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 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.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate - Women (LNS14000002) from Jan 1948 to Aug 2025 about females, 16 years +, household survey, unemployment, rate, and USA.

The unemployment rate in the Republic of Ireland was 4.7 percent in August 2025, compared with 4.8 percent in the previous month. Between 2000 and 2007, Ireland's unemployment rate was broadly stable, fluctuating between 3.9 and 5.4 percent. Following the global financial crisis, however, Ireland's unemployment rate increased dramatically, eventually peaking at 16.1 percent in early 2012. For the next eight years, unemployment gradually fell, eventually reaching pre-crisis levels in the late 2010s. This was, however, followed by an uptick in unemployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which peaked at 7.6 percent in March 2021, before falling to pre-pandemic levels by February 2022. Risk and rewards of the Irish economic model After being quite hard hit by the global financial crisis of 2008, Ireland staged a strong recovery in the mid-2010s, and was frequently the EU's fastest growing economy between 2014 and 2022. This growth, was however, fueled in part by multinational companies, such as Apple, basing their European operations in the country. As of 2022, an adjusted measure of gross national income valued Ireland's economy at around 273 billion Euros, rather than the 506 billion Euros GDP figure. Ireland's close economic relationship with American tech companies also leaves it vulnerable to the political weather in the United States. It is currently unclear, for example, what the recent return to power of Donald Trump as President in early 2025 could mean for the Irish economy going forward. Ireland's labor market As of the third quarter of 2024, there were approximately 2.79 million people employed in the Republic of Ireland. Of these workers, 379,200 people worked in Ireland's human health and social work sector, the most of any industry at that time. Other sectors with high employment levels include wholesale and retail trade, at 323,500 people, and education, at 228,200 people. While unemployment still remains quite low, some indicators suggest a moderate loosening of the labor market. Job vacancies, are slightly down from their peak of 35,300 in Q2 2022, amounting to 28,900 in Q3 2024, while youth unemployment has begun to tick upwards, and was 11.9 percent in January 2025.

Unemployment Rate in Canada increased to 7.10 percent in August from 6.90 percent in July of 2025. This dataset provides - Canada Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Labor Force Participation Rate in the United States increased to 62.30 percent in August from 62.20 percent in July of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United States Labor Force Participation Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate - Hispanic or Latino (LNS14000009) from Mar 1973 to Aug 2025 about latino, hispanic, 16 years +, household survey, unemployment, rate, and USA.

Job training and career counseling providers are critical in workforce development, particularly for underserved and economically disadvantaged populations. Ongoing structural challenges in the labor market, including long-term unemployment, skills mismatches and barriers to employment for youth, veterans and individuals with limited education, support the need for providers regardless of economic conditions. In recent years, shifting industry requirements, infusions of federal funding and increasing interest in affordable alternatives to four-year degrees have supported underlying demand. Unprecedented swings in labor market dynamics, ranging from COVID-19 to rising interest in vocational skills, have highlighted the importance of job training and career counseling providers and expanded their revenue opportunities. Collectively, these trends have supported the industry’s expansion, with revenue rising at a CAGR of 1.1% to an estimated $17.1 billion over the past five years. Shifting federal priorities in 2025 could reverse the industry’s momentum. Between 2022 and 2024, increases in federal funding by the Biden Administration lifted revenue growth as more people were able to access programs, while providers were able to make investments in expanding enrollment and investing in technologies. In 2025, potential cuts in federal spending could impact the industry’s viability, as both public and private providers depend on this funding. For example, in May 2025, the Trump administration cut the Job Corps program, the largest federally funded initiative providing vocational training and education to low-income youth, citing concerns over cost, program effectiveness and facility safety. While legal challenges have temporarily paused the closure, the event underscores how sudden changes in federal priorities can impact social service-based employment programs. Moving forward, the industry faces opportunities and risks. While ongoing labor market disruptions, demographic shifts and the need for lifelong learning are expected to sustain interest in job training and career counseling services, headwinds are mounting. Potential reductions in federal funding, uncertainty around program continuity and the challenge of aligning training with local labor market needs present significant obstacles. Shifts in federal priorities pose the largest threat, with the industry’s ability to adapt to these forces shaping its performance over the next five years. These operating pressures will slow the industry’s growth, leading revenue to rise at a CAGR of 0.2% to an estimated $17.3 billion.

Office staffing and temp worker agencies are heavily dependent on overall economic growth and macroeconomic conditions. The Canadian economy has enjoyed increasing employment and growth in key markets, with temporary staffing agencies providing services to IT companies, benefiting from the acceleration of digitization. Nonetheless, recent economic volatility amid heightened inflation has dampened operator growth, with employment in oil and gas extraction falling, reducing demand for temporary workers in energy and related manufacturing sectors. Still, industry revenue is forecast to increase at a CAGR of 0.2% to an estimated $10.6 billion through the end of 2025. While industry revenue is expected to expand 2.5% in 2025, economic pressures from the US under the Trump administration introduce significant downside risks for Canadian staffing agencies.Digitization and automation are rapidly reshaping staffing, driving down operational costs and increasing efficiency. Agencies now automate key processes like resume screening, candidate sourcing and compliance checks, enabling faster and more accurate placements. Artificial intelligence (AI) adoption is surging, while agencies like Randstad Canada are leveraging digital platforms to analyze thousands of applications in minutes. With Canada set to require 250,000 more digitally skilled workers by 2025, agencies are expanding upskilling programs and supporting hybrid work to remain competitive in a cautious hiring environmentMoving forward, temporary staffing agencies are expected to see solid growth. Anticipated growth in aggregate private investment, coupled with declines in the national unemployment rate, is poised to be a critical accelerant for larger temp worker hiring patterns and economic growth. Although mining and manufacturing demand is poised to be shaky, the potential positive developments in capital markets will offset these losses. Climbing government investment into infrastructure will also be a boon to temporary staffing agencies in engineering, while the use of AI will accelerate efficiency toward finding and allocating temporary employees. Revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of 2.1% to an estimated $11.7 billion through 2030.