U-6 underemployment rate
A broader unemployment measure that adds the "marginally attached" (who gave up looking) and those working part-time for economic reasons to the official U-3 rate. It captures labor-market slack and job quality more fully.
Key points
- U-3 plus marginally attached plus part-time for economic reasons
- A broader rate, always above U-3
- The U-6–U-3 gap signals job quality / hidden slack
- A fuller read of the labor market
How to read it
Read in percent. Always higher than the official U-3 rate. A wide U-6 minus U-3 gap means more involuntary part-time and hidden slack — a sign of weaker job quality. Useful for a fuller read of the labor market.
Trend
Year by year
Shows the level (%) from 2016-01 to 2026-09, grouped by calendar year.
| Year | Average | Year-end | High | Low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (months 1–9) | 7.93% | 7.60% | 8.20% | 7.60% |
| 2025 | 7.99% | 8.40% | 8.70% | 7.50% |
| 2024 | 7.52% | 7.60% | 7.80% | 7.20% |
| 2023 | 6.88% | 7.20% | 7.20% | 6.60% |
| 2022 | 6.88% | 6.60% | 7.20% | 6.60% |
| 2021 | 9.41% | 7.30% | 11.20% | 7.30% |
| 2020 | 13.67% | 11.70% | 22.90% | 7.00% |
| 2019 | 7.15% | 6.80% | 8.00% | 6.80% |
| 2018 | 7.72% | 7.60% | 8.10% | 7.40% |
| 2017 | 8.52% | 8.10% | 9.20% | 8.00% |
| 2016 | 9.63% | 9.20% | 9.90% | 9.20% |
Recent trend
| Period | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-01 | 7.6% | -0.1pt |
| 2026-08-01 | 7.7% | -0.2pt |
| 2026-07-01 | 7.9% | 0pt |
| 2026-06-01 | 7.9% | -0.2pt |
| 2026-05-01 | 8.1% | -0.1pt |
| 2026-04-01 | 8.2% | +0.2pt |
| 2026-03-01 | 8% | +0.1pt |
| 2026-02-01 | 7.9% | -0.2pt |
| 2026-01-01 | 8.1% | -0.3pt |
| 2025-12-01 | 8.4% | -0.3pt |
| 2025-11-01 | 8.7% | +0.6pt |
| 2025-09-01 | 8.1% | 0pt |
FAQ
U-6 underemployment rate: what is the latest reading?
Sources (primary)
This article is an independent summary based on the official U.S. data below. Please verify the latest and exact details with the official sources.
- BLS (series page, official)：LNS13327709
- Source agency：U.S. BLS
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) (public domain). This site is not endorsed or certified by the BLS.