The unemployment rate in the United States went down to 4.1% in December of 2024 from 4.2% in the previous month, below market expectations of 4.2%. The number of unemployed individuals decreased by 235,000 to 6.886 million, while employment levels increased by 478,000 to 161.661 million. Meanwhile, the labor force participation rate was unchanged at 62.5%, and the employment-population ratio went up to 60% from 59.8%. source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Unemployment Rate in the United States decreased to 4.10 percent in December from 4.20 percent in November of 2024. Unemployment Rate in the United States averaged 5.68 percent from 1948 until 2024, reaching an all time high of 14.90 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 January of 2025.

Unemployment Rate in the United States decreased to 4.10 percent in December from 4.20 percent in November of 2024. Unemployment Rate in the United States is expected to be 4.40 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 2026, according to our econometric models.




Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2024-12-06 01:30 PM
Unemployment Rate
Nov 4.2% 4.1% 4.2% 4.1%
2025-01-10 01:30 PM
Unemployment Rate
Dec 4.1% 4.2% 4.2% 4.30%
2025-02-07 01:30 PM
Unemployment Rate
Jan 4.1%

Components Last Previous Unit Reference
Long Term Unemployment Rate 0.92 0.98 percent Dec 2024
Youth Unemployment Rate 9.00 9.40 percent Dec 2024

Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Hourly Earnings MoM 0.30 0.40 percent Dec 2024
Average Hourly Earnings YoY 3.90 4.00 percent Dec 2024
Average Weekly Hours 34.30 34.30 Hours Dec 2024
Employment Rate 60.00 59.80 percent Dec 2024
Government Payrolls 33.00 30.00 Thousand Dec 2024
Participation Rate 62.50 62.50 percent Dec 2024
Manufacturing Payrolls -13.00 25.00 Thousand Dec 2024
Non Farm Payrolls 256.00 212.00 Thousand Dec 2024
Nonfarm Payrolls Private 223.00 182.00 Thousand Dec 2024
Unemployed Persons 6886.00 7121.00 Thousand Dec 2024
Unemployment Rate 4.10 4.20 percent Dec 2024

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 4.20 14.90 2.50 1948 - 2024 percent Monthly


News Stream
US Jobless Rate Unexpectedly Falls
The unemployment rate in the United States went down to 4.1% in December of 2024 from 4.2% in the previous month, below market expectations of 4.2%. The number of unemployed individuals decreased by 235,000 to 6.886 million, while employment levels increased by 478,000 to 161.661 million. Meanwhile, the labor force participation rate was unchanged at 62.5%, and the employment-population ratio went up to 60% from 59.8%.
2025-01-10
US Jobless Rate Rises to 4.2%
The unemployment rate in the United States went up to 4.2% in November of 2024 from 4.1% in the prior month, in line with market expectations. The number of unemployed individuals increased by 161,000 to 7.145 million, while employment levels decreased by 355,000 to 161.141 million. Meanwhile, the labor force participation rate edged down to 62.5% from 62.6%, and the employment-population ratio fell to 59.8% from 60%.
2024-12-06
US Unemployment Rate Holds at 4.1% as Expected
The unemployment rate in the United States was at 4.1% in October of 2024, remaining unchanged from the three-month low in the prior month, and aligned with market expectations. The number of unemployed individuals was broadly unchanged at 7 million. Among those without employment, permanent job losers rose slightly to 1.8 million, while temporary layoffs were little changed at 846 thousand. In turn, long-term unemployment was little changed from the previous month at 1.6 million. In the meantime, the labor force participation rate eased by 0.1 percentage points to 62.6%.
2024-11-01