or depression - the Panic of 1893, which lasted until 1897, saw unemployment peak at over 18 percent, whereas the post-WWI recession saw unemployment spike to almost 12 percent in 1921.

However, the longest and most-severe period of mass unemployment in U.S. history came during the Great Depression - unemployment rose from just 3.2 percent in 1929 to one quarter of the total workforce in 1933, and it was not until the Second World War until it fell below five percent once more. Since this time, unemployment has never exceeded 10 percent, although it did come close during the recessions of the 1970s and 1980s.

More recent unemployment statistics for the U.S. can be found here.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate - 20 Yrs. & over (LNS14000024) from Jan 1948 to Sep 2025 about 20 years +, household survey, unemployment, rate, and USA.

Unemployment Rate in Denmark remained unchanged at 2.60 percent in October. This dataset provides - Denmark Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Unemployment Rate in the United Kingdom increased to 5 percent in September from 4.80 percent in August of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United Kingdom Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate in California (CAUR) from Jan 1976 to Aug 2025 about CA, unemployment, rate, and USA.

The unemployment rate in Costa Rica was 6.88 percent in 2024. From 1980 to 2024, the rate rose by 0.96 percentage points, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend. Between 2024 and 2030, the rate will rise by 1.62 percentage points, showing an overall upward trend with periodic ups and downs.This indicator describes the unemployment rate, which can be defined by either the national definition, the ILO harmonized definition, or the OECD harmonized definition. The latter defines it as the number of unemployed people divided by the total labor force.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate - Black or African American (LNS14000006) from Jan 1972 to Sep 2025 about African-American, 16 years +, household survey, unemployment, rate, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate in New York (NYUR) from Jan 1976 to Aug 2025 about NY, unemployment, rate, and USA.

Unemployment Rate in Guyana decreased to 10.20 percent in 2024 from 14 percent in 2023. This dataset provides - Guyana Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The unemployment rate in Mexico stood at 2.67 percent in 2024. From 1980 to 2024, the rate rose by 1.47 percentage points, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend. Between 2024 and 2030, the rate will rise by 0.33 percentage points, showing an overall upward trend with periodic ups and downs.This indicator describes the unemployment rate, which can be defined by either the national definition, the ILO harmonized definition, or the OECD harmonized definition. The latter defines it as the number of unemployed people divided by the total labor force.

Monthly dataset of the Sweden Unemployment Rate, including historical data, latest releases, and long-term trends from 1980-01-31 to 2025-10-31. Available for free download in CSV format.

Monthly dataset of the Denmark Unemployment Rate, including historical data, latest releases, and long-term trends from 1980-01-31 to 2025-09-30. Available for free download in CSV format.

Unemployment Rate in Germany remained unchanged at 6.30 percent in November. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Germany Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Unemployment rate, participation rate, and employment rate by educational attainment, gender and age group, annual.

Registered Unemployment Rate: Urban: Fujian data was reported at 3.330 % in 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.820 % for 2020. Registered Unemployment Rate: Urban: Fujian data is updated yearly, averaging 4.000 % from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2021, with 34 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.000 % in 1980 and a record low of 1.500 % in 1993. Registered Unemployment Rate: Urban: Fujian data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Labour Market – Table CN.GB: Registered Unemployment.

The unemployment rate in Colombia was approximately 10.16 percent in 2024. Between 1980 and 2024, the rate rose by around 4.73 percentage points, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend. The rate is forecast to decline by about 0.76 percentage points from 2024 to 2030, fluctuating as it trends downward.This indicator describes the unemployment rate, which can be defined by either the national definition, the ILO harmonized definition, or the OECD harmonized definition. The latter defines it as the number of unemployed people divided by the total labor force.

Norway NO: Unemployment Rate data was reported at 4.208 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 4.725 % for 2016. Norway NO: Unemployment Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 3.467 % from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2017, with 38 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.950 % in 1993 and a record low of 1.650 % in 1980. Norway NO: Unemployment Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Norway – Table NO.IMF.IFS: Labour Force, Employment and Unemployment: Annual.