The unemployment rate in the United States edged up to 3.9% in April 2024 from 3.8% in the previous month and surprising market expectations, which had forecasted the rate to remain unchanged. The number of unemployed individuals increased by 63,000 to 6.492 million, while employment levels went up by 25,000 to reach 161.491 million. Additionally, the labor force participation rate was unchanged at 62.7%, and the employment-population ratio decreased to 60.2% from 60.3%. source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Unemployment Rate in the United States increased to 3.90 percent in April from 3.80 percent in March of 2024. Unemployment Rate in the United States averaged 5.70 percent from 1948 until 2024, reaching an all time high of 14.90 percent in April of 2020 and a record low of 2.50 percent in May of 1953. This page provides the latest reported value for - United States Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. United States Unemployment Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on May of 2024.

Unemployment Rate in the United States increased to 3.90 percent in April from 3.80 percent in March of 2024. Unemployment Rate in the United States is expected to be 4.00 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2024-04-05 12:30 PM
Unemployment Rate
Mar 3.8% 3.9% 3.9% 3.9%
2024-05-03 12:30 PM
Unemployment Rate
Apr 3.9% 3.8% 3.8% 3.8%
2024-06-07 12:30 PM
Unemployment Rate
May 3.9%

Components Last Previous Unit Reference
Long Term Unemployment Rate 0.74 0.74 percent Apr 2024
Youth Unemployment Rate 8.20 8.80 percent Apr 2024

Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Hourly Earnings MoM 0.20 0.30 percent Apr 2024
Average Hourly Earnings YoY 3.90 4.10 percent Apr 2024
Average Weekly Hours 34.30 34.40 Hours Apr 2024
Employment Rate 60.20 60.30 percent Apr 2024
Government Payrolls 8.00 72.00 Thousand Apr 2024
Participation Rate 62.70 62.70 percent Apr 2024
Manufacturing Payrolls 8.00 -4.00 Thousand Apr 2024
Non Farm Payrolls 175.00 315.00 Thousand Apr 2024
Nonfarm Payrolls Private 167.00 243.00 Thousand Apr 2024
Unemployed Persons 6492.00 6429.00 Thousand Apr 2024
Unemployment Rate 3.90 3.80 percent Apr 2024

United States Unemployment Rate
In the United States, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
3.90 3.80 14.90 2.50 1948 - 2024 percent Monthly


News Stream
US Unemployment Rate Unexpectedly Rises to 3.9%
The unemployment rate in the United States edged up to 3.9% in April 2024 from 3.8% in the previous month and surprising market expectations, which had forecasted the rate to remain unchanged. The number of unemployed individuals increased by 63,000 to 6.492 million, while employment levels went up by 25,000 to reach 161.491 million. Additionally, the labor force participation rate was unchanged at 62.7%, and the employment-population ratio decreased to 60.2% from 60.3%.
2024-05-03
US Jobless Rate Unexpectedly Falls to 3.8%
The unemployment rate in the United States dipped to 3.8% in March 2024 from the previous month's two-year high of 3.9% and surprising market expectations, which had forecasted the rate to remain unchanged. The number of unemployed individuals decreased by 29,000 to 6.4 million, while employment levels saw a significant surge, rising by 498,000 to reach 161.5 million. Additionally, the labor force participation rate increased to 62.7% from a near one-year low of 62.5% in the preceding periods, and the employment-population ratio climbed to 60.3% from 60.1%. Despite recent policy tightening measures by the Federal Reserve, the unemployment rate has remained within a narrow range of 3.7% to 3.9% since August 2023, suggesting the labor market remains strong.
2024-04-05
US Jobless Rate Rises to 2-Year High
The unemployment rate in the United States rose by 0.2 percentage point to 3.9% in February 2024, touching the highest level since January 2022 and surpassing market expectations of 3.7%. The number of unemployed people increased by 334,000 to 6.5 million. The labor force participation rate was 62.5% for the third consecutive month, and the employment-population ratio was little changed at 60.1%.
2024-03-08