US unemployment
Jobs are half of the Federal Reserve's mandate, so this shapes US rate decisions.
4.1%
Latest figure:
Next release:
Download CSVUS unemployment
Chart sampled for readability; CSV contains all observations.
%
Source: FRED · As of 6 November 2026
Show the numbers
| Date | US unemployment (%) |
|---|---|
| Jan 1948 | 3.4 |
| Mar 1948 | 4 |
| May 1948 | 3.5 |
| Jul 1948 | 3.6 |
| Sep 1948 | 3.8 |
| Nov 1948 | 3.8 |
| Jan 1949 | 4.3 |
| Mar 1949 | 5 |
| May 1949 | 6.1 |
| Jul 1949 | 6.7 |
| Sep 1949 | 6.6 |
| Nov 1949 | 6.4 |
| Jan 1950 | 6.5 |
| Mar 1950 | 6.3 |
| May 1950 | 5.5 |
| Jul 1950 | 5 |
| Sep 1950 | 4.4 |
| Nov 1950 | 4.2 |
| Jan 1951 | 3.7 |
| Mar 1951 | 3.4 |
| May 1951 | 3 |
| Jul 1951 | 3.1 |
| Sep 1951 | 3.3 |
| Nov 1951 | 3.5 |
| Jan 1952 | 3.2 |
| Mar 1952 | 2.9 |
| May 1952 | 3 |
| Jul 1952 | 3.2 |
| Sep 1952 | 3.1 |
| Nov 1952 | 2.8 |
| Jan 1953 | 2.9 |
| Mar 1953 | 2.6 |
| May 1953 | 2.5 |
| Jul 1953 | 2.6 |
| Sep 1953 | 2.9 |
| Nov 1953 | 3.5 |
| Jan 1954 | 4.9 |
| Mar 1954 | 5.7 |
| May 1954 | 5.9 |
| Jul 1954 | 5.8 |
| Sep 1954 | 6.1 |
| Nov 1954 | 5.3 |
| Jan 1955 | 4.9 |
| Mar 1955 | 4.6 |
| May 1955 | 4.3 |
| Jul 1955 | 4 |
| Sep 1955 | 4.1 |
| Nov 1955 | 4.2 |
| Jan 1956 | 4 |
| Mar 1956 | 4.2 |
| May 1956 | 4.3 |
| Jul 1956 | 4.4 |
| Sep 1956 | 3.9 |
| Nov 1956 | 4.3 |
| Jan 1957 | 4.2 |
| Mar 1957 | 3.7 |
| May 1957 | 4.1 |
| Jul 1957 | 4.2 |
| Sep 1957 | 4.4 |
| Nov 1957 | 5.1 |
| Jan 1958 | 5.8 |
| Mar 1958 | 6.7 |
| May 1958 | 7.4 |
| Jul 1958 | 7.5 |
| Sep 1958 | 7.1 |
| Nov 1958 | 6.2 |
| Jan 1959 | 6 |
| Mar 1959 | 5.6 |
| May 1959 | 5.1 |
| Jul 1959 | 5.1 |
| Sep 1959 | 5.5 |
| Nov 1959 | 5.8 |
| Jan 1960 | 5.2 |
| Mar 1960 | 5.4 |
| May 1960 | 5.1 |
| Jul 1960 | 5.5 |
| Sep 1960 | 5.5 |
| Nov 1960 | 6.1 |
| Jan 1961 | 6.6 |
| Mar 1961 | 6.9 |
| May 1961 | 7.1 |
| Jul 1961 | 7 |
| Sep 1961 | 6.7 |
| Nov 1961 | 6.1 |
| Jan 1962 | 5.8 |
| Mar 1962 | 5.6 |
| May 1962 | 5.5 |
| Jul 1962 | 5.4 |
| Sep 1962 | 5.6 |
| Nov 1962 | 5.7 |
| Jan 1963 | 5.7 |
| Mar 1963 | 5.7 |
| May 1963 | 5.9 |
| Jul 1963 | 5.6 |
| Sep 1963 | 5.5 |
| Nov 1963 | 5.7 |
| Jan 1964 | 5.6 |
| Mar 1964 | 5.4 |
| May 1964 | 5.1 |
| Jul 1964 | 4.9 |
| Sep 1964 | 5.1 |
| Nov 1964 | 4.8 |
| Jan 1965 | 4.9 |
| Mar 1965 | 4.7 |
| May 1965 | 4.6 |
| Jul 1965 | 4.4 |
| Sep 1965 | 4.3 |
| Nov 1965 | 4.1 |
| Jan 1966 | 4 |
| Mar 1966 | 3.8 |
| May 1966 | 3.9 |
| Jul 1966 | 3.8 |
| Sep 1966 | 3.7 |
| Nov 1966 | 3.6 |
| Jan 1967 | 3.9 |
| Mar 1967 | 3.8 |
| May 1967 | 3.8 |
| Jul 1967 | 3.8 |
| Sep 1967 | 3.8 |
| Nov 1967 | 3.9 |
| Jan 1968 | 3.7 |
| Mar 1968 | 3.7 |
| May 1968 | 3.5 |
| Jul 1968 | 3.7 |
| Sep 1968 | 3.4 |
| Nov 1968 | 3.4 |
| Jan 1969 | 3.4 |
| Mar 1969 | 3.4 |
| May 1969 | 3.4 |
| Jul 1969 | 3.5 |
| Sep 1969 | 3.7 |
| Nov 1969 | 3.5 |
| Jan 1970 | 3.9 |
| Mar 1970 | 4.4 |
| May 1970 | 4.8 |
| Jul 1970 | 5 |
| Sep 1970 | 5.4 |
| Nov 1970 | 5.9 |
| Jan 1971 | 5.9 |
| Mar 1971 | 6 |
| May 1971 | 5.9 |
| Jul 1971 | 6 |
| Sep 1971 | 6 |
| Nov 1971 | 6 |
| Jan 1972 | 5.8 |
| Mar 1972 | 5.8 |
| May 1972 | 5.7 |
| Jul 1972 | 5.6 |
| Sep 1972 | 5.5 |
| Nov 1972 | 5.3 |
| Jan 1973 | 4.9 |
| Mar 1973 | 4.9 |
| May 1973 | 4.9 |
| Jul 1973 | 4.8 |
| Sep 1973 | 4.8 |
| Nov 1973 | 4.8 |
| Jan 1974 | 5.1 |
| Mar 1974 | 5.1 |
| May 1974 | 5.1 |
| Jul 1974 | 5.5 |
| Sep 1974 | 5.9 |
| Nov 1974 | 6.6 |
| Jan 1975 | 8.1 |
| Mar 1975 | 8.6 |
| May 1975 | 9 |
| Jul 1975 | 8.6 |
| Sep 1975 | 8.4 |
| Nov 1975 | 8.3 |
| Jan 1976 | 7.9 |
| Mar 1976 | 7.6 |
| May 1976 | 7.4 |
| Jul 1976 | 7.8 |
| Sep 1976 | 7.6 |
| Nov 1976 | 7.8 |
| Jan 1977 | 7.5 |
| Mar 1977 | 7.4 |
| May 1977 | 7 |
| Jul 1977 | 6.9 |
| Sep 1977 | 6.8 |
| Nov 1977 | 6.8 |
| Jan 1978 | 6.4 |
| Mar 1978 | 6.3 |
| May 1978 | 6 |
| Jul 1978 | 6.2 |
| Sep 1978 | 6 |
| Nov 1978 | 5.9 |
| Jan 1979 | 5.9 |
| Mar 1979 | 5.8 |
| May 1979 | 5.6 |
| Jul 1979 | 5.7 |
| Sep 1979 | 5.9 |
| Nov 1979 | 5.9 |
| Jan 1980 | 6.3 |
| Mar 1980 | 6.3 |
| May 1980 | 7.5 |
| Jul 1980 | 7.8 |
| Sep 1980 | 7.5 |
| Nov 1980 | 7.5 |
| Jan 1981 | 7.5 |
| Mar 1981 | 7.4 |
| May 1981 | 7.5 |
| Jul 1981 | 7.2 |
| Sep 1981 | 7.6 |
| Nov 1981 | 8.3 |
| Jan 1982 | 8.6 |
| Mar 1982 | 9 |
| May 1982 | 9.4 |
| Jul 1982 | 9.8 |
| Sep 1982 | 10.1 |
| Nov 1982 | 10.8 |
| Jan 1983 | 10.4 |
| Mar 1983 | 10.3 |
| May 1983 | 10.1 |
| Jul 1983 | 9.4 |
| Sep 1983 | 9.2 |
| Nov 1983 | 8.5 |
| Jan 1984 | 8 |
| Mar 1984 | 7.8 |
| May 1984 | 7.4 |
| Jul 1984 | 7.5 |
| Sep 1984 | 7.3 |
| Nov 1984 | 7.2 |
| Jan 1985 | 7.3 |
| Mar 1985 | 7.2 |
| May 1985 | 7.2 |
| Jul 1985 | 7.4 |
| Sep 1985 | 7.1 |
| Nov 1985 | 7 |
| Jan 1986 | 6.7 |
| Mar 1986 | 7.2 |
| May 1986 | 7.2 |
| Jul 1986 | 7 |
| Sep 1986 | 7 |
| Nov 1986 | 6.9 |
| Jan 1987 | 6.6 |
| Mar 1987 | 6.6 |
| May 1987 | 6.3 |
| Jul 1987 | 6.1 |
| Sep 1987 | 5.9 |
| Nov 1987 | 5.8 |
| Jan 1988 | 5.7 |
| Mar 1988 | 5.7 |
| May 1988 | 5.6 |
| Jul 1988 | 5.4 |
| Sep 1988 | 5.4 |
| Nov 1988 | 5.3 |
| Jan 1989 | 5.4 |
| Mar 1989 | 5 |
| May 1989 | 5.2 |
| Jul 1989 | 5.2 |
| Sep 1989 | 5.3 |
| Nov 1989 | 5.4 |
| Jan 1990 | 5.4 |
| Mar 1990 | 5.2 |
| May 1990 | 5.4 |
| Jul 1990 | 5.5 |
| Sep 1990 | 5.9 |
| Nov 1990 | 6.2 |
| Jan 1991 | 6.4 |
| Mar 1991 | 6.8 |
| May 1991 | 6.9 |
| Jul 1991 | 6.8 |
| Sep 1991 | 6.9 |
| Nov 1991 | 7 |
| Jan 1992 | 7.3 |
| Mar 1992 | 7.4 |
| May 1992 | 7.6 |
| Jul 1992 | 7.7 |
| Sep 1992 | 7.6 |
| Nov 1992 | 7.4 |
| Jan 1993 | 7.3 |
| Mar 1993 | 7 |
| May 1993 | 7.1 |
| Jul 1993 | 6.9 |
| Sep 1993 | 6.7 |
| Nov 1993 | 6.6 |
| Jan 1994 | 6.6 |
| Mar 1994 | 6.5 |
| May 1994 | 6.1 |
| Jul 1994 | 6.1 |
| Sep 1994 | 5.9 |
| Nov 1994 | 5.6 |
| Jan 1995 | 5.6 |
| Mar 1995 | 5.4 |
| May 1995 | 5.6 |
| Jul 1995 | 5.7 |
| Sep 1995 | 5.6 |
| Nov 1995 | 5.6 |
| Jan 1996 | 5.6 |
| Mar 1996 | 5.5 |
| May 1996 | 5.6 |
| Jul 1996 | 5.5 |
| Sep 1996 | 5.2 |
| Nov 1996 | 5.4 |
| Jan 1997 | 5.3 |
| Mar 1997 | 5.2 |
| May 1997 | 4.9 |
| Jul 1997 | 4.9 |
| Sep 1997 | 4.9 |
| Nov 1997 | 4.6 |
| Jan 1998 | 4.6 |
| Mar 1998 | 4.7 |
| May 1998 | 4.4 |
| Jul 1998 | 4.5 |
| Sep 1998 | 4.6 |
| Nov 1998 | 4.4 |
| Jan 1999 | 4.3 |
| Mar 1999 | 4.2 |
| May 1999 | 4.2 |
| Jul 1999 | 4.3 |
| Sep 1999 | 4.2 |
| Nov 1999 | 4.1 |
| Jan 2000 | 4 |
| Mar 2000 | 4 |
| May 2000 | 4 |
| Jul 2000 | 4 |
| Sep 2000 | 3.9 |
| Nov 2000 | 3.9 |
| Jan 2001 | 4.2 |
| Mar 2001 | 4.3 |
| May 2001 | 4.3 |
| Jul 2001 | 4.6 |
| Sep 2001 | 5 |
| Nov 2001 | 5.5 |
| Jan 2002 | 5.7 |
| Mar 2002 | 5.7 |
| May 2002 | 5.8 |
| Jul 2002 | 5.8 |
| Sep 2002 | 5.7 |
| Nov 2002 | 5.9 |
| Jan 2003 | 5.8 |
| Mar 2003 | 5.9 |
| May 2003 | 6.1 |
| Jul 2003 | 6.2 |
| Sep 2003 | 6.1 |
| Nov 2003 | 5.8 |
| Jan 2004 | 5.7 |
| Mar 2004 | 5.8 |
| May 2004 | 5.6 |
| Jul 2004 | 5.5 |
| Sep 2004 | 5.4 |
| Nov 2004 | 5.4 |
| Jan 2005 | 5.3 |
| Mar 2005 | 5.2 |
| May 2005 | 5.1 |
| Jul 2005 | 5 |
| Sep 2005 | 5 |
| Nov 2005 | 5 |
| Jan 2006 | 4.7 |
| Mar 2006 | 4.7 |
| May 2006 | 4.6 |
| Jul 2006 | 4.7 |
| Sep 2006 | 4.5 |
| Nov 2006 | 4.5 |
| Jan 2007 | 4.6 |
| Mar 2007 | 4.4 |
| May 2007 | 4.4 |
| Jul 2007 | 4.7 |
| Sep 2007 | 4.7 |
| Nov 2007 | 4.7 |
| Jan 2008 | 5 |
| Mar 2008 | 5.1 |
| May 2008 | 5.4 |
| Jul 2008 | 5.8 |
| Sep 2008 | 6.1 |
| Nov 2008 | 6.8 |
| Jan 2009 | 7.8 |
| Mar 2009 | 8.7 |
| May 2009 | 9.4 |
| Jul 2009 | 9.5 |
| Sep 2009 | 9.8 |
| Nov 2009 | 9.9 |
| Jan 2010 | 9.8 |
| Mar 2010 | 9.9 |
| May 2010 | 9.6 |
| Jul 2010 | 9.4 |
| Sep 2010 | 9.5 |
| Nov 2010 | 9.8 |
| Jan 2011 | 9.1 |
| Mar 2011 | 9 |
| May 2011 | 9 |
| Jul 2011 | 9 |
| Sep 2011 | 9 |
| Nov 2011 | 8.6 |
| Jan 2012 | 8.3 |
| Mar 2012 | 8.2 |
| May 2012 | 8.2 |
| Jul 2012 | 8.2 |
| Sep 2012 | 7.8 |
| Nov 2012 | 7.7 |
| Jan 2013 | 8 |
| Mar 2013 | 7.5 |
| May 2013 | 7.5 |
| Jul 2013 | 7.3 |
| Sep 2013 | 7.2 |
| Nov 2013 | 6.9 |
| Jan 2014 | 6.6 |
| Mar 2014 | 6.7 |
| May 2014 | 6.3 |
| Jul 2014 | 6.2 |
| Sep 2014 | 5.9 |
| Nov 2014 | 5.8 |
| Jan 2015 | 5.7 |
| Mar 2015 | 5.4 |
| May 2015 | 5.6 |
| Jul 2015 | 5.2 |
| Sep 2015 | 5 |
| Nov 2015 | 5.1 |
| Jan 2016 | 4.8 |
| Mar 2016 | 5 |
| May 2016 | 4.8 |
| Jul 2016 | 4.8 |
| Sep 2016 | 5 |
| Nov 2016 | 4.7 |
| Jan 2017 | 4.7 |
| Mar 2017 | 4.4 |
| May 2017 | 4.4 |
| Jul 2017 | 4.3 |
| Sep 2017 | 4.3 |
| Nov 2017 | 4.2 |
| Jan 2018 | 4 |
| Mar 2018 | 4 |
| May 2018 | 3.8 |
| Jul 2018 | 3.8 |
| Sep 2018 | 3.7 |
| Nov 2018 | 3.8 |
| Jan 2019 | 4 |
| Mar 2019 | 3.8 |
| May 2019 | 3.6 |
| Jul 2019 | 3.7 |
| Sep 2019 | 3.5 |
| Nov 2019 | 3.6 |
| Jan 2020 | 3.6 |
| Mar 2020 | 4.4 |
| May 2020 | 13.2 |
| Jul 2020 | 10.2 |
| Sep 2020 | 7.8 |
| Nov 2020 | 6.7 |
| Jan 2021 | 6.4 |
| Mar 2021 | 6.1 |
| May 2021 | 5.8 |
| Jul 2021 | 5.4 |
| Sep 2021 | 4.7 |
| Nov 2021 | 4.1 |
| Jan 2022 | 4 |
| Mar 2022 | 3.7 |
| May 2022 | 3.6 |
| Jul 2022 | 3.5 |
| Sep 2022 | 3.5 |
| Nov 2022 | 3.6 |
| Jan 2023 | 3.5 |
| Mar 2023 | 3.5 |
| May 2023 | 3.6 |
| Jul 2023 | 3.5 |
| Sep 2023 | 3.7 |
| Nov 2023 | 3.7 |
| Jan 2024 | 3.7 |
| Mar 2024 | 3.9 |
| May 2024 | 3.9 |
| Jul 2024 | 4.2 |
| Sep 2024 | 4.1 |
| Nov 2024 | 4.2 |
| Jan 2025 | 4 |
| Mar 2025 | 4.2 |
| May 2025 | 4.3 |
| Jul 2025 | 4.3 |
| Sep 2025 | 4.4 |
| Dec 2025 | 4.4 |
| Feb 2026 | 4.4 |
| Apr 2026 | 4.3 |
| Jun 2026 | 4.2 |
| Aug 2026 | 4.1 |
| Oct 2026 | 4.1 |
US unemployment
Chart sampled for readability; CSV contains all observations.
%
Source: FRED · As of 6 November 2026
Show the numbers
| Date | US unemployment (%) |
|---|---|
| Oct 2024 | 4.1 |
| Nov 2024 | 4.2 |
| Dec 2024 | 4.1 |
| Jan 2025 | 4 |
| Feb 2025 | 4.2 |
| Mar 2025 | 4.2 |
| Apr 2025 | 4.2 |
| May 2025 | 4.3 |
| Jun 2025 | 4.1 |
| Jul 2025 | 4.3 |
| Aug 2025 | 4.3 |
| Sep 2025 | 4.4 |
| Nov 2025 | 4.5 |
| Dec 2025 | 4.4 |
| Jan 2026 | 4.3 |
| Feb 2026 | 4.4 |
| Mar 2026 | 4.3 |
| Apr 2026 | 4.3 |
| May 2026 | 4.3 |
| Jun 2026 | 4.2 |
| Jul 2026 | 4.1 |
| Aug 2026 | 4.1 |
| Sep 2026 | 4.2 |
| Oct 2026 | 4.1 |
US unemployment
Chart sampled for readability; CSV contains all observations.
%
Source: FRED · As of 6 November 2026
Show the numbers
| Date | US unemployment (%) |
|---|---|
| Oct 2016 | 4.9 |
| Nov 2016 | 4.7 |
| Dec 2016 | 4.7 |
| Jan 2017 | 4.7 |
| Feb 2017 | 4.6 |
| Mar 2017 | 4.4 |
| Apr 2017 | 4.4 |
| May 2017 | 4.4 |
| Jun 2017 | 4.3 |
| Jul 2017 | 4.3 |
| Aug 2017 | 4.4 |
| Sep 2017 | 4.3 |
| Oct 2017 | 4.2 |
| Nov 2017 | 4.2 |
| Dec 2017 | 4.1 |
| Jan 2018 | 4 |
| Feb 2018 | 4.1 |
| Mar 2018 | 4 |
| Apr 2018 | 4 |
| May 2018 | 3.8 |
| Jun 2018 | 4 |
| Jul 2018 | 3.8 |
| Aug 2018 | 3.8 |
| Sep 2018 | 3.7 |
| Oct 2018 | 3.8 |
| Nov 2018 | 3.8 |
| Dec 2018 | 3.9 |
| Jan 2019 | 4 |
| Feb 2019 | 3.8 |
| Mar 2019 | 3.8 |
| Apr 2019 | 3.7 |
| May 2019 | 3.6 |
| Jun 2019 | 3.6 |
| Jul 2019 | 3.7 |
| Aug 2019 | 3.6 |
| Sep 2019 | 3.5 |
| Oct 2019 | 3.6 |
| Nov 2019 | 3.6 |
| Dec 2019 | 3.6 |
| Jan 2020 | 3.6 |
| Feb 2020 | 3.5 |
| Mar 2020 | 4.4 |
| Apr 2020 | 14.8 |
| May 2020 | 13.2 |
| Jun 2020 | 11 |
| Jul 2020 | 10.2 |
| Aug 2020 | 8.4 |
| Sep 2020 | 7.8 |
| Oct 2020 | 6.9 |
| Nov 2020 | 6.7 |
| Dec 2020 | 6.7 |
| Jan 2021 | 6.4 |
| Feb 2021 | 6.2 |
| Mar 2021 | 6.1 |
| Apr 2021 | 6.1 |
| May 2021 | 5.8 |
| Jun 2021 | 5.9 |
| Jul 2021 | 5.4 |
| Aug 2021 | 5.1 |
| Sep 2021 | 4.7 |
| Oct 2021 | 4.5 |
| Nov 2021 | 4.1 |
| Dec 2021 | 3.9 |
| Jan 2022 | 4 |
| Feb 2022 | 3.9 |
| Mar 2022 | 3.7 |
| Apr 2022 | 3.7 |
| May 2022 | 3.6 |
| Jun 2022 | 3.6 |
| Jul 2022 | 3.5 |
| Aug 2022 | 3.6 |
| Sep 2022 | 3.5 |
| Oct 2022 | 3.6 |
| Nov 2022 | 3.6 |
| Dec 2022 | 3.5 |
| Jan 2023 | 3.5 |
| Feb 2023 | 3.6 |
| Mar 2023 | 3.5 |
| Apr 2023 | 3.4 |
| May 2023 | 3.6 |
| Jun 2023 | 3.6 |
| Jul 2023 | 3.5 |
| Aug 2023 | 3.7 |
| Sep 2023 | 3.7 |
| Oct 2023 | 3.9 |
| Nov 2023 | 3.7 |
| Dec 2023 | 3.8 |
| Jan 2024 | 3.7 |
| Feb 2024 | 3.9 |
| Mar 2024 | 3.9 |
| Apr 2024 | 3.9 |
| May 2024 | 3.9 |
| Jun 2024 | 4.1 |
| Jul 2024 | 4.2 |
| Aug 2024 | 4.2 |
| Sep 2024 | 4.1 |
| Oct 2024 | 4.1 |
| Nov 2024 | 4.2 |
| Dec 2024 | 4.1 |
| Jan 2025 | 4 |
| Feb 2025 | 4.2 |
| Mar 2025 | 4.2 |
| Apr 2025 | 4.2 |
| May 2025 | 4.3 |
| Jun 2025 | 4.1 |
| Jul 2025 | 4.3 |
| Aug 2025 | 4.3 |
| Sep 2025 | 4.4 |
| Nov 2025 | 4.5 |
| Dec 2025 | 4.4 |
| Jan 2026 | 4.3 |
| Feb 2026 | 4.4 |
| Mar 2026 | 4.3 |
| Apr 2026 | 4.3 |
| May 2026 | 4.3 |
| Jun 2026 | 4.2 |
| Jul 2026 | 4.1 |
| Aug 2026 | 4.1 |
| Sep 2026 | 4.2 |
| Oct 2026 | 4.1 |
Recent observations
| Date | % |
|---|---|
| October 2026 | 4.1 |
| September 2026 | 4.2 |
| August 2026 | 4.1 |
| July 2026 | 4.1 |
| June 2026 | 4.2 |
| May 2026 | 4.3 |
| April 2026 | 4.3 |
| March 2026 | 4.3 |
| February 2026 | 4.4 |
| January 2026 | 4.3 |
| December 2025 | 4.4 |
| November 2025 | 4.5 |
| September 2025 | 4.4 |
| August 2025 | 4.3 |
| July 2025 | 4.3 |
| June 2025 | 4.1 |
| May 2025 | 4.3 |
| April 2025 | 4.2 |
| March 2025 | 4.2 |
| February 2025 | 4.2 |
| January 2025 | 4 |
| December 2024 | 4.1 |
| November 2024 | 4.2 |
| October 2024 | 4.1 |
Source: FRED · Attribution and methods