The Labor Force Participation Rate in the United States increased by 0.2 percentage points to 61.8% in September 2026. Labor Force Participation Rate in the United States averaged 62.82 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 increased to 61.80 percent in September from 61.60 percent in August of 2026.

Labor Force Participation Rate in the United States increased to 61.80 percent in September from 61.60 percent in August of 2026. Labor Force Participation Rate in the United States is expected to be 61.50 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
2026-09-04 12:30 PM
Participation Rate
Aug 61.6% 61.4% 61.4%
2026-10-02 12:30 PM
Participation Rate
Sep 61.8% 61.6% 61.4%
2026-11-06 01:30 PM
Participation Rate
Oct 61.8%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Hourly Earnings MoM 0.10 0.30 percent Sep 2026
Average Hourly Earnings YoY 3.00 3.10 percent Sep 2026
Average Weekly Hours 34.40 34.40 Hours Sep 2026
Employment Rate 59.20 59.10 percent Sep 2026
Government Payrolls -17.00 44.00 Thousand Sep 2026
JOLTs Job Openings 7079.00 7335.00 Thousand Aug 2026
Participation Rate 61.80 61.60 percent Sep 2026
Manufacturing Payrolls 9.00 15.00 Thousand Sep 2026
Non Farm Payrolls 29.00 133.00 Thousand Sep 2026
Nonfarm Payrolls Private 46.00 89.00 Thousand Sep 2026
Unemployment Rate 4.20 4.10 percent Sep 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 61.60 67.30 58.10 1948 - 2026 percent Monthly
SA

News Stream
US Labor Force Participation Rate Falls to 61.4%
The Labor Force Participation Rate in the United States decreased by 0.1 percentage points to 61.4% in July 2026. It is the lowest rate since early 2021, as 264,000 people left the labor force. Excluding the pandemic years 2020 and 2021, the labour force is at its lowest since 1976.
2026-08-07
US Labor Force Participation Rate Falls to 61.5%
The Labor Force Participation Rate in the United States decreased by 0.3 percentage points to 61.5% in June 2026. It is the lowest rate since March 2021, as 720,000 people left the labor force. Excluding the pandemic years 2020 and 2021, the labour force is at its lowest since 1976.
2026-07-02