Historical Unemployment Rates in the United States Since 1948
Full-year averages are the mean of the 12 seasonally adjusted monthly rates for each completed calendar year, so they can differ by a few hundredths from the annual averages BLS publishes from unadjusted data (BLS rounds those to one decimal: 2.9% for 1953, 9.7% for 1982).
01Look Up Unemployment Rate
Select a month and year to view the unemployment rate for that period:
The rate for the month you pick will appear here.
02Every Month Since 1948
The full monthly series, seasonally adjusted, January 1948 to September 2026. The last column is the average of the months shown for that year.
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.24* | |||
| 2025 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.4 | n/p | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.26* |
| 2024 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.03 |
| 2023 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 3.63 |
| 2022 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.65 |
| 2021 | 6.4 | 6.2 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 5.8 | 5.9 | 5.4 | 5.1 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 5.35 |
| 2020 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 4.4 | 14.8 | 13.2 | 11.0 | 10.2 | 8.4 | 7.8 | 6.9 | 6.7 | 6.7 | 8.10 |
| 2019 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.68 |
| 2018 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.89 |
| 2017 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.36 |
| 2016 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 5.1 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.88 |
| 2015 | 5.7 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.6 | 5.3 | 5.2 | 5.1 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.1 | 5.0 | 5.28 |
| 2014 | 6.6 | 6.7 | 6.7 | 6.2 | 6.3 | 6.1 | 6.2 | 6.1 | 5.9 | 5.7 | 5.8 | 5.6 | 6.16 |
| 2013 | 8.0 | 7.7 | 7.5 | 7.6 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.3 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 6.9 | 6.7 | 7.36 |
| 2012 | 8.3 | 8.3 | 8.2 | 8.2 | 8.2 | 8.2 | 8.2 | 8.1 | 7.8 | 7.8 | 7.7 | 7.9 | 8.08 |
| 2011 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 8.8 | 8.6 | 8.5 | 8.93 |
| 2010 | 9.8 | 9.8 | 9.9 | 9.9 | 9.6 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 9.4 | 9.8 | 9.3 | 9.61 |
| 2009 | 7.8 | 8.3 | 8.7 | 9.0 | 9.4 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 9.6 | 9.8 | 10.0 | 9.9 | 9.9 | 9.28 |
| 2008 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 5.1 | 5.0 | 5.4 | 5.6 | 5.8 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 6.5 | 6.8 | 7.3 | 5.80 |
| 2007 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 5.0 | 4.62 |
| 2006 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.61 |
| 2005 | 5.3 | 5.4 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.1 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 5.08 |
| 2004 | 5.7 | 5.6 | 5.8 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.54 |
| 2003 | 5.8 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 6.0 | 6.1 | 6.3 | 6.2 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 6.0 | 5.8 | 5.7 | 5.99 |
| 2002 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.9 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.9 | 6.0 | 5.78 |
| 2001 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 5.3 | 5.5 | 5.7 | 4.74 |
| 2000 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.97 |
| 1999 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.22 |
| 1998 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.50 |
| 1997 | 5.3 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.1 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.94 |
| 1996 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.3 | 5.5 | 5.1 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.41 |
| 1995 | 5.6 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.8 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.59 |
| 1994 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 6.5 | 6.4 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 5.8 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 6.10 |
| 1993 | 7.3 | 7.1 | 7.0 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 7.0 | 6.9 | 6.8 | 6.7 | 6.8 | 6.6 | 6.5 | 6.91 |
| 1992 | 7.3 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.6 | 7.8 | 7.7 | 7.6 | 7.6 | 7.3 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.49 |
| 1991 | 6.4 | 6.6 | 6.8 | 6.7 | 6.9 | 6.9 | 6.8 | 6.9 | 6.9 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.3 | 6.85 |
| 1990 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 5.2 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.2 | 5.5 | 5.7 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 6.2 | 6.3 | 5.62 |
| 1989 | 5.4 | 5.2 | 5.0 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.3 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.26 |
| 1988 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.4 | 5.6 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.6 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.49 |
| 1987 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 6.2 | 6.1 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 6.0 | 5.8 | 5.7 | 6.18 |
| 1986 | 6.7 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 7.1 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 7.0 | 6.9 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.9 | 6.6 | 7.00 |
| 1985 | 7.3 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 7.3 | 7.2 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.19 |
| 1984 | 8.0 | 7.8 | 7.8 | 7.7 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.3 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 7.3 | 7.51 |
| 1983 | 10.4 | 10.4 | 10.3 | 10.2 | 10.1 | 10.1 | 9.4 | 9.5 | 9.2 | 8.8 | 8.5 | 8.3 | 9.60 |
| 1982 | 8.6 | 8.9 | 9.0 | 9.3 | 9.4 | 9.6 | 9.8 | 9.8 | 10.1 | 10.4 | 10.8 | 10.8 | 9.71 |
| 1981 | 7.5 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.2 | 7.4 | 7.6 | 7.9 | 8.3 | 8.5 | 7.62 |
| 1980 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 6.9 | 7.5 | 7.6 | 7.8 | 7.7 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.2 | 7.18 |
| 1979 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.6 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 6.0 | 5.85 |
| 1978 | 6.4 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 6.1 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 6.2 | 5.9 | 6.0 | 5.8 | 5.9 | 6.0 | 6.07 |
| 1977 | 7.5 | 7.6 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 7.0 | 7.2 | 6.9 | 7.0 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 6.4 | 7.05 |
| 1976 | 7.9 | 7.7 | 7.6 | 7.7 | 7.4 | 7.6 | 7.8 | 7.8 | 7.6 | 7.7 | 7.8 | 7.8 | 7.70 |
| 1975 | 8.1 | 8.1 | 8.6 | 8.8 | 9.0 | 8.8 | 8.6 | 8.4 | 8.4 | 8.4 | 8.3 | 8.2 | 8.48 |
| 1974 | 5.1 | 5.2 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.9 | 6.0 | 6.6 | 7.2 | 5.64 |
| 1973 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.86 |
| 1972 | 5.8 | 5.7 | 5.8 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 5.6 | 5.3 | 5.2 | 5.60 |
| 1971 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 6.0 | 6.1 | 6.0 | 5.8 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 5.95 |
| 1970 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 5.1 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 5.9 | 6.1 | 5.08* | |
| 1969 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.49 |
| 1968 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.56 |
| 1967 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.84 |
| 1966 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 3.79 |
| 1965 | 4.9 | 5.1 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.51 |
| 1964 | 5.6 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 5.1 | 5.2 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 4.8 | 5.0 | 5.16 |
| 1963 | 5.7 | 5.9 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.9 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.7 | 5.5 | 5.64 |
| 1962 | 5.8 | 5.5 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 5.7 | 5.6 | 5.4 | 5.7 | 5.5 | 5.57 |
| 1961 | 6.6 | 6.9 | 6.9 | 7.0 | 7.1 | 6.9 | 7.0 | 6.6 | 6.7 | 6.5 | 6.1 | 6.0 | 6.69 |
| 1960 | 5.2 | 4.8 | 5.4 | 5.2 | 5.1 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 6.6 | 5.54 |
| 1959 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 5.6 | 5.2 | 5.1 | 5.0 | 5.1 | 5.2 | 5.5 | 5.7 | 5.8 | 5.3 | 5.45 |
| 1958 | 5.8 | 6.4 | 6.7 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.3 | 7.5 | 7.4 | 7.1 | 6.7 | 6.2 | 6.2 | 6.84 |
| 1957 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 5.1 | 5.2 | 4.30 |
| 1956 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 4.2 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.13 |
| 1955 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.37 |
| 1954 | 4.9 | 5.2 | 5.7 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 5.6 | 5.8 | 6.0 | 6.1 | 5.7 | 5.3 | 5.0 | 5.59 |
| 1953 | 2.9 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 2.93 |
| 1952 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 3.03 |
| 1951 | 3.7 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.1 | 3.28 |
| 1950 | 6.5 | 6.4 | 6.3 | 5.8 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 5.21 |
| 1949 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 5.0 | 5.3 | 6.1 | 6.2 | 6.7 | 6.8 | 6.6 | 7.9 | 6.4 | 6.6 | 6.05 |
| 1948 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 3.75 |
n/p: not published. BLS released no October 2025 unemployment rate because the federal government shutdown halted the household survey that month. * Average of fewer than 12 months.
03About This Data
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has been tracking unemployment data since January 1948. This tool provides instant access to historical unemployment rates, allowing you to explore economic trends across different administrations, recessions, and periods of growth.
The unemployment rate represents the percentage of the labor force that is jobless and actively seeking employment. This metric is a key indicator of economic health and is closely watched by policymakers, economists, and investors.
04Data Source
All data is sourced directly from the U.S. Department of Labor: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey (unemployment rate, series LNS14000000)
Corrections and Updates
| Date | What changed |
|---|---|
| October 25, 2026 | Lowest full-year average corrected to 1953 (computed from monthly dates, completed years only); broken lookup replaced with an in-page lookup and a full monthly table. |
| October 25, 2026 | Full monthly history re-checked against the current BLS seasonally adjusted series (LNS14000000): 197 monthly rates (1952-2023) and 16 yearly averages corrected; the lowest full-year average is now 1953 (2.93%), not 1952. |
| October 24, 2026 | Removed the repeated lookup prompt under the month and year selectors. |
| October 24, 2026 | Corrected the description to say the data starts in January 1948, not 1940, and linked the BLS unemployment-rate series directly. |
Every correction to a published figure on this site is logged on Sources and Methods.
Cite This Page
This page is free to cite and link. Its figures come from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and are kept current, so please include the date you accessed it.
| Format | Citation | Copy |
|---|---|---|
| Plain | Dave Manuel, “Historical Unemployment Rates in the United States,” DaveManuel.com, updated October 26, 2026, https://www.davemanuel.com/historical-unemployment-rates-in-the-united-states.php (accessed November 1, 2026). | Copy |
| APA | Manuel, D. (2026). Historical Unemployment Rates in the United States. DaveManuel.com. Retrieved November 1, 2026, from https://www.davemanuel.com/historical-unemployment-rates-in-the-united-states.php | Copy |
| Chicago | Manuel, Dave. “Historical Unemployment Rates in the United States.” DaveManuel.com. Accessed November 1, 2026. https://www.davemanuel.com/historical-unemployment-rates-in-the-united-states.php. | Copy |
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Source data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Updates: Monthly. Page last updated October 26, 2026. How we build our data pages.