In 1990, the unemployment rate of the United States stood at 5.6 percent. Since then there have been many significant fluctuations to this number - the 2008 financial crisis left millions of people without work, as did the COVID-19 pandemic. By the end of 2022 and throughout 2023, the unemployment rate came to 3.6 percent, the lowest rate seen for decades. However, 2024 saw an increase up to four percent. For monthly updates on unemployment in the United States visit either the monthly national unemployment rate here, or the monthly state unemployment rate here. Both are seasonally adjusted. UnemploymentUnemployment is defined as a situation when an employed person is laid off, fired or quits his work and is still actively looking for a job. Unemployment can be found even in the healthiest economies, and many economists consider an unemployment rate at or below five percent to mean there is 'full employment' within an economy. If former employed persons go back to school or leave the job to take care of children they are no longer part of the active labor force and therefore not counted among the unemployed. Unemployment can also be the effect of events that are not part of the normal dynamics of an economy. Layoffs can be the result of technological progress, for example when robots replace workers in automobile production. Sometimes unemployment is caused by job outsourcing, due to the fact that employers often search for cheap labor around the globe and not only domestically. In 2022, the tech sector in the U.S. experienced significant lay-offs amid growing economic uncertainty. In the fourth quarter of 2022, more than 70,000 workers were laid off, despite low unemployment nationwide. The unemployment rate in the United States varies from state to state. In 2021, California had the highest number of unemployed persons with 1.38 million out of work.

The seasonally-adjusted national unemployment rate is measured on a monthly basis in the United States. In August 2025, the national unemployment rate was at 4.3 percent. Seasonal adjustment is a statistical method of removing the seasonal component of a time series that is used when analyzing non-seasonal trends.

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 - Hispanic or Latino (LNS14000009) from Mar 1973 to Sep 2025 about latino, hispanic, 16 years +, household survey, unemployment, rate, and USA.

Job training and career counseling providers are critical in workforce development, particularly for underserved and economically disadvantaged populations. Ongoing structural challenges in the labor market, including long-term unemployment, skills mismatches and barriers to employment for youth, veterans and individuals with limited education, support the need for providers regardless of economic conditions. In recent years, shifting industry requirements, infusions of federal funding and increasing interest in affordable alternatives to four-year degrees have supported underlying demand. Unprecedented swings in labor market dynamics, ranging from COVID-19 to rising interest in vocational skills, have highlighted the importance of job training and career counseling providers and expanded their revenue opportunities. Collectively, these trends have supported the industry’s expansion, with revenue rising at a CAGR of 1.1% to an estimated $17.1 billion over the past five years. Shifting federal priorities in 2025 could reverse the industry’s momentum. Between 2022 and 2024, increases in federal funding by the Biden Administration lifted revenue growth as more people were able to access programs, while providers were able to make investments in expanding enrollment and investing in technologies. In 2025, potential cuts in federal spending could impact the industry’s viability, as both public and private providers depend on this funding. For example, in May 2025, the Trump administration cut the Job Corps program, the largest federally funded initiative providing vocational training and education to low-income youth, citing concerns over cost, program effectiveness and facility safety. While legal challenges have temporarily paused the closure, the event underscores how sudden changes in federal priorities can impact social service-based employment programs. Moving forward, the industry faces opportunities and risks. While ongoing labor market disruptions, demographic shifts and the need for lifelong learning are expected to sustain interest in job training and career counseling services, headwinds are mounting. Potential reductions in federal funding, uncertainty around program continuity and the challenge of aligning training with local labor market needs present significant obstacles. Shifts in federal priorities pose the largest threat, with the industry’s ability to adapt to these forces shaping its performance over the next five years. These operating pressures will slow the industry’s growth, leading revenue to rise at a CAGR of 0.2% to an estimated $17.3 billion.