Labor Force Participation Rate in the United States decreased to 62.40 percent in May from 62.60 percent in April of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United States Labor Force Participation Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

In October 2024, the civilian labor force amounted to 168.48 million people in the United States. The term civilian labor force is used by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to describe the subset of Americans who have jobs or are seeking a job, are at least 16 years old, are not serving in the military, and are not institutionalized.

This graph shows the civilian labor force in the United States from 1990 to 2024. In 2024, the number of people who had jobs or were seeking employment amounted to about 168.11 million.

Graph and download economic data for Labor Force Participation Rate - Black or African American (LNS11300006) from Jan 1972 to May 2025 about participation, African-American, 16 years +, labor force, labor, household survey, rate, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Civilian Labor Force Level (CLF16OV) from Jan 1948 to May 2025 about civilian, 16 years +, labor force, labor, household survey, and USA.

Unemployment Rate in the United States remained unchanged at 4.20 percent in May. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United States Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

In 2023, it was estimated that over 161 million Americans were in some form of employment, while 3.64 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.

We offer a unified analysis of the growth of low-skill service occupations between 1980 and 2005 and the concurrent polarization of US employment and wages. We hypothesize that polarization stems from the interaction between consumer preferences, which favor variety over specialization, and the falling cost of automating routine, codifiable job tasks. Applying a spatial equilibrium model, we corroborate four implications of this hypothesis. Local labor markets that specialized in routine tasks differentially adopted information technology, reallocated low-skill labor into service occupations (employment polarization), experienced earnings growth at the tails of the distribution (wage polarization), and received inflows of skilled labor.

This dataset provides values for LABOR MARKET CONDITIONS INDEX reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

Explore the "CareerBuilder US Jobs Dataset – August 2021," a valuable resource for understanding the dynamics of the American job market.

This dataset features detailed job listings from CareerBuilder, one of the largest employment websites in the United States, and provides a comprehensive snapshot of job postings as of August 2021.

Key Features:

• Extensive Job Listings: Includes thousands of job postings across various industries and sectors, providing a broad view of employment opportunities in the US.
• Detailed Information: Each listing contains essential details such as job titles, company names, locations, job descriptions, employment types (full-time, part-time, contract), required qualifications, and salary ranges.
• Insights into Trends: Analyze trends in employment, including the most in-demand skills, top hiring companies, popular job roles, and geographic distribution of job opportunities.
• Ideal for Research: This dataset is perfect for researchers, HR professionals, and data analysts interested in understanding the current state of the job market, developing recruitment strategies, or studying labor market dynamics.

By leveraging this dataset, you can gain valuable insights into the US job market as of August 2021, helping you stay ahead of industry trends and make informed decisions. Whether you're a job seeker, employer, or researcher, the CareerBuilder US Jobs Dataset offers a wealth of information to explore.

The statistic shows the distribution of the workforce across economic sectors in the United States from 2013 to 2023. In 2023, 1.57 percent of the workforce in the US was employed in agriculture, 19.34 percent in industry and 79.09 percent in services. See U.S. GDP per capita for more information. American workforce A significant majority of the American labor force is employed in the services sector, while the other sectors, industry and agriculture, account for less than 20 percent of the US economy. However, the United States is among the top exporters of agricultural goods – the total value of US agricultural exports has more than doubled since 2000. A severe plunge in the employment rate in the US since 1990 shows that the American economy is still in turmoil after the economic crisis of 2008. Unemployment is still significantly higher than it was before the crisis, and most of those unemployed and looking for a job are younger than 25; youth unemployment is a severe problem for the United States, many college or university graduates struggle to find a job right away. Still, the number of employees in the US since 1990 has been increasing slowly, with a slight setback during and after the recession. Both the number of full-time and of part-time workers have increased during the same period. When looking at the distribution of jobs among men and women, both project the general downward trend. A comparison of the employment rate of men in the US since 1990 and the employment rate of women since 1990 shows that more men tend to be employed than women.

Employment Rate in the United States decreased to 59.70 percent in May from 60 percent in April of 2025. This dataset provides - United States Employment Rate- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In October 2024, the inactive labor force amounted to about 100.72 million people in the United States. Labor force measures are based on the civilian non-institutional population 16 years old and over. Excluded are persons under 16 years of age, all persons confined to institutions such as nursing homes and prisons, and persons on active duty in the Armed Forces. The labor force is made up of the employed and the unemployed. The remainder — those who have no job and are not looking for one — are counted as "not in the labor force." Many who are not in the labor force are going to school or are retired. Family responsibilities keep others out of the labor force.

This graph shows the civilian labor force participation rate in the United States from 1990 to 2023. In 2023, about 62.6 percent of the American population, eligible to work, participated in the job market.

Temporary Labor Market Outlook

The global temporary labor market size was valued at approximately $500 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach around $780 billion by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1%. This growth is attributed to an increasing demand for flexible workforce solutions across various industry verticals and the rising need for cost-effective labor options amidst fluctuating economic conditions. The expanding gig economy and advancements in technology that facilitate remote work and temporary hiring processes are also significant contributing factors.

One of the primary growth drivers in the temporary labor market is the increasing preference for flexible work arrangements. Modern businesses are continuously seeking ways to adapt to market demands without the long-term commitment of permanent hires. Temporary labor allows companies to scale their workforce up or down based on project needs, seasonal demands, or economic conditions. This flexibility is particularly crucial in industries with high variability in workload, such as retail and hospitality, where demand can surge during certain periods and wane during others.

Another critical factor contributing to the growth of the temporary labor market is the rising trend of specialization within the workforce. As industries evolve, the demand for highly specialized skills has increased. Temporary labor provides a solution for companies needing niche expertise for specific projects or limited durations. For instance, in the IT and telecommunications sector, temporary professionals with specialized skills can be brought in to manage projects such as software development or network upgrades, ensuring that the company remains competitive without the need for permanent hires.

Technological advancements have also played a pivotal role in the expansion of the temporary labor market. Platforms and online marketplaces have emerged, making it easier for employers to connect with temporary workers and for workers to find short-term employment opportunities. These technologies streamline the hiring process, reduce overhead costs, and ensure a better match between employers' needs and workers' skills. Additionally, the growth of remote work enables businesses to hire temporary labor from a global talent pool, further enhancing their operational flexibility.

Temporary Healthcare Staffing has emerged as a critical component within the broader temporary labor market, particularly in response to the dynamic needs of the healthcare industry. The demand for temporary healthcare professionals, such as nurses, medical technicians, and administrative staff, is driven by the necessity to address staffing shortages and manage fluctuating patient care demands. This flexibility is essential for healthcare facilities to maintain high standards of care, especially during peak periods or unforeseen circumstances, such as public health emergencies. Temporary healthcare staffing not only provides a solution to immediate staffing gaps but also allows healthcare providers to access specialized skills and expertise without the long-term commitment of permanent hires.

Regionally, North America remains a significant player in the temporary labor market, driven by a well-established gig economy and a high rate of technological adoption. The Asia Pacific region is expected to experience the fastest growth, with countries like India and China leading the way due to their large labor force and rapidly expanding industries. Europe also shows robust demand for temporary labor, especially in sectors like manufacturing and healthcare. The Middle East & Africa and Latin America, while smaller in market size, are gradually catching up as businesses in these regions recognize the benefits of flexible labor solutions.

Employment Type Analysis

When segmented by employment type, the temporary labor market can be broadly categorized into skilled labor, unskilled labor, and professional services. Skilled labor includes workers who have specific skills or training, such as electricians, plumbers, and machine operators. This segment is crucial for industries that require precision and expertise, like construction and manufacturing. The demand for skilled labor is robust, driven by ongoing infrastructure projects and the need for specialized trades that cannot be easily automated.

Unskilled labor, on the other hand, comprises workers who pe

Graph and download economic data for Labor Force Participation Rate - 16-19 Yrs., Black or African American (LNS11300018) from Jan 1972 to May 2025 about 16 to 19 years, participation, African-American, labor force, labor, household survey, rate, and USA.

2020 data excluded because the U.S. Census Bureau did not release 2020 ACS 1-year estimates due to COVID-19. Some racial and ethnic categories are suppressed to avoid misleading estimates when the relative standard error exceeds 30%.

Data Source: American Community Survey (ACS) 1-Year Estimates

Why This Matters

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the labor force participation rate is an important measure of the health of the labor market, which represents the relative amount of labor resources available for the production of goods and services.

Changes in overall labor force participation reflect demographic, policy, and employer changes, whereas gaps in labor force participation between different segments of the working-age population reveal barriers to participation.

Black, Indigenous, and people of color participate in the labor market at lower rates than white people. These inequities reflect policies and practices, such as employment discrimination, racial segregation, and mass incarceration, among other factors.

The District's Response

Investing in targeted programs that provide pathways to higher wages and jobs, such as the Advanced Technical Centers (ATC), the DC Infrastructure Academy, and Career MAP, which aim to tackle the systemic barriers that keep people out of the labor force.

Administering federal and local safety net programs such as TANF For District Families, SNAP, unemployment insurance, and Medicaid that provide temporary cash and health benefits to address economic hardship.

Partners with the Department of Employment Services in building youth from the ground up through its various programs and services, including mentorship, counseling justice system services, job training development, and employment.

This paper quantifies employer market power in U.S. manufacturing and how it has changed over time. Using administrative data, we estimate plant-level markdowns—the ratio between a plant’s marginal revenue product of labor and its wage. We find most manufacturing plants operate in a monopsonistic environment, with an average markdown of 1.53, implying a worker earning only 65 cents on the marginal dollar generated. To investigate long-term trends for the entire sector, we propose a novel, theoretically grounded measure for the aggregate markdown. We find that it decreased between the late 1970s and the early 2000s, but has been sharply increasing since.

In May 2025, about 62.4 percent of the United States civilian labor force participated in the job market. Civilian labor force is a term used by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to describe the subset of Americans who have jobs or are seeking a job, are at least 16 years old, are not serving in the military and are not institutionalized. In other words, all Americans who are eligible to work in the everyday U.S. economy.

description: An in-depth analysis on the labor market situation for the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community; abstract: An in-depth analysis on the labor market situation for the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community