Discouraged jobseekers (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in United States
United States: Discouraged jobseekers (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) was 240.34 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Discouraged jobseekers (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in United States, 1994–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) in United States is 240.34, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 19.7% on the previous year and down 24.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) in United States peaked at 564.96 in 2010 and was at its lowest, 117.84, in 1999.
United States ranks 15th of 89 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 32 years of available data.
Discouraged jobseekers (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 219.26 | — |
| 1995 | 186.24 | -15.1% |
| 1996 | 182.15 | -2.2% |
| 1997 | 150.4 | -17.4% |
| 1998 | 146.08 | -2.9% |
| 1999 | 117.84 | -19.3% |
| 2000 | 120.25 | +2.0% |
| 2001 | 141.78 | +17.9% |
| 2002 | 149.63 | +5.5% |
| 2003 | 195.48 | +30.6% |
| 2004 | 208.29 | +6.6% |
| 2005 | 185.06 | -11.2% |
| 2006 | 160.12 | -13.5% |
| 2007 | 152.79 | -4.6% |
| 2008 | 215.57 | +41.1% |
| 2009 | 362.14 | +68.0% |
| 2010 | 564.96 | +56.0% |
| 2011 | 448.68 | -20.6% |
| 2012 | 406.72 | -9.4% |
| 2013 | 385.86 | -5.1% |
| 2014 | 339.04 | -12.1% |
| 2015 | 316.74 | -6.6% |
| 2016 | 262.09 | -17.3% |
| 2017 | 237.38 | -9.4% |
| 2018 | 209.29 | -11.8% |
| 2019 | 175.13 | -16.3% |
| 2020 | 285.06 | +62.8% |
| 2021 | 247.82 | -13.1% |
| 2022 | 198.74 | -19.8% |
| 2023 | 175.99 | -11.4% |
| 2024 | 200.76 | +14.1% |
| 2025 | 240.34 | +19.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 166.99 | 117.84 | 219.26 | 6 |
| 2000s | 189.11 | 120.25 | 362.14 | 10 |
| 2010s | 334.59 | 175.13 | 564.96 | 10 |
| 2020s | 224.78 | 175.99 | 285.06 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
More work & labour data for United States
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 113,208 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 61.24 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 178,849 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 58.55 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.27 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.3372 % change on previous year (2027)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 61.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) in United States?
- Discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) in United States was 240.34 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 564.96 in 2010.
- What is the lowest discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 117.84 in 1999.
- How does United States rank for discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
- United States ranks 15th out of 89 countries with data for 2025.
- Is discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Discouraged jobseekers (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. Discouraged job-seekers refer to those persons of working age who during a specified reference period were without work and available for work, but did not look for work in the recent past for specific reasons (for example, believing that there were no jobs available, believing there were none for which they would qualify, or having given up hope of finding employment). Data disaggregated by level of education are provided on the highest level of education completed, classified according to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED). Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISCED. For more information, refer to the Education and Mismatch Indicators (EMI) database description.