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.

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.

This graph shows the civilian labor force in the United States from 1990 to 2023. In 2023, the number of people who had jobs or were seeking employment amounted to about 167.12 million.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Employment Total: From 15 to 64 Years for United States (LFEM64TTUSQ647S) from Q1 1970 to Q4 2024 about 15 to 64 years, employment, and USA.

In 2024, about 74.86 million men were employed on a full-time basis in the United States. This was a decrease from the previous year when the total number of full-time employed men in the U.S. came to 75.5 million.

United States US: Wage And Salaried Workers: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Employment data was reported at 90.039 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 90.150 % for 2016. United States US: Wage And Salaried Workers: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Employment data is updated yearly, averaging 88.930 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2017, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 90.150 % in 2016 and a record low of 86.866 % in 1991. United States US: Wage And Salaried Workers: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Employment data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. Wage and salaried workers (employees) are those workers who hold the type of jobs defined as 'paid employment jobs,' where the incumbents hold explicit (written or oral) or implicit employment contracts that give them a basic remuneration that is not directly dependent upon the revenue of the unit for which they work.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in November 2017.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate Full-Time Workers (LNS14100000) from Jan 1968 to Feb 2025 about full-time, workers, 16 years +, household survey, unemployment, rate, and USA.

United States - Total Unemployed Plus Discouraged Workers, as a Percent of the Civilian Labor Force Plus Discouraged Workers (U-4) was 3.90% in March of 2022, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Total Unemployed Plus Discouraged Workers, as a Percent of the Civilian Labor Force Plus Discouraged Workers (U-4) reached a record high of 14.80 in April of 2020 and a record low of 3.50 in September of 2019. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Total Unemployed Plus Discouraged Workers, as a Percent of the Civilian Labor Force Plus Discouraged Workers (U-4) - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on March of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Total Unemployed Plus Discouraged Workers, as a Percent of the Civilian Labor Force Plus Discouraged Workers (U-4) (U4RATENSA) from Jan 1994 to Feb 2025 about discouraged, labor underutilization, workers, 16 years +, labor, household survey, unemployment, rate, and USA.

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.

Graph and download economic data for All Employees: Total Nonfarm in Idaho (IDNA) from Jan 1990 to Jan 2025 about ID, payrolls, nonfarm, employment, and USA.

United States - Total Unemployed, Plus Discouraged Workers, Plus All Other Persons Marginally Attached to the Labor Force, as a Percent of the Civilian Labor Force Plus All Persons Marginally Attached to the Labor Force (U-5) was 4.50% in March of 2022, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Total Unemployed, Plus Discouraged Workers, Plus All Other Persons Marginally Attached to the Labor Force, as a Percent of the Civilian Labor Force Plus All Persons Marginally Attached to the Labor Force (U-5) reached a record high of 15.60 in April of 2020 and a record low of 4.00 in November of 2019. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Total Unemployed, Plus Discouraged Workers, Plus All Other Persons Marginally Attached to the Labor Force, as a Percent of the Civilian Labor Force Plus All Persons Marginally Attached to the Labor Force (U-5) - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on March of 2025.

In 2023, about 134.06 million people were employed in the United States on a full-time basis, returning to pre-pandemic levels.

Employment in the U.S.

The number of full-time employees in the United States has increased by more than 30 million people since 1991. In 1990, there were 98.67 million full-time employees which had increased to 134.06 million employees in 2023. After the recession, the number of full-time employees dropped and part-time employment increased significantly. There were about 28.1 million part-time employees in the country as of January 2024. Full-time employment usually is associated with certain benefits that are otherwise not offered to part-time employees, such as health insurance and annual leave. In the United States, a full time worker us usually regard as an individual who works more than 30 hours a week.

Salaries nationwide

Salary in the United States can vary greatly between ethnicities and gender. The median weekly earnings of a full-time salary worker, was 1,310 U.S. dollars for the Asian population, but only 794 U.S. dollars for the Black or African American population in 2020. In the same year, the median hourly wage for female salary workers 15.22 U.S. dollars, while males earned an hourly wage of 17.75 U.S. dollars. Based on a constant value, the wage among salary workers has fluctuated since 1979, where employees earned a median of 14.80 U.S. dollars, compared to 16.36 U.S. dollars in 2020. The minimum wage in the United States was established at 7.25 U.S. dollars per hour as of 2009.

Graph and download economic data for Employed full time: Wage and salary workers: 16 to 24 years: Black or African American: Men (LEU0252894600Q) from Q1 2000 to Q4 2024 about 16 to 24 years, full-time, males, African-American, salaries, workers, wages, employment, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for All Employees: Total Nonfarm in Florida (FLNAN) from Jan 1939 to Dec 2024 about payrolls, nonfarm, FL, employment, and USA.

Total Unemployed, Plus Discouraged Workers, Plus All Other Marginally Attached Workers, as a Percent of the Civilian Labor Force Plus All Marginally Attached Workers for Illinois was 6.00000 %, 4-Qtr. Moving Average in July of 2024, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Total Unemployed, Plus Discouraged Workers, Plus All Other Marginally Attached Workers, as a Percent of the Civilian Labor Force Plus All Marginally Attached Workers for Illinois reached a record high of 12.00000 in April of 2010 and a record low of 4.50000 in January of 2020. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Total Unemployed, Plus Discouraged Workers, Plus All Other Marginally Attached Workers, as a Percent of the Civilian Labor Force Plus All Marginally Attached Workers for Illinois - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on March of 2025.

Forecast: Total Tourism Employment in the US 2023 - 2027 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

United States Labour Force Participation Rate: 5-Year Bands: Total Age data was reported at 62.593 % in 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 62.604 % for 2023. United States Labour Force Participation Rate: 5-Year Bands: Total Age data is updated yearly, averaging 62.871 % from Dec 1948 (Median) to 2024, with 77 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 67.204 % in 1997 and a record low of 58.700 % in 1964. United States Labour Force Participation Rate: 5-Year Bands: Total Age data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Labour Organization. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.ILO.LFS: Labour Force Participation Rate: By Sex and Age: Annual.

Graph and download economic data for Employment Level (LNU02000000) from Jan 1948 to Feb 2025 about 16 years +, household survey, employment, and USA.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset presents median income data over a decade or more for males and females categorized by Total, Full-Time Year-Round (FT), and Part-Time (PT) employment in Jefferson County. It showcases annual income, providing insights into gender-specific income distributions and the disparities between full-time and part-time work. The dataset can be utilized to gain insights into gender-based pay disparity trends and explore the variations in income for male and female individuals.

Key observations: Insights from 2023

Based on our analysis ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, we present the following observations: - All workers, aged 15 years and older: In Jefferson County, the median income for all workers aged 15 years and older, regardless of work hours, was $40,161 for males and $26,638 for females.

These income figures highlight a substantial gender-based income gap in Jefferson County. Women, regardless of work hours, earn 66 cents for each dollar earned by men. This significant gender pay gap, approximately 34%, underscores concerning gender-based income inequality in the county of Jefferson County.

Surprisingly, within the subset of full-time workers, women earn a higher income than men, earning 1.03 dollars for every dollar earned by men. This suggests that within full-time roles, womens median incomes significantly surpass mens, contrary to broader workforce trends.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. All incomes have been adjusting for inflation and are presented in 2023-inflation-adjusted dollars.

Gender classifications include:

• Male
• Female

Employment type classifications include:

• Full-time, year-round: A full-time, year-round worker is a person who worked full time (35 or more hours per week) and 50 or more weeks during the previous calendar year.
• Part-time: A part-time worker is a person who worked less than 35 hours per week during the previous calendar year.

Variables / Data Columns

• Year: This column presents the data year. Expected values are 2010 to 2023
• Male Total Income: Annual median income, for males regardless of work hours
• Male FT Income: Annual median income, for males working full time, year-round
• Male PT Income: Annual median income, for males working part time
• Female Total Income: Annual median income, for females regardless of work hours
• Female FT Income: Annual median income, for females working full time, year-round
• Female PT Income: Annual median income, for females working part time

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for Jefferson County median household income by race. You can refer the same here