The US unemployment rate dropped to 5.2 percent in August 2021, the lowest level since March 2020 and in line with market expectations, as the labor market continued its steady recovery following business reopenings in the US and despite reports of labor supply shortages and concerns over the lingering threat of the COVID-19 resurgence. The number of unemployed people fell by 318 thousand to 8.38 million, while employment levels increased by 509 thousand to 153.15 million. Still, the jobless rate remained well above the pre-crisis level of about 3.5 percent, but should decline further in the coming months helped by strong economic activity and demand for labor. source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Unemployment Rate in the United States averaged 5.77 percent from 1948 until 2021, 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 2021.

Unemployment Rate in the United States is expected to be 5.30 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 5.00 percent in 2022 and 4.30 percent in 2023, according to our econometric models.

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United States Unemployment Rate

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
5.20 5.40 14.80 2.50 1948 - 2021 percent Monthly


Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2021-06-04 12:30 PM May 5.8% 6.1% 5.9% 6%
2021-07-02 12:30 PM Jun 5.9% 5.8% 5.7% 5.7%
2021-08-06 12:30 PM Jul 5.4% 5.9% 5.7% 5.8%
2021-09-03 12:30 PM Aug 5.2% 5.4% 5.2% 5.3%
2021-10-08 12:30 PM Sep 5.2% 5.1% 5.1%
2021-11-05 12:30 PM Oct
2021-12-03 01:30 PM Nov
Go to our Calendar for more events. Or learn more about the Calendar API for direct access.


News Stream
US Jobless Rate Falls to Pandemic Low
The US unemployment rate dropped to 5.2 percent in August 2021, the lowest level since March 2020 and in line with market expectations, as the labor market continued its steady recovery following business reopenings in the US and despite reports of labor supply shortages and concerns over the lingering threat of the COVID-19 resurgence. The number of unemployed people fell by 318 thousand to 8.38 million, while employment levels increased by 509 thousand to 153.15 million. Still, the jobless rate remained well above the pre-crisis level of about 3.5 percent, but should decline further in the coming months helped by strong economic activity and demand for labor.
2021-09-03
US Jobless Rate to Drop to 5.2%
The US unemployment rate likely fell last month to 5.2 percent, a new pandemic low, as the labor market consolidated its recovery following business reopenings in the US and despite reports of labor supply shortages and concerns over the lingering threat of the COVID-19 resurgence. The rate would still remain well above the pre-crisis level of about 3.5 percent, but should decline further in the coming months helped by strong economic activity and demand for labor.
2021-09-03
US Jobless Rate Falls More than Expected
The US unemployment rate declined by 0.5 percentage points to 5.4 percent in July of 2021, the lowest level since March 2020 and below market expectations of 5.7 percent. The number of unemployed persons fell by 782,000 to 8.7 million. These measures are down considerably from their highs at the end of the February-April 2020 recession. However, they remain well above their levels prior to the coronavirus pandemic (3.5 percent and 5.7 million, respectively, in February 2020). The labor force participation rate was little changed at 61.7 percent in July and has remained within a narrow range of 61.4 percent to 61.7 percent since June 2020.
2021-08-06
US Jobless Rate Seen Falling to a 16-Month Low of 5.7%
The US unemployment rate likely fell to 5.7 percent in July of 2021, the lowest level since March 2020 but still well above pre-pandemic levels. The labor market continues to recover from the pandemic supported by broader economic re-opening and the rapid pace of vaccination, coupled with ongoing government support. Still, a surge in Covid-19 surge driven by the Delta variant and shortage of available workers due to enhanced benefits and finding childcare may have kept more individuals sidelined from the labor market. In June, the jobless rate edged up to 5.9 percent.
2021-08-06

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.