Unemployment Rate in the United States decreased to 4.10 percent in June from 4.20 percent in May 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.

In the United States, approximately 6.63 million people were unemployed and looking for work in October 2024. The data has not been seasonally adjusted. For comparison, a look at the unemployment rate in EU states shows that the EU average is higher than the U.S. average.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Level (UNEMPLOY) from Jan 1948 to Jun 2025 about 16 years +, household survey, unemployment, and USA.

This dataset contains unemployment rates for the U.S.(1948 - Present) and California (1976 - Present). The unemployment rate represents the number of unemployed as a percentage of the labor force. Labor force data are restricted to people 16 years of age and older, who currently reside in 1 of the 50 states or the District of Columbia, who do not reside in institutions (e.g., penal and mental facilities, homes for the aged), and who are not on active duty in the Armed Forces. This rate is also defined as the U-3 measure of labor underutilization.

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 February 2025, the national unemployment rate was at 4.1 percent. Seasonal adjustment is a statistical method of removing the seasonal component of a time series that is used when analyzing non-seasonal trends. U.S. monthly unemployment rate According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics - the principle fact-finding agency for the U.S. Federal Government in labor economics and statistics - unemployment decreased dramatically between 2010 and 2019. This trend of decreasing unemployment followed after a high in 2010 resulting from the 2008 financial crisis. However, after a smaller financial crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic, unemployment reached 8.1 percent in 2020. As the economy recovered, the unemployment rate fell to 5.3 in 2021, and fell even further in 2022. Additional statistics from the BLS paint an interesting picture of unemployment in the United States. In November 2023, the states with the highest (seasonally adjusted) unemployment rate were the Nevada and the District of Columbia. Unemployment was the lowest in Maryland, at 1.8 percent. Workers in the agricultural and related industries suffered the highest unemployment rate of any industry at seven percent in December 2023.

The number of unemployed persons in The United States decreased to 7015 Thousand in June of 2025 from 7237 Thousand in May of 2025. This dataset provides - United States Unemployed Persons - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Graph and download economic data for Labor Force Flows Unemployed to Employed (LNS17100000) from Feb 1990 to Jun 2025 about flow, 16 years +, labor force, labor, unemployment, employment, and USA.

United States Unemployment data was reported at 6,580.000 Person th in Apr 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 7,242.000 Person th for Mar 2025. United States Unemployment data is updated monthly, averaging 6,579.500 Person th from Jan 1948 (Median) to Apr 2025, with 928 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 22,504.000 Person th in Apr 2020 and a record low of 1,480.000 Person th in Oct 1952. United States Unemployment 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. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

United States Unemployment Rate: U1 Unemployed 15Wks & Over data was reported at 1.300 % in Jun 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.400 % for May 2018. United States Unemployment Rate: U1 Unemployed 15Wks & Over data is updated monthly, averaging 1.600 % from Jan 1948 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 846 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.300 % in Apr 2010 and a record low of 0.200 % in Oct 1953. United States Unemployment Rate: U1 Unemployed 15Wks & Over data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.G018: Current Population Survey: Unemployment Rate.

United States Unemployment Rate: U4 Unemployed & Discouraged Workers data was reported at 3.800 % in Oct 2018. This stayed constant from the previous number of 3.800 % for Sep 2018. United States Unemployment Rate: U4 Unemployed & Discouraged Workers data is updated monthly, averaging 5.600 % from Jan 1994 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 298 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11.200 % in Jan 2010 and a record low of 3.800 % in Oct 2018. United States Unemployment Rate: U4 Unemployed & Discouraged Workers data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.G018: Current Population Survey: Unemployment Rate.

Historical chart and data for the united states national unemployment rate back to 1948. Compares the level and annual rate of change.

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.

Initial Jobless Claims in the United States decreased to 227 thousand in the week ending July 5 of 2025 from 232 thousand in the previous week. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United States Initial Jobless Claims - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Key information about US Unemployment Rate

• US Unemployment Rate increased to 4.10% in Feb 2025, from the previously reported figure of 4.00% in Jan 2025.
• US Unemployment Rate is updated monthly, available from Jan 1948 to Feb 2025, with an average rate of 5.50%.
• The data reached an all-time high of 14.80% in Apr 2020 and a record low of 2.50% in Jun 1953.
• The data is reported by reported by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• In the latest reports, US Population reached 341.16 million people in Dec 2024.

Graph and download economic data for Median Weeks Unemployed (LNU03008276) from Jul 1967 to Jun 2025 about 16 years +, household survey, median, unemployment, and USA.

This dataset contains labor force data not seasonally adjusted at county and statistically equivalent areas level. The indicators related to labor force are the total number of civilian labor force, the number of employed, the number of unemployed and unemployment rate.

United States Unemployment Rate: U6 Unemployed, Marginally Employed & Part Time data was reported at 7.000 % in Oct 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 7.100 % for Sep 2018. United States Unemployment Rate: U6 Unemployed, Marginally Employed & Part Time data is updated monthly, averaging 9.600 % from Jan 1994 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 298 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 18.000 % in Jan 2010 and a record low of 6.300 % in Oct 2000. United States Unemployment Rate: U6 Unemployed, Marginally Employed & Part Time data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.G018: Current Population Survey: Unemployment Rate.

United States US: Unemployment with Basic Education: Female: % of Female Labour Force data was reported at 5.738 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 6.313 % for 2016. United States US: Unemployment with Basic Education: Female: % of Female Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 8.805 % from Dec 1994 (Median) to 2017, with 24 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.027 % in 2010 and a record low of 5.738 % in 2017. United States US: Unemployment with Basic Education: Female: % of Female Labour Force 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. The percentage of the labor force with a basic level of education who are unemployed. Basic education comprises primary education or lower secondary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average;

United States - Unemployment Rate was 4.20% in May of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Unemployment Rate reached a record high of 14.80 in April of 2020 and a record low of 2.50 in May of 1953. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Unemployment Rate - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.