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.

Unemployment Rate in the United States increased to 4.30 percent in August from 4.20 percent in July 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 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.

View monthly updates and historical trends for US Unemployment Rate. from United States. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics. Track economic data with YCha…

In August 2025, the unemployment rate for those aged 16 and over in the United States came to 4.5 percent. Service occupations had an unemployment rate of 5.7 percent in that month. The underemployment rate of the country can be accessed here and the monthly unemployment rate here. Unemployment by occupation in the U.S. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics publish data on the unemployment situation within certain occupations in the United States on a monthly basis. According to latest data released from May 2023, transportation and material moving occupations experienced the highest level of unemployment that month, with a rate of around 5.6 percent. Second ranked was farming, fishing, and forestry occupations with a rate of 4.9 percent. Total (not seasonally adjusted) unemployment was reported at 3.6 percent in March 2023. Other data on the U.S. unemployment rate by industry and class of worker shows comparable results. It should be noted that the data were not seasonally adjusted to account for normal seasonal fluctuations in unemployment. The monthly unemployment by occupation data can be compared to the seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment rate. In March 2023, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.5 percent, which was an increase from the previous month. The annual unemployment rate in 2022 was 3.6 percent, down from a high of 9.6 in 2010. Unemployment in the United States trended downward after the coronavirus pandemic, and is now experiencing consistently low rates - a sign of economic stability. Individuals who opt to leave the workforce and stop looking for employment are not included among the unemployed. The civilian labor force participation rate in the U.S. rose to 62.2 percent in 2022, down from 67.1 percent in 2000, before the financial crisis.

Youth unemployment stood at 9.7 percent in February 2025. Seasonal adjustment is a statistical method for removing the seasonal component of a time series that is used when analyzing non-seasonal trends. The unemployment rate by state can be found here, and the annual national unemployment rate can be found here. Youth unemployment in the United States The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics track unemployment of persons between the ages of 16 and 24 years each month. In analyzing the data, the Bureau of Labor Statistics performed a seasonal adjustment—removing seasonal influences from the time series, such that one month’s rate of unemployment could be analyzed in comparison with another month’s rate of unemployment. During the period in question, youth unemployment ranged from a high of 9.9 percent in April 2021, to a low of 6.5 percent in April 2023. The national youth unemployment rate can be compared to the monthly national unemployment rate in the United States, although youth unemployment tends to be much higher due to higher rates of participation in education. In May 2023, U.S. unemployment was at 3.7 percent, compared with 7.4 percent amongst those 16 to 24 years old. Additionally, as of May 2023, Nevada had the highest state unemployment rate of all U.S. states, at 5.4 percent.

The number of Americans applying for help from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance scheme, which covers workers that do not qualify for initial claims, decreased to 0.897 thousand in the week ending December 25th from 1.554 thousand in the prior week. This dataset provides - United States Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Claims- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate - Black or African American (LNS14000006) from Jan 1972 to Aug 2025 about African-American, 16 years +, household survey, unemployment, rate, and USA.

State Unemployment Insurance and Employment Service Operations account, Iteration 3, Fiscal year 2022

Abstract

Dataset quality ***: High quality dataset that was quality-checked by the EIDC team

The Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program produces monthly and annual employment, unemployment, and labor force data for Census regions and divisions, States, counties, metropolitan areas, and many cities, by place of residence.

This scatter chart displays date (year) against unemployment (% of total labor force) in the United States. The data is filtered where the date is 2021. The data is about countries per year.

United States Unemployment: PW: NA: Financial: FI: Insurance data was reported at 73.000 Person th in Apr 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 57.000 Person th for Mar 2025. United States Unemployment: PW: NA: Financial: FI: Insurance data is updated monthly, averaging 64.500 Person th from Jan 2000 (Median) to Apr 2025, with 304 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 200.000 Person th in Mar 2010 and a record low of 21.000 Person th in Oct 2021. United States Unemployment: PW: NA: Financial: FI: Insurance 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.

United States FOMC Projection: Unemployment Rate: Range: Y3: Upper End data was reported at 4.500 % in Dec 2024. This stayed constant from the previous number of 4.500 % for Sep 2024. United States FOMC Projection: Unemployment Rate: Range: Y3: Upper End data is updated quarterly, averaging 4.550 % from Sep 2015 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 20 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.000 % in Sep 2020 and a record low of 4.000 % in Dec 2021. United States FOMC Projection: Unemployment Rate: Range: Y3: Upper End data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal Reserve Board. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.G041: Current Population Survey: Unemployment Rate: Projection: Federal Reserve Board.

United States Unemployment Rate: Male: PW: NA: EH: HC: Social Assistance data was reported at 4.800 % in Apr 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.300 % for Mar 2025. United States Unemployment Rate: Male: PW: NA: EH: HC: Social Assistance data is updated monthly, averaging 5.600 % from Jan 2000 (Median) to Apr 2025, with 304 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.900 % in Dec 2009 and a record low of 0.100 % in Nov 2021. United States Unemployment Rate: Male: PW: NA: EH: HC: Social Assistance 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.

United States Unemployment Rate: PW: NA: Financial: Finance & Insurance: Insurance data was reported at 2.600 % in Apr 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.100 % for Mar 2025. United States Unemployment Rate: PW: NA: Financial: Finance & Insurance: Insurance data is updated monthly, averaging 2.500 % from Jan 2000 (Median) to Apr 2025, with 304 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.400 % in Mar 2010 and a record low of 0.800 % in Oct 2021. United States Unemployment Rate: PW: NA: Financial: Finance & Insurance: Insurance 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.

Total employment by state, type of employer and last railroad employer in 2021. Total employment includes all employees covered by the Railroad Retirement and Railroad Unemployment Insurance Acts who worked at least one day during calendar year 2021.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployed Persons in New York (LASST360000000000004) from Jan 1976 to Nov 2021 about NY, persons, household survey, unemployment, and USA.

United States Unemployment Rate: Male: PW: NA: Mfg: ND: Petro & Coal Products data was reported at 2.700 % in Apr 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.000 % for Mar 2025. United States Unemployment Rate: Male: PW: NA: Mfg: ND: Petro & Coal Products data is updated monthly, averaging 4.400 % from Jan 2000 (Median) to Apr 2025, with 294 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 22.400 % in Mar 2021 and a record low of 0.000 % in Mar 2025. United States Unemployment Rate: Male: PW: NA: Mfg: ND: Petro & Coal Products 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 Unemployed Persons in New Mexico (LAUST350000000000004) from Jan 1976 to Nov 2021 about NM, persons, household survey, unemployment, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployed Persons in Idaho (LASST160000000000004) from Jan 1976 to Oct 2021 about ID, persons, household survey, unemployment, and USA.