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.

In 2023, California had the highest number of employed people in the United States, with about 18.4 million. Texas had the second-highest number of employed people in the U.S., at 14.5 million people. The annual employment rate of the United States can be accessed here.

In 2023, the U.S. employment rate stood at 60.3 percent. Employed persons consist of: persons who did any work for pay or profit during the survey reference week; persons who did at least 15 hours of unpaid work in a family-operated enterprise; and persons who were temporarily absent from their regular jobs because of illness, vacation, bad weather, industrial dispute, or various personal reasons. The employment-population ratio represents the proportion of the civilian non-institutional population that is employed. The monthly unemployment rate for the United States can be found here.

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:

In 2023, the District of Columbia was the U.S. state with the highest employment to population ratio with approximately 68.2 percent. Mississippi had the lowest employment to population ratio that year, at around 52.3 percent.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate in Massachusetts (MAUR) from Jan 1976 to Jan 2025 about MA, unemployment, rate, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for All Employees: Trade, Transportation, and Utilities in Massachusetts (MATRAD) from Jan 1990 to Dec 2024 about utilities, MA, trade, transportation, employment, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Employment for Private Nonfarm in Massachusetts (IPUZNW200250000) from 2007 to 2023 about MA, nonfarm, private, employment, and USA.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Employed Persons in Massachusetts (LASST250000000000005) from Jan 1976 to Jan 2025 about MA, household survey, employment, persons, and USA.

United States Employment: NF: sa: PW: OS: Other Personal Services data was reported at 301.200 Person th in May 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 301.400 Person th for Apr 2018. United States Employment: NF: sa: PW: OS: Other Personal Services data is updated monthly, averaging 190.700 Person th from Jan 1990 (Median) to May 2018, with 341 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 301.400 Person th in Apr 2018 and a record low of 159.700 Person th in Sep 1992. United States Employment: NF: sa: PW: OS: Other Personal Services 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.G031: Current Employment Statistics Survey: Employment: Production Worker: Non FarmSeasonally Adjusted.

United States Employment: NF: sa: Mfg: Surgical & Medical Instrument data was reported at 122.700 Person th in May 2018. This stayed constant from the previous number of 122.700 Person th for Apr 2018. United States Employment: NF: sa: Mfg: Surgical & Medical Instrument data is updated monthly, averaging 106.900 Person th from Jan 1990 (Median) to May 2018, with 341 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 123.000 Person th in Mar 2018 and a record low of 94.400 Person th in Feb 1990. United States Employment: NF: sa: Mfg: Surgical & Medical Instrument 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.G026: Current Employment Statistics Survey: Employment: Non Farm: sa.

The Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program is a federal-state cooperative effort which produces monthly estimates of produces monthly and annual employment, unemployment, and labor force data for approximately 7,000 areas including Census regions and divisions, States, counties, metropolitan areas, and many cities.

This dataset includes data for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. To only see data for Connecticut, create a filter where "State name" is equal to "Connecticut".

For more information on the LAUS program and data visit: https://www.bls.gov/lau/

For more information from the CT Department of Labor visit: https://www1.ctdol.state.ct.us/lmi/LAUS/default.asp

United States Employment: NF: sa: PW: PB: Mrktng Research & Public Opinion Polling data was reported at 68.900 Person th in May 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 69.900 Person th for Apr 2018. United States Employment: NF: sa: PW: PB: Mrktng Research & Public Opinion Polling data is updated monthly, averaging 85.400 Person th from Jan 1990 (Median) to May 2018, with 341 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 98.400 Person th in Dec 2000 and a record low of 59.300 Person th in Oct 1990. United States Employment: NF: sa: PW: PB: Mrktng Research & Public Opinion Polling 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.G031: Current Employment Statistics Survey: Employment: Production Worker: Non FarmSeasonally Adjusted.

Graph and download economic data for All Employees: Government: State Government in Massachusetts (SMU25000009092000001) from Jan 1990 to Jan 2025 about state govt, MA, government, employment, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for All Employees: Information in Massachusetts (MAINFO) from Jan 1990 to Jan 2025 about information, MA, employment, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for All Employees: Government in Massachusetts (MAGOVTN) from Jan 1990 to Jan 2025 about MA, government, employment, and USA.

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.

United States Employment: NF: sa: Mfg: Engineered Wood Member & Trusses data was reported at 49.100 Person th in Nov 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 49.900 Person th for Oct 2017. United States Employment: NF: sa: Mfg: Engineered Wood Member & Trusses data is updated monthly, averaging 52.700 Person th from Jan 1990 (Median) to Nov 2017, with 335 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 82.700 Person th in Mar 2006 and a record low of 31.600 Person th in Jul 2011. United States Employment: NF: sa: Mfg: Engineered Wood Member & Trusses 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.G026: Current Employment Statistics Survey: Employment: Non Farm: sa.