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.

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.

United States CBO Projection: Unemployment Rate data was reported at 4.714 % in 2029. This records a decrease from the previous number of 4.746 % for 2028. United States CBO Projection: Unemployment Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 4.794 % from Dec 2013 (Median) to 2029, with 17 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.425 % in 2013 and a record low of 3.549 % in 2019. United States CBO Projection: Unemployment Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Congressional Budget Office. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.G022: Current Population Survey: Unemployment Rate: Projection: Congressional Budget Office.

United States Unemployment Rate: Male: PW: NA: Transportation: Utilities data was reported at 1.700 % in Apr 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.800 % for Mar 2025. United States Unemployment Rate: Male: PW: NA: Transportation: Utilities data is updated monthly, averaging 2.100 % from Jan 2000 (Median) to Apr 2025, with 304 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.400 % in Oct 2013 and a record low of 0.000 % in Dec 2019. United States Unemployment Rate: Male: PW: NA: Transportation: Utilities 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.G037: Current Population Survey: Unemployment Rate.

Graph and download economic data for Transfers less State Unemployment Benefits in Virginia (DISCONTINUED) (VAOTRA) from Q1 1990 to Q1 2013 about transfers, benefits, VA, unemployment, and USA.

In 2021, the unemployment rate among the United States workforce was approximately 5.35 percent - this was roughly 3.8 percent lower than the unemployment rate in 2020, during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, but was still around one percent higher than pre-pandemic levels.

United States Unemployment Rate: Male: PW: NA: Mfg: ND: Food Mfg data was reported at 4.700 % in Apr 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.400 % for Mar 2025. United States Unemployment Rate: Male: PW: NA: Mfg: ND: Food Mfg data is updated monthly, averaging 5.200 % from Jan 2000 (Median) to Apr 2025, with 304 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11.700 % in Sep 2013 and a record low of 0.800 % in Feb 2025. United States Unemployment Rate: Male: PW: NA: Mfg: ND: Food Mfg 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 Population Survey: Unemployment Rate.

Graph and download economic data for Transfers less State Unemployment Benefits in North Dakota (DISCONTINUED) (NDOTRA) from Q1 1990 to Q1 2013 about transfers, ND, benefits, unemployment, and USA.

Transfers less State Unemployment Benefits in California (DISCONTINUED) was 259702.00000 Mil. of $ in January of 2013, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Transfers less State Unemployment Benefits in California (DISCONTINUED) reached a record high of 259702.00000 in January of 2013 and a record low of 64687.00000 in January of 1990. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Transfers less State Unemployment Benefits in California (DISCONTINUED) - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on June of 2025.

Unemployment Rate in China decreased to 5 percent in May from 5.10 percent in April of 2025. This dataset provides - China Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

United States MBA Forecast: Unemployment Rate: Annual: sa data was reported at 3.700 % in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.600 % for 2020. United States MBA Forecast: Unemployment Rate: Annual: sa data is updated yearly, averaging 4.400 % from Dec 2013 (Median) to 2021, with 9 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.400 % in 2013 and a record low of 3.500 % in 2019. United States MBA Forecast: Unemployment Rate: Annual: sa data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Mortgage Bankers Association. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.G023: Current Population Survey: Unemployment Rate: Seasonally Adjusted: Forecast: Mortgage Bankers Association.

Graph and download economic data for Transfers less State Unemployment Benefits in Wisconsin (DISCONTINUED) (WIOTRA) from Q1 1990 to Q1 2013 about transfers, benefits, WI, unemployment, and USA.

The statistic reflects the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in member states of the European Union in November 2024. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Spain in November 2024 was 11.2 percent.The unemployment rate represents the share of the unemployed in all potential employees available to the job market. Unemployment rates in the EU The unemployment rate is an important measure of a country or region’s economic health, and despite unemployment levels in the European Union falling slightly from a peak in early 2013 , they remain high, especially in comparison to what the rates were before the worldwide recession started in 2008. This confirms the continuing stagnation in European markets, which hits young job seekers particularly hard as they struggle to compete against older, more experienced workers for a job, suffering under jobless rates twice as high as general unemployment. Some companies, such as Microsoft and Fujitsu, have created thousands of jobs in some of the countries which have particularly dire unemployment rates, creating a beacon of hope. However, some industries such as information technology, face the conundrum of a deficit of qualified workers in the local unemployed work force, and have to hire workers from abroad instead of helping decrease the local unemployment rates. This skills mismatch has no quick solution, as workers require time for retraining to fill the openings in the growing science-, technology-, or engineering-based jobs, and too few students choose degrees that would help them obtain these positions. Worldwide unemployment also remains high, with the rates being worst in the Middle East and North Africa. Estimates by the International Labour Organization predict that the problem will stabilize in coming years, but not improve until at least 2017.

United States FRBOP Forecast: Ann Natural Rate of Unemployment: Median data was reported at 4.500 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 4.800 % for 2016. United States FRBOP Forecast: Ann Natural Rate of Unemployment: Median data is updated yearly, averaging 5.000 % from Dec 1996 (Median) to 2017, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.000 % in 2013 and a record low of 4.500 % in 2017. United States FRBOP Forecast: Ann Natural Rate of Unemployment: Median data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.G022: Current Population Survey: Unemployment Rate: Seasonally Adjusted: Forecast: Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.

United States - Unemployment Rate - 4 years of High School, No Diploma, 35 to 44 years, Women was 10.60% in May of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Unemployment Rate - 4 years of High School, No Diploma, 35 to 44 years, Women reached a record high of 28.40 in November of 2010 and a record low of 0.20 in September of 2013. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Unemployment Rate - 4 years of High School, No Diploma, 35 to 44 years, Women - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

Transfers less State Unemployment Benefits in Arizona (DISCONTINUED) was 50044.00000 Mil. of $ in January of 2013, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Transfers less State Unemployment Benefits in Arizona (DISCONTINUED) reached a record high of 50044.00000 in January of 2013 and a record low of 7958.00000 in January of 1990. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Transfers less State Unemployment Benefits in Arizona (DISCONTINUED) - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

United States Unemployment Insurance: Covered Emloyment: West Virginia data was reported at 664.212 Person th in 01 Aug 2020. This stayed constant from the previous number of 664.212 Person th for 25 Jul 2020. United States Unemployment Insurance: Covered Emloyment: West Virginia data is updated weekly, averaging 662.017 Person th from Dec 1986 (Median) to 01 Aug 2020, with 1754 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 687.087 Person th in 28 Sep 2013 and a record low of 506.818 Person th in 25 Feb 1989. United States Unemployment Insurance: Covered Emloyment: West Virginia data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Department of Labor. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.G072: Unemployment Insurance: Jobless Claims: by State.

Graph and download economic data for Income Before Taxes: Unemployment and Workers' Compensation, Veterans' Benefits, and Regular Contributions by Highest Education: Less Than College Graduate: Less Than High School Graduate (CXUOTHREGINLB1403M) from 2013 to 2021 about veterans, no college, contributions, secondary schooling, secondary, compensation, benefits, workers, tax, education, income, unemployment, and USA.

United States Oklahoma: Insurance Trust Revenue: Unemployment Compensation data was reported at 335,965.000 USD th in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 506,273.000 USD th for 2014. United States Oklahoma: Insurance Trust Revenue: Unemployment Compensation data is updated yearly, averaging 109,055.000 USD th from Jun 1957 (Median) to 2015, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 588,196.000 USD th in 2013 and a record low of 10,100.000 USD th in 1959. United States Oklahoma: Insurance Trust Revenue: Unemployment Compensation data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.F045: Revenue & Expenditure: State and Local Government: Oklahoma.

United States Montana: Insurance Trust Revenue: Unemployment Compensation data was reported at 152,565.000 USD th in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 162,072.000 USD th for 2014. United States Montana: Insurance Trust Revenue: Unemployment Compensation data is updated yearly, averaging 55,921.000 USD th from Jun 1957 (Median) to 2015, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 164,469.000 USD th in 2013 and a record low of 4,900.000 USD th in 1960. United States Montana: Insurance Trust Revenue: Unemployment Compensation data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.F035: Revenue & Expenditure: State and Local Government: Montana.