Civilian Labor Force Unemployment Rate, Seasonally Adjusted
| 2021-07-01 | 5.40 |
| 2021-08-01 | 5.10 |
| 2021-09-01 | 4.70 |
| 2021-10-01 | 4.50 |
| 2021-11-01 | 4.20 |
| 2021-12-01 | 3.90 |
| 2022-01-01 | 4.00 |
| 2022-02-01 | 3.80 |
| 2022-03-01 | 3.70 |
| 2022-04-01 | 3.70 |
| 2022-05-01 | 3.60 |
| 2022-06-01 | 3.60 |
| 2022-07-01 | 3.50 |
| 2022-08-01 | 3.60 |
| 2022-09-01 | 3.50 |
| 2022-10-01 | 3.60 |
| 2022-11-01 | 3.60 |
| 2022-12-01 | 3.50 |
| 2023-01-01 | 3.50 |
| 2023-02-01 | 3.60 |
| 2023-03-01 | 3.50 |
| 2023-04-01 | 3.40 |
| 2023-05-01 | 3.60 |
| 2023-06-01 | 3.60 |
| 2023-07-01 | 3.50 |
| 2023-08-01 | 3.70 |
| 2023-09-01 | 3.80 |
| 2023-10-01 | 3.90 |
| 2023-11-01 | 3.70 |
| 2023-12-01 | 3.80 |
| 2024-01-01 | 3.70 |
| 2024-02-01 | 3.90 |
| 2024-03-01 | 3.90 |
| 2024-04-01 | 3.90 |
| 2024-05-01 | 4.00 |
| 2024-06-01 | 4.10 |
| 2024-07-01 | 4.20 |
| 2024-08-01 | 4.20 |
| 2024-09-01 | 4.10 |
| 2024-10-01 | 4.10 |
| 2024-11-01 | 4.20 |
| 2024-12-01 | 4.10 |
| 2025-01-01 | 4.00 |
| 2025-02-01 | 4.10 |
| 2025-03-01 | 4.20 |
| 2025-04-01 | 4.20 |
| 2025-05-01 | 4.20 |
| 2025-06-01 | 4.10 |
| 2025-07-01 | 4.20 |
| 2025-08-01 | 4.30 |
The unemployment rate represents the number of unemployed as a percentage of the labor force, restricted to people 16 years and older. This U-3 measure comes from the Current Population Survey and is a key indicator of labor market health.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED)
Units: Percent
Frequency: Monthly, Seasonally Adjusted
Data Points: 58 observations
Date Range: 2020-10-14 to 2025-10-14
Unemployment rate is a critical economic indicator watched by the Federal Reserve for monetary policy decisions. Low unemployment often signals economic strength but can lead to wage inflation. Historical range of 3-10% in normal cycles, with spikes during recessions. Current levels near historic lows suggest tight labor market conditions.
Rising unemployment typically signals economic weakness, often leading to Federal Reserve rate cuts that can boost equity markets and weaken the dollar. Traders watch for directional changes more than absolute levels. Sustained increases above 5% historically coincide with market volatility and defensive sector rotation. Employment data is market-moving, especially when diverging from expectations by 0.2% or more.