Unemployment rate in United States
United States: Unemployment rate was 4.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate in United States, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rate in United States is 4.2%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.4% on the previous year and down 20.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in United States peaked at 9.6% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 3.6%, in 2023.
That places United States 117th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.8% | 4.2% | 7.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 5.5% | 4.0% | 9.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.2% | 3.7% | 9.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.8% | 3.6% | 8.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 114 Democratic Republic of Congo 4.4% compare
- 115 Turkmenistan 4.3% compare
- 116 India 4.2% compare
- 118 Australia 4.1% compare
- 119 Sri Lanka 4.0% compare
- 120 Netherlands 3.9% compare
More work & labour data for United States
- 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)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 67.1% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 84.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 56.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 73.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 78.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 69.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in United States?
- Unemployment rate in United States was 4.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 9.6% in 2010.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.6% in 2023.
- How does United States rank for unemployment rate?
- United States ranks 117th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.