Current Population Survey · unemployment rate, seasonally adjusted
What is the US unemployment rate?
The US unemployment rate was 4.2% in September 2026, against 4.1% in August 2026 (seasonally adjusted, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on ).
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The unemployment rate each month, seasonally adjusted
The unemployment rate (U-3) and U-6 each month, seasonally adjusted
The lines
- U-67.6%
- Unemployment rate (U-3)4.2%
Labor force participation and the employment-population ratio each month, seasonally adjusted
The lines
- Labor force participation rate61.8%
- Employment-population ratio59.2%
The unemployment rate in each calendar year: its average, highest and lowest month
The lines
- Average4.2%
- Highest month4.4%
- Lowest month4.1%
Each point is one month as BLS publishes it, or one calendar year's average, highest and lowest month (ours); October 2025 has no value and leaves a gap. Pointing at the chart shows the month and the value.
Select a line to follow
Inspect and compare dates
The latest month beside the one before it and the nearest ones a year, five and ten years earlier. The months of the last ten years and every year since 1948 are in the tables under "The numbers behind the chart".
| Measure | Latest | The month before | A year earlier | Five years earlier | Ten years earlier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | |||||
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 4.1% | 4.4% | 4.7% | 5.0% |
| U-6 | 7.6% | 7.7% | 8.1% | 8.4% | 9.7% |
| Participation rate | 61.8% | 61.6% | 62.5% | 61.7% | 62.9% |
| Employment-population ratio | 59.2% | 59.1% | 59.7% | 58.8% | 59.7% |
The table scrolls sideways; the first column stays in place.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey. Observed .
Right now
The unemployment rate was 4.2% in September 2026, the highest since May 2026.
It was 4.1% in August 2026 and 4.4% in September 2025. 7.1 million people were unemployed, out of a labor force of 170.3 million.
This yearSo far, ours
Average 4.2% over the months with a value; highest 4.4% in February 2026, lowest 4.1% in July 2026.
Wider measuresSeptember 2026
U-6, which adds people marginally attached to the labor force and those working part time for economic reasons, was 7.6%. The labor force participation rate was 61.8% and the employment-population ratio 59.2%.
Understanding the unemployment rate
Where it stands today
The unemployment rate was 4.2% in September 2026.
Who counts as unemployed?
The unemployment rate is the share of the labor force that is unemployed. A person is unemployed when they had no job in the survey week, were available to work and had looked for work in the four weeks before; the labor force is everyone 16 and older who is employed or unemployed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates it each month from the Current Population Survey of households and publishes it in the Employment Situation report, with the payroll count from the survey of employers.
Read more
The rate here is seasonally adjusted, as BLS publishes it, so that months of the year can be compared with each other. U-6 is the widest of the measures BLS publishes beside it: it also counts people who want a job and looked for one in the past year but not in the past four weeks, and people working part time who want full-time work. The participation rate is the labor force as a share of the population 16 and older; the employment-population ratio is the employed as a share of the same population.
What 500metrics adds: the last month the rate was higher or lower, and each calendar year's average, highest and lowest month, worked out from the published months.
The numbers behind the chart
What was the rate in each month?The 120 months since Oct 2016, newest first; each year since 1948 is in the next table
| Month | Rate | U-6 | Participation | Employment ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.2% | 7.6% | 61.8% | 59.2% | |
| 4.1% | 7.7% | 61.6% | 59.1% | |
| 4.1% | 7.9% | 61.4% | 58.9% | |
| 4.2% | 7.9% | 61.5% | 59.0% | |
| 4.3% | 8.1% | 61.8% | 59.2% | |
| 4.3% | 8.2% | 61.8% | 59.1% | |
| 4.3% | 8.0% | 61.9% | 59.2% | |
| 4.4% | 7.9% | 62.0% | 59.3% | |
| 4.3% | 8.1% | 62.1% | 59.4% | |
| 4.4% | 8.4% | 62.4% | 59.7% | |
| 4.5% | 8.7% | 62.5% | 59.6% | |
| n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| 4.4% | 8.1% | 62.5% | 59.7% | |
| 4.3% | 8.1% | 62.3% | 59.6% | |
| 4.3% | 7.9% | 62.2% | 59.6% | |
| 4.1% | 7.7% | 62.3% | 59.7% | |
| 4.3% | 7.8% | 62.4% | 59.7% | |
| 4.2% | 7.8% | 62.6% | 60.0% | |
| 4.2% | 7.9% | 62.5% | 59.9% | |
| 4.2% | 8.0% | 62.5% | 59.9% | |
| 4.0% | 7.5% | 62.6% | 60.1% | |
| 4.1% | 7.6% | 62.5% | 59.9% | |
| 4.2% | 7.7% | 62.4% | 59.8% | |
| 4.1% | 7.7% | 62.5% | 60.0% |
Show 96 more rows
| Month | Rate | U-6 | Participation | Employment ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.1% | 7.7% | 62.7% | 60.1% | |
| 4.2% | 7.8% | 62.7% | 60.0% | |
| 4.2% | 7.8% | 62.7% | 60.0% | |
| 4.1% | 7.4% | 62.6% | 60.0% | |
| 3.9% | 7.4% | 62.6% | 60.1% | |
| 3.9% | 7.4% | 62.6% | 60.2% | |
| 3.9% | 7.3% | 62.7% | 60.3% | |
| 3.9% | 7.3% | 62.6% | 60.2% | |
| 3.7% | 7.2% | 62.5% | 60.2% | |
| 3.8% | 7.2% | 62.5% | 60.1% | |
| 3.7% | 7.0% | 62.8% | 60.4% | |
| 3.9% | 7.2% | 62.6% | 60.2% | |
| 3.7% | 7.0% | 62.7% | 60.4% | |
| 3.7% | 7.1% | 62.8% | 60.4% | |
| 3.5% | 6.7% | 62.6% | 60.4% | |
| 3.6% | 6.9% | 62.6% | 60.3% | |
| 3.6% | 6.7% | 62.6% | 60.3% | |
| 3.4% | 6.6% | 62.6% | 60.4% | |
| 3.5% | 6.7% | 62.6% | 60.4% | |
| 3.6% | 6.8% | 62.5% | 60.3% | |
| 3.5% | 6.7% | 62.4% | 60.2% | |
| 3.5% | 6.6% | 62.3% | 60.1% | |
| 3.6% | 6.7% | 62.1% | 59.9% | |
| 3.6% | 6.7% | 62.2% | 60.0% | |
| 3.5% | 6.7% | 62.2% | 60.1% | |
| 3.6% | 6.9% | 62.3% | 60.1% | |
| 3.5% | 6.8% | 62.1% | 60.0% | |
| 3.6% | 6.7% | 62.2% | 59.9% | |
| 3.6% | 7.1% | 62.3% | 60.1% | |
| 3.7% | 7.0% | 62.2% | 59.9% | |
| 3.7% | 7.0% | 62.4% | 60.1% | |
| 3.9% | 7.2% | 62.3% | 59.9% | |
| 4.0% | 7.1% | 62.2% | 59.7% | |
| 3.9% | 7.3% | 62.0% | 59.5% | |
| 4.1% | 7.7% | 61.9% | 59.3% | |
| 4.5% | 8.2% | 61.8% | 59.0% | |
| 4.7% | 8.4% | 61.7% | 58.8% | |
| 5.1% | 8.8% | 61.7% | 58.6% | |
| 5.4% | 9.2% | 61.8% | 58.4% | |
| 5.9% | 9.8% | 61.7% | 58.1% | |
| 5.8% | 10.1% | 61.6% | 58.0% | |
| 6.1% | 10.3% | 61.6% | 57.8% | |
| 6.1% | 10.8% | 61.5% | 57.7% | |
| 6.2% | 11.1% | 61.4% | 57.6% | |
| 6.4% | 11.2% | 61.4% | 57.4% | |
| 6.7% | 11.7% | 61.5% | 57.4% | |
| 6.7% | 11.9% | 61.5% | 57.4% | |
| 6.9% | 12.1% | 61.7% | 57.5% | |
| 7.8% | 12.8% | 61.4% | 56.6% | |
| 8.4% | 14.2% | 61.7% | 56.5% | |
| 10.2% | 16.5% | 61.5% | 55.2% | |
| 11.0% | 18.0% | 61.5% | 54.7% | |
| 13.2% | 21.1% | 60.8% | 52.7% | |
| 14.8% | 22.9% | 60.1% | 51.2% | |
| 4.4% | 8.8% | 62.6% | 59.8% | |
| 3.5% | 7.0% | 63.3% | 61.1% | |
| 3.6% | 7.0% | 63.3% | 61.1% | |
| 3.6% | 6.8% | 63.3% | 61.1% | |
| 3.6% | 6.8% | 63.3% | 61.0% | |
| 3.6% | 6.9% | 63.3% | 61.0% | |
| 3.5% | 6.9% | 63.2% | 61.0% | |
| 3.6% | 7.2% | 63.1% | 60.8% | |
| 3.7% | 6.9% | 63.1% | 60.8% | |
| 3.6% | 7.2% | 63.0% | 60.7% | |
| 3.6% | 7.1% | 62.9% | 60.6% | |
| 3.7% | 7.4% | 62.8% | 60.5% | |
| 3.8% | 7.4% | 63.0% | 60.6% | |
| 3.8% | 7.2% | 63.1% | 60.7% | |
| 4.0% | 8.0% | 63.1% | 60.6% | |
| 3.9% | 7.6% | 63.0% | 60.6% | |
| 3.8% | 7.6% | 62.9% | 60.6% | |
| 3.8% | 7.5% | 62.9% | 60.5% | |
| 3.7% | 7.5% | 62.8% | 60.4% | |
| 3.8% | 7.4% | 62.6% | 60.3% | |
| 3.8% | 7.5% | 63.0% | 60.6% | |
| 4.0% | 7.8% | 63.0% | 60.5% | |
| 3.8% | 7.8% | 62.9% | 60.5% | |
| 4.0% | 7.9% | 62.9% | 60.4% | |
| 4.0% | 8.0% | 62.9% | 60.4% | |
| 4.1% | 8.1% | 63.0% | 60.4% | |
| 4.0% | 8.0% | 62.7% | 60.1% | |
| 4.1% | 8.1% | 62.7% | 60.1% | |
| 4.2% | 8.0% | 62.7% | 60.1% | |
| 4.2% | 8.1% | 62.7% | 60.1% | |
| 4.3% | 8.3% | 63.1% | 60.4% | |
| 4.4% | 8.6% | 62.9% | 60.1% | |
| 4.3% | 8.5% | 62.9% | 60.2% | |
| 4.3% | 8.5% | 62.8% | 60.1% | |
| 4.4% | 8.5% | 62.8% | 60.1% | |
| 4.4% | 8.6% | 63.0% | 60.2% | |
| 4.4% | 8.8% | 62.9% | 60.2% | |
| 4.6% | 9.0% | 62.9% | 60.0% | |
| 4.7% | 9.2% | 62.8% | 59.9% | |
| 4.7% | 9.2% | 62.7% | 59.7% | |
| 4.7% | 9.4% | 62.7% | 59.7% | |
| 4.9% | 9.6% | 62.8% | 59.7% |
The table scrolls sideways; the first column stays in place.
What were the average, high and low in each year?79 calendar years, newest first
| Year | Average | High | High in | Low | Low in | Months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4.2% | 4.4% | Feb 2026 | 4.1% | Jul 2026 | 9 |
| 2025 | 4.3% | 4.5% | Nov 2025 | 4.0% | Jan 2025 | 11 |
| 2024 | 4.0% | 4.2% | Jul 2024 | 3.7% | Jan 2024 | 12 |
| 2023 | 3.6% | 3.9% | Oct 2023 | 3.4% | Apr 2023 | 12 |
| 2022 | 3.6% | 4.0% | Jan 2022 | 3.5% | Jul 2022 | 12 |
| 2021 | 5.4% | 6.4% | Jan 2021 | 3.9% | Dec 2021 | 12 |
| 2020 | 8.1% | 14.8% | Apr 2020 | 3.5% | Feb 2020 | 12 |
| 2019 | 3.7% | 4.0% | Jan 2019 | 3.5% | Sep 2019 | 12 |
| 2018 | 3.9% | 4.1% | Feb 2018 | 3.7% | Sep 2018 | 12 |
| 2017 | 4.4% | 4.7% | Jan 2017 | 4.1% | Dec 2017 | 12 |
Show 69 more rows
| Year | Average | High | High in | Low | Low in | Months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 4.9% | 5.1% | Apr 2016 | 4.7% | Nov 2016 | 12 |
| 2015 | 5.3% | 5.7% | Jan 2015 | 5.0% | Sep 2015 | 12 |
| 2014 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Feb 2014 | 5.6% | Dec 2014 | 12 |
| 2013 | 7.4% | 8.0% | Jan 2013 | 6.7% | Dec 2013 | 12 |
| 2012 | 8.1% | 8.3% | Jan 2012 | 7.7% | Nov 2012 | 12 |
| 2011 | 8.9% | 9.1% | Jan 2011 | 8.5% | Dec 2011 | 12 |
| 2010 | 9.6% | 9.9% | Mar 2010 | 9.3% | Dec 2010 | 12 |
| 2009 | 9.3% | 10.0% | Oct 2009 | 7.8% | Jan 2009 | 12 |
| 2008 | 5.8% | 7.3% | Dec 2008 | 4.9% | Feb 2008 | 12 |
| 2007 | 4.6% | 5.0% | Dec 2007 | 4.4% | Mar 2007 | 12 |
| 2006 | 4.6% | 4.8% | Feb 2006 | 4.4% | Oct 2006 | 12 |
| 2005 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Feb 2005 | 4.9% | Aug 2005 | 12 |
| 2004 | 5.5% | 5.8% | Mar 2004 | 5.4% | Aug 2004 | 12 |
| 2003 | 6.0% | 6.3% | Jun 2003 | 5.7% | Dec 2003 | 12 |
| 2002 | 5.8% | 6.0% | Dec 2002 | 5.7% | Jan 2002 | 12 |
| 2001 | 4.7% | 5.7% | Dec 2001 | 4.2% | Jan 2001 | 12 |
| 2000 | 4.0% | 4.1% | Feb 2000 | 3.8% | Apr 2000 | 12 |
| 1999 | 4.2% | 4.4% | Feb 1999 | 4.0% | Dec 1999 | 12 |
| 1998 | 4.5% | 4.7% | Mar 1998 | 4.3% | Apr 1998 | 12 |
| 1997 | 4.9% | 5.3% | Jan 1997 | 4.6% | Nov 1997 | 12 |
| 1996 | 5.4% | 5.6% | Jan 1996 | 5.1% | Aug 1996 | 12 |
| 1995 | 5.6% | 5.8% | Apr 1995 | 5.4% | Feb 1995 | 12 |
| 1994 | 6.1% | 6.6% | Jan 1994 | 5.5% | Dec 1994 | 12 |
| 1993 | 6.9% | 7.3% | Jan 1993 | 6.5% | Dec 1993 | 12 |
| 1992 | 7.5% | 7.8% | Jun 1992 | 7.3% | Jan 1992 | 12 |
| 1991 | 6.8% | 7.3% | Dec 1991 | 6.4% | Jan 1991 | 12 |
| 1990 | 5.6% | 6.3% | Dec 1990 | 5.2% | Mar 1990 | 12 |
| 1989 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Jan 1989 | 5.0% | Mar 1989 | 12 |
| 1988 | 5.5% | 5.7% | Jan 1988 | 5.3% | Nov 1988 | 12 |
| 1987 | 6.2% | 6.6% | Jan 1987 | 5.7% | Dec 1987 | 12 |
| 1986 | 7.0% | 7.2% | Feb 1986 | 6.6% | Dec 1986 | 12 |
| 1985 | 7.2% | 7.4% | Jun 1985 | 7.0% | Nov 1985 | 12 |
| 1984 | 7.5% | 8.0% | Jan 1984 | 7.2% | Jun 1984 | 12 |
| 1983 | 9.6% | 10.4% | Jan 1983 | 8.3% | Dec 1983 | 12 |
| 1982 | 9.7% | 10.8% | Nov 1982 | 8.6% | Jan 1982 | 12 |
| 1981 | 7.6% | 8.5% | Dec 1981 | 7.2% | Apr 1981 | 12 |
| 1980 | 7.2% | 7.8% | Jul 1980 | 6.3% | Jan 1980 | 12 |
| 1979 | 5.8% | 6.0% | Aug 1979 | 5.6% | May 1979 | 12 |
| 1978 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Jan 1978 | 5.8% | Oct 1978 | 12 |
| 1977 | 7.0% | 7.6% | Feb 1977 | 6.4% | Dec 1977 | 12 |
| 1976 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Jan 1976 | 7.4% | May 1976 | 12 |
| 1975 | 8.5% | 9.0% | May 1975 | 8.1% | Jan 1975 | 12 |
| 1974 | 5.6% | 7.2% | Dec 1974 | 5.1% | Jan 1974 | 12 |
| 1973 | 4.9% | 5.0% | Feb 1973 | 4.6% | Oct 1973 | 12 |
| 1972 | 5.6% | 5.8% | Jan 1972 | 5.2% | Dec 1972 | 12 |
| 1971 | 6.0% | 6.1% | Aug 1971 | 5.8% | Oct 1971 | 12 |
| 1970 | 5.0% | 6.1% | Dec 1970 | 3.9% | Jan 1970 | 12 |
| 1969 | 3.5% | 3.7% | Sep 1969 | 3.4% | Jan 1969 | 12 |
| 1968 | 3.6% | 3.8% | Feb 1968 | 3.4% | Sep 1968 | 12 |
| 1967 | 3.8% | 4.0% | Oct 1967 | 3.8% | Feb 1967 | 12 |
| 1966 | 3.8% | 4.0% | Jan 1966 | 3.6% | Nov 1966 | 12 |
| 1965 | 4.5% | 5.1% | Feb 1965 | 4.0% | Dec 1965 | 12 |
| 1964 | 5.2% | 5.6% | Jan 1964 | 4.8% | Nov 1964 | 12 |
| 1963 | 5.6% | 5.9% | Feb 1963 | 5.4% | Aug 1963 | 12 |
| 1962 | 5.6% | 5.8% | Jan 1962 | 5.4% | Jul 1962 | 12 |
| 1961 | 6.7% | 7.1% | May 1961 | 6.0% | Dec 1961 | 12 |
| 1960 | 5.5% | 6.6% | Dec 1960 | 4.8% | Feb 1960 | 12 |
| 1959 | 5.4% | 6.0% | Jan 1959 | 5.0% | Jun 1959 | 12 |
| 1958 | 6.8% | 7.5% | Jul 1958 | 5.8% | Jan 1958 | 12 |
| 1957 | 4.3% | 5.2% | Dec 1957 | 3.7% | Mar 1957 | 12 |
| 1956 | 4.1% | 4.4% | Jul 1956 | 3.9% | Feb 1956 | 12 |
| 1955 | 4.4% | 4.9% | Jan 1955 | 4.0% | Jul 1955 | 12 |
| 1954 | 5.6% | 6.1% | Sep 1954 | 4.9% | Jan 1954 | 12 |
| 1953 | 2.9% | 4.5% | Dec 1953 | 2.5% | May 1953 | 12 |
| 1952 | 3.0% | 3.4% | Aug 1952 | 2.7% | Dec 1952 | 12 |
| 1951 | 3.3% | 3.7% | Jan 1951 | 3.0% | May 1951 | 12 |
| 1950 | 5.2% | 6.5% | Jan 1950 | 4.2% | Oct 1950 | 12 |
| 1949 | 6.0% | 7.9% | Oct 1949 | 4.3% | Jan 1949 | 12 |
| 1948 | 3.8% | 4.0% | Mar 1948 | 3.4% | Jan 1948 | 12 |
The table scrolls sideways; the first column stays in place.
Where do these figures come from?Limits, sources and how to cite
What this number cannot tell you
- The rate comes from a survey of households, so each month's figure carries sampling error; BLS's technical note in the Employment Situation gives its size.
- BLS revises the seasonally adjusted figures of the last five years each January; this page shows them as published now.
- BLS published no value for October 2025.
- A year's average here is the plain mean of its months with a value, rounded to one decimal; BLS's own annual averages are of the figures not seasonally adjusted.
Source
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey. Observed . Checked .
How to cite this
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, series LNS14000000 (unemployment rate, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026, published 2 October 2026. Compiled by 500metrics, "What is the US unemployment rate?", https://500metrics.com/unemployment-rate.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey. Figures for .
Sources and licence
Sources and licence
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey (source). Licence: Public domain, a work of the US federal government
Our text and compilation: CC BY 4.0. How to reuse and cite this page.