The labor force participation rate in the US was unchanged at 61.8% in May 2026, remaining at the lowest since 2021. Labor Force Participation Rate in the United States averaged 62.83 percent from 1948 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 67.30 percent in January of 2000 and a record low of 58.10 percent in December of 1954. source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Labor Force Participation Rate in the United States remained unchanged at 61.80 percent in May.

Labor Force Participation Rate in the United States remained unchanged at 61.80 percent in May. Labor Force Participation Rate in the United States is expected to be 61.70 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the United States Labor Force Participation Rate is projected to trend around 61.40 percent in 2027 and 61.60 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-05-08 12:30 PM
Participation Rate
Apr 61.8% 61.9% 61.7%
2026-06-05 12:30 PM
Participation Rate
May 61.8% 61.8% 61.7%
2026-07-02 12:30 PM
Participation Rate
Jun 61.8% 61.7%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Hourly Earnings MoM 0.30 0.20 percent May 2026
Average Hourly Earnings YoY 3.40 3.60 percent May 2026
Average Weekly Hours 34.30 34.30 Hours May 2026
Employment Rate 59.20 59.10 percent May 2026
Government Payrolls 52.00 2.00 Thousand May 2026
JOLTs Job Openings 7618.00 6887.00 Thousand Apr 2026
Participation Rate 61.80 61.80 percent May 2026
Manufacturing Payrolls 7.00 0.00 Thousand May 2026
Non Farm Payrolls 172.00 179.00 Thousand May 2026
Nonfarm Payrolls Private 120.00 177.00 Thousand May 2026
Unemployment Rate 4.30 4.30 percent May 2026


United States Labor Force Participation Rate
The civilian labor force participation rate is the number of employed and unemployed but looking for a job as a percentage of the population aged 16 years and over.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
61.80 61.80 67.30 58.10 1948 - 2026 percent Monthly
SA