The US unemployment rate edged down to 4.4% in December 2025, from a revised 4.5% in November, which had marked the highest level since October 2021. The reading also came in slightly below market expectations of 4.5%. The number of unemployed fell by 278,000 to 7.50 million, while employment increased by 232,000 to 163.99 million. Meanwhile, the labor force declined by 46,000 to 171.50 million, pushing the labor force participation rate down 0.1 percentage point to 62.4%. The broader U-6 unemployment rate, which includes discouraged workers and those working part-time for economic reasons, eased to 8.4% in December from 8.7% in November, pointing to some improvement in underlying labor market slack. source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Unemployment Rate in the United States decreased to 4.40 percent in December from 4.50 percent in November of 2025. Unemployment Rate in the United States averaged 5.67 percent from 1948 until 2025, 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 February of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in the United States decreased to 4.40 percent in December from 4.50 percent in November of 2025. Unemployment Rate in the United States is expected to be 4.50 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the United States Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 4.30 percent in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2025-12-16 01:30 PM
Unemployment Rate
Nov 4.6% 4.4% 4.4% 4.6%
2026-01-09 01:30 PM
Unemployment Rate
Dec 4.4% 4.5% 4.5% 4.6%
2026-02-11 01:30 PM
Unemployment Rate
Jan 4.4% 4.4% 4.5%

Components Last Previous Unit Reference
Long Term Unemployment Rate 1.14 1.11 percent Dec 2025
Youth Unemployment Rate 10.40 10.60 percent Dec 2025

Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Hourly Earnings MoM 0.30 0.20 percent Dec 2025
Average Hourly Earnings YoY 3.80 3.60 percent Dec 2025
Average Weekly Hours 34.20 34.30 Hours Dec 2025
Employment Rate 59.70 59.60 percent Dec 2025
Government Payrolls 13.00 6.00 Thousand Dec 2025
Participation Rate 62.40 62.50 percent Dec 2025
Manufacturing Payrolls -8.00 -2.00 Thousand Dec 2025
Non Farm Payrolls 50.00 56.00 Thousand Dec 2025
Nonfarm Payrolls Private 37.00 50.00 Thousand Dec 2025
Unemployed Persons 7503.00 7781.00 Thousand Dec 2025
Mean Unemployment Rate Expectations 41.80 42.10 percent Dec 2025
Unemployment Rate 4.40 4.50 percent Dec 2025


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
4.40 4.50 14.80 2.50 1948 - 2025 percent Monthly

News Stream
US Unemployment Rate Ticks Lower in December
The US unemployment rate edged down to 4.4% in December 2025, from a revised 4.5% in November, which had marked the highest level since October 2021. The reading also came in slightly below market expectations of 4.5%. The number of unemployed fell by 278,000 to 7.50 million, while employment increased by 232,000 to 163.99 million. Meanwhile, the labor force declined by 46,000 to 171.50 million, pushing the labor force participation rate down 0.1 percentage point to 62.4%. The broader U-6 unemployment rate, which includes discouraged workers and those working part-time for economic reasons, eased to 8.4% in December from 8.7% in November, pointing to some improvement in underlying labor market slack.
2026-01-09
US Unemployment Rate Climbs to September-2021 High
The US unemployment rate increased to 4.6% in November 2025 from 4.3% in August, exceeding market expectations of 4.4% and marking the highest level since September 2021. The number of unemployed stood at 7.8 million, little changed from September, while employment levels were also broadly stable. The labor force participation rate was little changed at 62.5%, reflecting a largely steady labor force. The broader U-6 unemployment rate in the United States, which includes discouraged workers and those working part-time for economic reasons, rose in November, reflecting a sharp increase in involuntary part-time employment.
2025-12-16
US Unemployment Rate Rises to Highest Since 2021
The US unemployment rate increased to 4.4% in September 2025 from 4.3% in August, exceeding market expectations of 4.3% and marking the highest level since October 2021. The number of unemployed rose by 219,000 to 7.603 million, while the number of employed increased by 251,000 to 163.645 million. The labor force grew by 470,000 to 171.248 million, lifting the labor force participation rate by 0.1 percentage point to 62.4%. The broader U-6 unemployment rate in the United States, which includes discouraged workers and those working part-time for economic reasons, eased to 8.0% in September from 8.1% in August. This will be the last unemployment reading available before the December Fed meeting, as the BLS said Wednesday that October’s jobs report will not include an unemployment rate due to a lack of data collection during the government shutdown.
2025-11-20