Monthly unemployment levels in United States
United States: Monthly unemployment levels was 6,761 Persons in 2024. ▲ Rising
Monthly unemployment levels in United States, 1955–2024
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.
Analysis
United States recorded 6,761 Persons for monthly unemployment levels in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 11.2% on the previous year and down 29.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, monthly unemployment levels in United States peaked at 14,825 Persons in 2010 and was at its lowest, 2,751 Persons, in 1956.
That places United States 2nd out of 32 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 70 years of available data.
Monthly unemployment levels in United States, year by year
| Year | Persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 | 2,853 Persons | — |
| 1956 | 2,751 Persons | -3.6% |
| 1957 | 2,858 Persons | +3.9% |
| 1958 | 4,602 Persons | +61.0% |
| 1959 | 3,740 Persons | -18.7% |
| 1960 | 3,851 Persons | +3.0% |
| 1961 | 4,714 Persons | +22.4% |
| 1962 | 3,912 Persons | -17.0% |
| 1963 | 4,070 Persons | +4.0% |
| 1964 | 3,786 Persons | -7.0% |
| 1965 | 3,366 Persons | -11.1% |
| 1966 | 2,878 Persons | -14.5% |
| 1967 | 2,976 Persons | +3.4% |
| 1968 | 2,817 Persons | -5.3% |
| 1969 | 2,831 Persons | +0.5% |
| 1970 | 4,093 Persons | +44.6% |
| 1971 | 5,016 Persons | +22.6% |
| 1972 | 4,882 Persons | -2.7% |
| 1973 | 4,365 Persons | -10.6% |
| 1974 | 5,156 Persons | +18.1% |
| 1975 | 7,928 Persons | +53.8% |
| 1976 | 7,406 Persons | -6.6% |
| 1977 | 6,992 Persons | -5.6% |
| 1978 | 6,202 Persons | -11.3% |
| 1979 | 6,138 Persons | -1.0% |
| 1980 | 7,637 Persons | +24.4% |
| 1981 | 8,273 Persons | +8.3% |
| 1982 | 10,678 Persons | +29.1% |
| 1983 | 10,717 Persons | +0.4% |
| 1984 | 8,539 Persons | -20.3% |
| 1985 | 8,312 Persons | -2.7% |
| 1986 | 8,237 Persons | -0.9% |
| 1987 | 7,425 Persons | -9.9% |
| 1988 | 6,700 Persons | -9.8% |
| 1989 | 6,520 Persons | -2.7% |
| 1990 | 7,047 Persons | +8.1% |
| 1991 | 8,628 Persons | +22.4% |
| 1992 | 9,613 Persons | +11.4% |
| 1993 | 8,940 Persons | -7.0% |
| 1994 | 7,997 Persons | -10.6% |
| 1995 | 7,404 Persons | -7.4% |
| 1996 | 7,236 Persons | -2.3% |
| 1997 | 6,739 Persons | -6.9% |
| 1998 | 6,210 Persons | -7.9% |
| 1999 | 5,880 Persons | -5.3% |
| 2000 | 5,692 Persons | -3.2% |
| 2001 | 6,800 Persons | +19.5% |
| 2002 | 8,378 Persons | +23.2% |
| 2003 | 8,774 Persons | +4.7% |
| 2004 | 8,149 Persons | -7.1% |
| 2005 | 7,591 Persons | -6.9% |
| 2006 | 7,001 Persons | -7.8% |
| 2007 | 7,078 Persons | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 8,924 Persons | +26.1% |
| 2009 | 14,265 Persons | +59.8% |
| 2010 | 14,825 Persons | +3.9% |
| 2011 | 13,747 Persons | -7.3% |
| 2012 | 12,506 Persons | -9.0% |
| 2013 | 11,460 Persons | -8.4% |
| 2014 | 9,616 Persons | -16.1% |
| 2015 | 8,296 Persons | -13.7% |
| 2016 | 7,751 Persons | -6.6% |
| 2017 | 6,982 Persons | -9.9% |
| 2018 | 6,314 Persons | -9.6% |
| 2019 | 6,001 Persons | -5.0% |
| 2020 | 12,948 Persons | +115.8% |
| 2021 | 8,623 Persons | -33.4% |
| 2022 | 5,996 Persons | -30.5% |
| 2023 | 6,080 Persons | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 6,761 Persons | +11.2% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 6,761 Persons is above the median for high income countries, which is 336.92 Persons, 20.1× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Monthly unemployment levels in United States changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +115.8% | 6,001 Persons | 12,948 Persons |
| 1958 | +61.0% | 2,858 Persons | 4,602 Persons |
| 2009 | +59.8% | 8,924 Persons | 14,265 Persons |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3,361 Persons | 2,751 Persons | 4,602 Persons | 5 |
| 1960s | 3,520 Persons | 2,817 Persons | 4,714 Persons | 10 |
| 1970s | 5,818 Persons | 4,093 Persons | 7,928 Persons | 10 |
| 1980s | 8,304 Persons | 6,520 Persons | 10,717 Persons | 10 |
| 1990s | 7,569 Persons | 5,880 Persons | 9,613 Persons | 10 |
| 2000s | 8,265 Persons | 5,692 Persons | 14,265 Persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 9,750 Persons | 6,001 Persons | 14,825 Persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 8,082 Persons | 5,996 Persons | 12,948 Persons | 5 |
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)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 4.4 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.05 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 159,991 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 141,322 (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is monthly unemployment levels in United States?
- Monthly unemployment levels in United States was 6,761 Persons in 2024, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest monthly unemployment levels recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 14,825 Persons in 2010.
- What is the lowest monthly unemployment levels recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,751 Persons in 1956.
- How does United States rank for monthly unemployment levels?
- United States ranks 2nd out of 32 countries with data for 2024.
- Is monthly unemployment levels rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Monthly unemployment levels. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The infra-annual dataflow on the monthly unemployed population is a subset of the infra-annual labour statistics database, which contains predominantly monthly and quarterly statistics on the unemployed population by age groups (15+, 15-24, 25-54, 55-64, 15-64 and 15-74 where available) and sex and associated statistical methodological information and associated statistical methodological information, for the OECD member countries and for selected other economies. Chile, Costa Rica, and the United Kingdom publish Labour Force Survey (LFS) data using a rolling quarter methodology. The OECD treats the middle month of the rolling quarter as the reference month. As a result, the publication of monthly LFS data for these countries may be delayed by one month or more relative to the OECD reference month. The unemployed are persons in their working age who, in the reference period, do not have a job; are available for work; and, have taken specific steps to find a job. The infra-annual labour statistics compiled for all OECD member countries, are drawn from Labour Force Surveys based on definition provided by the 19th Conference of Labour Statisticians in 2013. The uniform application of these definitions across all OECD member countries results in estimates that are internationally comparable.