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.

The statistic shows the distribution of the workforce across economic sectors in the United States from 2013 to 2023. In 2023, 1.57 percent of the workforce in the US was employed in agriculture, 19.34 percent in industry and 79.09 percent in services. See U.S. GDP per capita for more information. American workforce A significant majority of the American labor force is employed in the services sector, while the other sectors, industry and agriculture, account for less than 20 percent of the US economy. However, the United States is among the top exporters of agricultural goods – the total value of US agricultural exports has more than doubled since 2000. A severe plunge in the employment rate in the US since 1990 shows that the American economy is still in turmoil after the economic crisis of 2008. Unemployment is still significantly higher than it was before the crisis, and most of those unemployed and looking for a job are younger than 25; youth unemployment is a severe problem for the United States, many college or university graduates struggle to find a job right away. Still, the number of employees in the US since 1990 has been increasing slowly, with a slight setback during and after the recession. Both the number of full-time and of part-time workers have increased during the same period. When looking at the distribution of jobs among men and women, both project the general downward trend. A comparison of the employment rate of men in the US since 1990 and the employment rate of women since 1990 shows that more men tend to be employed than women.

Employment by industry and sex, UK, published quarterly, non-seasonally adjusted. Labour Force Survey. These are official statistics in development.

Graph and download economic data for All Employees, Federal (CES9091000001) from Jan 1939 to Jul 2025 about establishment survey, federal, government, employment, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for All Employees, Manufacturing (MANEMP) from Jan 1939 to Jul 2025 about headline figure, establishment survey, manufacturing, employment, and USA.

Flexible Employment Market Outlook

The global market size for flexible employment was valued at approximately USD 3.8 trillion in 2023 and is projected to reach around USD 6.4 trillion by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.1% during the forecast period. This market growth is driven by the increasing demand for work-life balance, technological advancements, and the evolving nature of work.

One of the key drivers for the growth of the flexible employment market is the increasing desire for work-life balance among employees. The modern workforce prioritizes flexibility in their work schedule, which allows them to balance their professional and personal lives more effectively. This shift in preference is particularly evident among millennials and Gen Z, who place a high value on flexibility and autonomy in their careers. Companies are responding to this trend by offering more flexible employment options to attract and retain top talent.

Technological advancements have also played a significant role in the expansion of the flexible employment market. The proliferation of high-speed internet, cloud computing, and collaboration tools has enabled remote work and virtual teams. These technologies facilitate seamless communication and collaboration, making it easier for employees to work from anywhere in the world. As a result, businesses are increasingly adopting remote work policies, further driving the growth of the flexible employment market.

The evolving nature of work is another factor contributing to the growth of the flexible employment market. The gig economy, characterized by short-term contracts and freelance work, has gained significant traction in recent years. This shift towards project-based work is driven by both employers and employees seeking more flexible and dynamic work arrangements. Companies benefit from the ability to scale their workforce up or down based on project needs, while workers enjoy the freedom to choose their assignments and work schedules.

Regionally, North America dominates the flexible employment market, accounting for the largest share in 2023. The region's strong technological infrastructure, high internet penetration, and progressive work culture have facilitated the adoption of flexible employment practices. Europe and Asia Pacific are also significant markets, with increasing demand for flexible work arrangements in countries like the United Kingdom, Germany, China, and India. The Middle East & Africa and Latin America are expected to witness substantial growth in the coming years as businesses in these regions recognize the benefits of flexible employment.

Employment Type Analysis

The flexible employment market can be segmented by employment type into part-time, freelance, temporary, remote, and others. The part-time segment has seen significant growth as it allows employees to work fewer hours while still contributing to the workforce. Many companies offer part-time roles to manage costs and increase workforce flexibility. This segment is particularly popular among students, parents, and individuals seeking a better work-life balance.

The freelance segment is another rapidly growing area within the flexible employment market. Freelancers, or independent contractors, offer specialized skills on a project-by-project basis. This segment is driven by the rise of the gig economy, where workers prefer short-term, flexible work arrangements over traditional full-time employment. Freelancers are prevalent in industries such as IT, design, writing, and marketing, where specialized skills are in high demand.

Temporary employment, which includes short-term contracts and seasonal work, is also a significant segment of the flexible employment market. Businesses often rely on temporary workers to meet peak demand periods or to fill gaps during employee absences. Temporary employment provides companies with the flexibility to adjust their workforce based on changing business needs without the long-term commitment of permanent hires.

Remote work has become a prominent segment within the flexible employment market, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ability to work from home or any location outside the traditional office environment has become a key factor in employee satisfaction and productivity. Companies across various industries have adopted remote work policies to attract and retain talent, reduce overhead costs, and increase operational efficiency.

Other forms of

Workforce Jobs (WFJ) is a quarterly measure of the number of jobs in the UK and is the preferred measure of the change in jobs by industry.

It is a compound source that draws on a range of employer surveys, household surveys and administrative sources. WFJ is the sum of employee jobs measured primarily by employer surveys, self-employment jobs from the Labour Force Survey, and government-supported trainees and Her Majesty's Forces from administrative sources.

The spreadsheet shows change since last quarter and last year, with graphs displaying these trends.

Data is available by industry from NOMIS WEB. Data back to Sep 1981 available for the UK, and back to March 1996 for UK regions (included in spreadsheet).

Seasonally adjusted. The figures in this dataset are adjusted to compensate for seasonal variations in employment.

UK totals include overseas based HM Forces personnel that cannot be assigned to a region.
Supporting information is now available to identify a small number of estimates that are deemed unreliable from https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/articles/654.aspx.

Data is rounded to the nearest 1000.

Relevant link: http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/

Workforce Jobs 2002-2012 and Workplace employment data by borough since 2012. The latter is taken from Annual Population Survey and Business Register and Employment Survey.

This dataset provides employment, unemployment, labor force and unemployment rate monthly estimates for State of Iowa, Iowa counties, metropolitan statistical areas, and large cities within Iowa. Data has NOT been adjusted to eliminate the effect of intrayear variations which tend to occur during the same period on an annual basis. Data available beginning January 2020.

Workforce jobs summary, UK, published quarterly, seasonally adjusted.

Graph and download economic data for Multiple Jobholders as a Percent of Employed (LNS12026620) from Jan 1994 to Jul 2025 about multiple jobholders, 16 years +, percent, household survey, employment, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for All Employees, Government (USGOVT) from Jan 1939 to Jul 2025 about establishment survey, government, employment, and USA.

Workforce jobs by industry, UK countries and English regions, published quarterly, seasonally adjusted.

Labor Force Participation Rate in the United States decreased to 62.20 percent in July from 62.30 percent in June 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.

Workforce jobs by industry, employee jobs by industry and self-employment jobs by industry. UK, published quarterly.

Main labour market statistics time series data (large dataset).

In June 2025, the civilian labor force amounted to 170.38 million people in the United States. The term civilian labor force is used by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to describe the subset of Americans who have jobs or are seeking a job, are at least 16 years old, are not serving in the military, and are not institutionalized.

The Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program conducts a semiannual survey designed to produce estimates of employment and wages for specific occupations. The OES program collects data on wage and salary workers in nonfarm establishments in order to produce employment and wage estimates for about 800 occupations. Data from self-employed persons are not collected and are not included in the estimates. The OES program produces these occupational estimates for the nation as a whole, by state, by metropolitan or nonmetropolitan area, and by industry or ownership. The Bureau of Labor Statistics produces occupational employment and wage estimates for approximately 415 industry classifications at the national level. The industry classifications correspond to the sector, 3-, 4-, and selected 5- and 6-digit North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) industrial groups. The OES program surveys approximately 200,000 establishments per panel (every six months), taking three years to fully collect the sample of 1.2 million establishments. To reduce respondent burden, the collection is on a three-year survey cycle that ensures that establishments are surveyed at most once every three years. The estimates for occupations in nonfarm establishments are based on OES data collected for the reference months of May and November. The OES survey is a federal-state cooperative program between the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and State Workforce Agencies (SWAs). BLS provides the procedures and technical support, draws the sample, and produces the survey materials, while the SWAs collect the data. SWAs from all fifty states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands participate in the survey. Occupational employment and wage rate estimates at the national level are produced by BLS using data from the fifty states and the District of Columbia. Employers who respond to states' requests to participate in the OES survey make these estimates possible. The OES features several arts-related occupations, particularly in the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations group (Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code 27-0000). Several featured occupation groups include the following: Art and Design Workers (SOC 27-1000) Art Directors Fine Artists, including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators Multimedia Artists and Animators Fashion Designers Graphic Designers Set and Exhibit Designers Entertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers (SOC 27-2000) Actors Producers and Directors Athletes Coaches and Scouts Dancers Choreographers Music Directors and Composers Musicians and Singers Media and Communication Workers (SOC 27-3000) Radio and Television Announcers Reports and Correspondents Public Relations Specialists Writers and Authors Data for years 1997 through the latest release and can be found on the OES Data page. Also, see OES News Releases sections for current estimates and news releases. Users can analyze the data for the nation as a whole, by state, by metropolitan or nonmetropolitan area, and by industry or ownership. As well, OES Charts are available. Users may also explore data using OES Maps. If preferred, data can also be accessed via the Multi-Screen Data Search or Text Files using the OES Databases page.

Graph and download economic data for All Employees, Total Private (USPRIV) from Jan 1939 to Jul 2025 about headline figure, establishment survey, private industries, private, employment, industry, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Labor Force Participation Rate - 16-19 Yrs. (LNS11300012) from Jan 1948 to Jul 2025 about 16 to 19 years, participation, labor force, labor, household survey, rate, and USA.

Number of persons in the labour force (employment and unemployment) and unemployment rate, by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), gender and age group.