In September 2024, the District of Columbia had the highest unemployment rate in the United States, with an unemployment rate of 5.7. The unemployment rate was also high in Nevada, with an unemployment rate of 5.6 percent in February. Unemployment in the U.S. A person is considered unemployed if they have no job and are currently looking for a job and available to work. The unemployment rate in the United States varies across states. Nation-wide unemployment was 3.4 percent as of April 2023. Unemployment can be affected by various factors including economic conditions and global competition. During economic prosperity, unemployment rates generally decrease and during times of recession, rates increase. The seasons can also have an impact on the unemployment rate, especially during winter, when there is lower demand for construction workers or other professionals who typically work outdoors. The retail sector also experiences fluctuating demand for workers, particularly during the holiday-shopping season, when demand for workers increases. For this reason, labor statistics are usually presented as being either seasonally adjusted or unadjusted. The data presented in this statistic have been seasonally adjusted, but the monthly unadjusted unemployment rate can be accessed here.

In 2023, Nevada had the highest annual unemployment rate in the United States at 5.1 percent. North Dakota had the lowest unemployment rate that year, at 1.9 percent. The monthly unemployment rate by state can be found here.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate in Massachusetts (MAURN) from Jan 1976 to Dec 2024 about MA, unemployment, rate, and USA.

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.

United States Unemployment Rate: Age 25 to 54 data was reported at 3.000 % in Oct 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.900 % for Sep 2018. United States Unemployment Rate: Age 25 to 54 data is updated monthly, averaging 4.400 % from Jan 1948 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 850 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.700 % in Jan 1983 and a record low of 1.800 % in Aug 1953. United States Unemployment Rate: Age 25 to 54 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.

United States Unemployment Rate: Oregon data was reported at 4.000 % in Oct 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.700 % for Sep 2018. United States Unemployment Rate: Oregon data is updated monthly, averaging 6.600 % from Jan 1976 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 514 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13.300 % in Jan 1983 and a record low of 3.500 % in May 2018. United States Unemployment Rate: Oregon 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.G057: Unemployment Rate: By State.

This layer contains the latest 14 months of unemployment statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The data is offered at the nationwide, state, and county geography levels. Puerto Rico is included. These are not seasonally adjusted values.The layer is updated monthly with the newest unemployment statistics available from BLS. There are attributes in the layer that specify which month is associated to each statistic. Most current month: November 2024 (preliminary values at the county level)The attributes included for each month are:Unemployment rate (%)Count of unemployed populationCount of employed population in the labor forceCount of people in the labor forceData obtained from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data downloaded: February 3, 2025Local Area Unemployment Statistics table download: https://www.bls.gov/lau/#tablesLocal Area Unemployment FTP downloads:State and CountyNationData Notes:This layer is updated automatically when the BLS releases their most current monthly statistics. The layer always contains the most recent estimates. It is updated within days of the BLS's county release schedule. BLS releases their county statistics roughly 2 months after-the-fact. The data is joined to 2021 TIGER boundaries from the U.S. Census Bureau.Monthly values are subject to revision over time.For national values, employed plus unemployed may not sum to total labor force due to rounding.As of the January 2022 estimates released on March 18th, 2022, BLS is reporting new data for the two new census areas in Alaska - Copper River and Chugach - and historical data for the previous census area - Valdez Cordova.To better understand the different labor force statistics included in this map, see the diagram below from BLS:

United States Unemployment Rate: Indiana data was reported at 3.600 % in Oct 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.000 % for Sep 2018. United States Unemployment Rate: Indiana data is updated monthly, averaging 5.500 % from Jan 1976 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 514 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13.400 % in Jan 1983 and a record low of 2.200 % in Oct 2000. United States Unemployment Rate: Indiana 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.G057: Unemployment Rate: By State.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate in State College, PA (MSA) (STAT342URN) from Jan 1990 to Jan 2025 about State College, PA, unemployment, rate, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate in Ohio (OHUR) from Jan 1976 to Jan 2025 about OH, unemployment, rate, and USA.

United States - Unemployment Rate was 4.10% in February 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 March of 2025.

United States Unemployment Rate: sa: Florida data was reported at 3.400 % in Oct 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.500 % for Sep 2018. United States Unemployment Rate: sa: Florida data is updated monthly, averaging 5.800 % from Jan 1976 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 514 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11.300 % in Jan 2010 and a record low of 3.100 % in Mar 2006. United States Unemployment Rate: sa: Florida 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.G058: Unemployment Rate: By State: Seasonally Adjusted.

The Northeastern state of Bahia was the federative unit with the largest unemployment rate in the first quarter of 2024, with 14 percent. Pernambuco and Amapá followed with 12.4 and 10.9 percent. In total, six states had an unemployment rate above ten percent in the first quarter of 2024. Furthermore, the Northeast of Brazil was the region with the lowest unemployment rate.

United States Unemployment Rate: South Dakota data was reported at 2.900 % in Jun 2018. This stayed constant from the previous number of 2.900 % for May 2018. United States Unemployment Rate: South Dakota data is updated monthly, averaging 3.500 % from Jan 1976 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 510 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.900 % in Jan 1983 and a record low of 2.000 % in Oct 2000. United States Unemployment Rate: South Dakota 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.G057: Unemployment Rate: By State.

This dataset contains the Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), annual averages from 1990 to 2023.

The Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program is a Federal-State cooperative effort in which monthly estimates of total employment and unemployment are prepared for approximately 7,600 areas, including counties, cities and metropolitan statistical areas. These estimates are key indicators of local economic conditions.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the U.S. Department of Labor is responsible for the concepts, definitions, technical procedures, validation, and publication of the estimates that State workforce agencies prepare under agreement with BLS.

Estimates for counties are produced through a building-block approach known as the "Handbook method." This procedure also uses data from several sources, including the CPS, the CES program, state UI systems, and the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), to create estimates that are adjusted to the statewide measures of employment and unemployment. Estimates for cities are prepared using disaggregation techniques based on inputs from the ACS, annual population estimates, and current UI data.

United States Unemployment Rate: Michigan data was reported at 3.800 % in Oct 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.500 % for Sep 2018. United States Unemployment Rate: Michigan data is updated monthly, averaging 7.500 % from Jan 1976 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 514 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 17.300 % in Jan 1983 and a record low of 2.900 % in Apr 2000. United States Unemployment Rate: Michigan 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.G057: Unemployment Rate: By State.

Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate in Florida (FLURN) from Jan 1976 to Jan 2025 about FL, unemployment, rate, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate in California (CAURN) from Jan 1976 to Jan 2025 about CA, unemployment, rate, and USA.