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.

In 2024, the U.S. employment rate stood at 60.1 percent. Employed persons consist of: persons who did any work for pay or profit during the survey reference week; persons who did at least 15 hours of unpaid work in a family-operated enterprise; and persons who were temporarily absent from their regular jobs because of illness, vacation, bad weather, industrial dispute, or various personal reasons. The employment-population ratio represents the proportion of the civilian non-institutional population that is employed. The monthly unemployment rate for the United States can be found here.

Unemployment Rate in the United States increased to 4.20 percent in July from 4.10 percent in June of 2025. 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.

Graph and download economic data for All Employees, Manufacturing (MANEMP) from Jan 1939 to Jul 2025 about headline figure, establishment survey, manufacturing, employment, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for All Employees, Total Private (USPRIV) from Jan 1939 to Jul 2025 about headline figure, establishment survey, private industries, private, employment, industry, and USA.

In 2024, the employment rate of the workforce of 55 years and older decreased to 37.3 percent. Employment rate among young adults (age 16-24) was at 50.9 percent in 2024. For monthly updates on employment in the United States visit the annual national employment rate here.

Graph and download economic data for Multiple Jobholders as a Percent of Employed (LNS12026620) from Jan 1994 to Jul 2025 about multiple jobholders, 16 years +, percent, household survey, employment, and USA.

The Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program conducts a semiannual survey designed to produce estimates of employment and wages for specific occupations. The OES program collects data on wage and salary workers in nonfarm establishments in order to produce employment and wage estimates for about 800 occupations. Data from self-employed persons are not collected and are not included in the estimates. The OES program produces these occupational estimates for the nation as a whole, by state, by metropolitan or nonmetropolitan area, and by industry or ownership. The Bureau of Labor Statistics produces occupational employment and wage estimates for approximately 415 industry classifications at the national level. The industry classifications correspond to the sector, 3-, 4-, and selected 5- and 6-digit North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) industrial groups. The OES program surveys approximately 200,000 establishments per panel (every six months), taking three years to fully collect the sample of 1.2 million establishments. To reduce respondent burden, the collection is on a three-year survey cycle that ensures that establishments are surveyed at most once every three years. The estimates for occupations in nonfarm establishments are based on OES data collected for the reference months of May and November. The OES survey is a federal-state cooperative program between the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and State Workforce Agencies (SWAs). BLS provides the procedures and technical support, draws the sample, and produces the survey materials, while the SWAs collect the data. SWAs from all fifty states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands participate in the survey. Occupational employment and wage rate estimates at the national level are produced by BLS using data from the fifty states and the District of Columbia. Employers who respond to states' requests to participate in the OES survey make these estimates possible. The OES features several arts-related occupations, particularly in the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations group (Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code 27-0000). Several featured occupation groups include the following: Art and Design Workers (SOC 27-1000) Art Directors Fine Artists, including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators Multimedia Artists and Animators Fashion Designers Graphic Designers Set and Exhibit Designers Entertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers (SOC 27-2000) Actors Producers and Directors Athletes Coaches and Scouts Dancers Choreographers Music Directors and Composers Musicians and Singers Media and Communication Workers (SOC 27-3000) Radio and Television Announcers Reports and Correspondents Public Relations Specialists Writers and Authors Data for years 1997 through the latest release and can be found on the OES Data page. Also, see OES News Releases sections for current estimates and news releases. Users can analyze the data for the nation as a whole, by state, by metropolitan or nonmetropolitan area, and by industry or ownership. As well, OES Charts are available. Users may also explore data using OES Maps. If preferred, data can also be accessed via the Multi-Screen Data Search or Text Files using the OES Databases page.

In 2024, the employment rate for men in the United States stood at 65.2 percent, reflecting a slight decrease from the previous year. Despite continued growth, the employment rate of men has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels. The monthly figure of full-time employees in the U.S. can be accessed here.

Historical Employment Statistics 1990 - current. The Current Employment Statistics (CES) more information program provides the most current estimates of nonfarm employment, hours, and earnings data by industry (place of work) for the nation as a whole, all states, and most major metropolitan areas. The CES survey is a federal-state cooperative endeavor in which states develop state and sub-state data using concepts, definitions, and technical procedures prescribed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Estimates produced by the CES program include both full- and part-time jobs. Excluded are self-employment, as well as agricultural and domestic positions. In Connecticut, more than 4,000 employers are surveyed each month to determine the number of the jobs in the State. For more information please visit us at http://www1.ctdol.state.ct.us/lmi/ces/default.asp.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Employment Rate Female: From 25 to 54 Years for United States (LREM25FEUSQ156S) from Q1 1977 to Q2 2025 about 25 to 54 years, employment-population ratio, females, population, employment, rate, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for All Employees, Federal (CES9091000001) from Jan 1939 to Jul 2025 about establishment survey, federal, government, employment, and USA.

In 2024, the employment rate of persons with a disability in the labor force who identified as white was 23 percent in the United States. In comparison, 20.3 percent of the labor force that was Black and had a disability were employed in 2024. The disability section of the Current Population Survey (CPS) is a set of six questions to identify persons have physical, mental, or emotional conditions that cause serious difficulty with their daily activities.

Full Time Employment in the United States decreased to 134837 Thousand in July from 135277 Thousand in June of 2025. This dataset provides - United States Full Time Employment- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

As of October 2024, there were 133.89 million full-time employees in the United States. This is a slight decrease from the previous month, when there were 134.15 million full-time employees. The impact COVID-19 on employment In December 2019, the COVID-19 virus began its spread across the globe. Since being classified as a pandemic, the virus caused a global health crisis that has taken the lives of millions of people worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic changed many facets of society, most significantly, the economy. In the first years, many businesses across all industries were forced to shut down, with large numbers of employees being laid off. The economy continued its recovery in 2022 with the nationwide unemployment rate returning to a more normal 3.4 percent as of April 2023. Unemployment benefits Because so many people in the United States lost their jobs, record numbers of individuals applied for unemployment insurance for the first time. As an early response to this nation-wide upheaval, the government issued relief checks and extended the benefits paid by unemployment insurance. In May 2020, the amount of unemployment insurance benefits paid rose to 23.73 billion U.S. dollars. As of December 2022, this value had declined to 2.24 billion U.S. dollars.

Graph and download economic data for All Employees, Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (CES6054000001) from Jan 1990 to Jul 2025 about professional, establishment survey, business, services, employment, and USA.

Employment: NF: sa: IF: TC: WW: Wired data was reported at 433.500 Person th in Mar 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 436.100 Person th for Feb 2025. Employment: NF: sa: IF: TC: WW: Wired data is updated monthly, averaging 666.400 Person th from Jan 1990 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 423 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 960.500 Person th in Dec 2000 and a record low of 433.500 Person th in Mar 2025. Employment: NF: sa: IF: TC: WW: Wired data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.G: Current Employment Statistics: Employment: Non Farm Payroll: Seasonally Adjusted.

Graph and download economic data for Employment Level - Foreign Born (LNU02073395) from Jan 2007 to Jul 2025 about foreign, household survey, employment, and USA.

Labor Force Participation Rate in the United States decreased to 62.20 percent in July from 62.30 percent in June 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.

Graph and download economic data for Employment Level - Native Born (LNU02073413) from Jan 2007 to Jul 2025 about native born, 16 years +, household survey, employment, and USA.