The US unemployment rate fell to 4.3% in March 2026 from 4.4% in February, below market expectations of 4.4%. The number of unemployed decreased by 332,000 to 7.239 million, while total employment fell by 64,000 to 162.85 million. The labor force declined by 396,000 to 170.09 million, pushing the participation rate down 0.1 percentage point to 61.9%. Meanwhile, the broader U-6 unemployment rate, which includes discouraged and underemployed workers, rose to 8% from 7.9%. source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Unemployment Rate in the United States decreased to 4.30 percent in March from 4.40 percent in February of 2026. Unemployment Rate in the United States averaged 5.66 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 April of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in the United States decreased to 4.30 percent in March from 4.40 percent in February of 2026. Unemployment Rate in the United States is expected to be 4.60 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
2026-03-06 01:30 PM
Unemployment Rate
Feb 4.4% 4.3% 4.3% 4.3%
2026-04-03 12:30 PM
Unemployment Rate
Mar 4.3% 4.4% 4.4% 4.50%
2026-05-08 12:30 PM
Unemployment Rate
Apr 4.3%

Components Last Previous Unit Reference
Long Term Unemployment Rate 1.07 1.11 percent Mar 2026
Youth Unemployment Rate 8.50 9.50 percent Mar 2026

Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Hourly Earnings MoM 0.20 0.40 percent Mar 2026
Average Hourly Earnings YoY 3.50 3.80 percent Mar 2026
Average Weekly Hours 34.20 34.30 Hours Mar 2026
Employment Rate 59.20 59.30 percent Mar 2026
Government Payrolls -8.00 -4.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Participation Rate 61.90 62.00 percent Mar 2026
Manufacturing Payrolls 15.00 -6.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Non Farm Payrolls 178.00 -133.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Nonfarm Payrolls Private 186.00 -129.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Unemployed Persons 7239.00 7571.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Mean Unemployment Rate Expectations 39.90 41.90 percent Feb 2026
Unemployment Rate 4.30 4.40 percent Mar 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
4.30 4.40 14.80 2.50 1948 - 2026 percent Monthly

News Stream
US Jobless Rate Falls to 4.3% in March
The US unemployment rate fell to 4.3% in March 2026 from 4.4% in February, below market expectations of 4.4%. The number of unemployed decreased by 332,000 to 7.239 million, while total employment fell by 64,000 to 162.85 million. The labor force declined by 396,000 to 170.09 million, pushing the participation rate down 0.1 percentage point to 61.9%. Meanwhile, the broader U-6 unemployment rate, which includes discouraged and underemployed workers, rose to 8% from 7.9%.
2026-04-03
US Unemployment Edges Up to 4.4% in February
The US unemployment rate rose to 4.4% in February 2026, up from 4.3% in January and slightly above market expectations, inching closer to November’s four-year high of 4.5%. The number of unemployed increased by 203,000 to 7.57 million, while total employment fell by 185,000 to 162.91 million. The labor force grew modestly by 18,000 to 170.48 million, pushing the participation rate down 0.1 percentage point to 62.0%. Meanwhile, the broader U-6 unemployment rate, which includes discouraged and underemployed workers, declined to 7.9% from 8.1%.
2026-03-06
US Jobless Rate Falls to 4.3% in January
The US unemployment rate ticked down to 4.3% in January 2026 from 4.4% in December, coming in slightly below market expectations of 4.4%. The number of unemployed declined by 141,000 to 7.36 million, while total employment rose by 528,000 to 164.52 million. The labor force expanded by 387,000 to 171.88 million, lifting the participation rate by 0.1 percentage point to 62.5%. Meanwhile, the broader U-6 measure of unemployment, which includes discouraged workers and those working part-time for economic reasons, fell to 8.0% from 8.4% in the previous month.
2026-02-11