The US unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.1% in August 2026, in line with market expectations. The number of unemployed increased by 115,000 to 7.03 million, while total employment surged by 569,000 to 162.75 million. The labor force expanded by 683,000 to 169.78 million, lifting the labor force participation rate to 61.6% from a five-year low of 61.4% in July. The employment-to-population ratio also edged higher to 59.1%. Meanwhile, the broader U-6 unemployment rate, which includes discouraged and underemployed workers, eased to 7.7% from 7.9%, pointing to a modest improvement in broader labor-market conditions. source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Unemployment Rate in the United States remained unchanged at 4.10 percent in August. Unemployment Rate in the United States averaged 5.65 percent from 1948 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 14.80 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 September of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in the United States remained unchanged at 4.10 percent in August. Unemployment Rate in the United States is expected to be 4.30 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the United States Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 4.30 percent in 2027 and 4.20 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-08-07 12:30 PM
Unemployment Rate
Jul 4.1% 4.2% 4.2% 4.2%
2026-09-04 12:30 PM
Unemployment Rate
Aug 4.1% 4.1% 4.1% 4.1%
2026-10-02 12:30 PM
Unemployment Rate
Sep 4.1% 4.30%



Components Last Previous Unit Reference
Long Term Unemployment Rate 1.14 1.05 percent Aug 2026
Youth Unemployment Rate 9.10 8.50 percent Aug 2026

Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Hourly Earnings MoM 0.30 0.20 percent Aug 2026
Average Hourly Earnings YoY 3.10 3.20 percent Aug 2026
Average Weekly Hours 34.40 34.30 Hours Aug 2026
Employment Rate 59.10 58.90 percent Aug 2026
Government Payrolls 35.00 -50.00 Thousand Aug 2026
Participation Rate 61.60 61.40 percent Aug 2026
Manufacturing Payrolls 16.00 14.00 Thousand Aug 2026
Non Farm Payrolls 162.00 21.00 Thousand Aug 2026
Nonfarm Payrolls Private 127.00 71.00 Thousand Aug 2026
Unemployed Persons 7031.00 6916.00 Thousand Aug 2026
Mean Unemployment Rate Expectations 44.40 42.80 percent Aug 2026
Unemployment Rate 4.10 4.10 percent Aug 2026


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
4.10 4.10 14.80 2.50 1948 - 2026 percent Monthly

News Stream
US Unemployment Rate Holds at 4.1%
The US unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.1% in August 2026, in line with market expectations. The number of unemployed increased by 115,000 to 7.03 million, while total employment surged by 569,000 to 162.75 million. The labor force expanded by 683,000 to 169.78 million, lifting the labor force participation rate to 61.6% from a five-year low of 61.4% in July. The employment-to-population ratio also edged higher to 59.1%. Meanwhile, the broader U-6 unemployment rate, which includes discouraged and underemployed workers, eased to 7.7% from 7.9%, pointing to a modest improvement in broader labor-market conditions.
2026-09-04
US Jobless Rate Falls to 4.1% in July
The US unemployment rate dropped to 4.1% in July 2026, down from 4.2% in June and below expectations, as many people left the workforce. The number of unemployed fell by 178,000 to 6.916 million, while total employment declined by 87,000 to 162.177 million. The labor force contracted by 264,000 to 169.094 million, with the participation rate falling to 61.4%, its lowest since early 2021. The employment rate also dipped to 58.9%, the lowest since September 2021. The broader U-6 unemployment rate, which includes discouraged and underemployed workers, was unchanged at 7.9%.
2026-08-07
US Unemployment Falls in June as Labor Force Shrinks
The US unemployment rate dropped to 4.2% in June 2026, down from 4.3% in May and below expectations, as many people left the workforce. The number of unemployed fell by 213,000 to 7.09 million, while total employment declined by 507,000 to 162.26 million. The labor force contracted by 720,000 to 169.36 million, with the participation rate falling to 61.5%, its lowest since March 2021. The employment rate also dipped to an over four-year low of 59.0%. The broader U-6 unemployment rate, which includes discouraged and underemployed workers, decreased to 7.9% from 8.1%.
2026-07-02