U.S. BLS
Monthly
Percent UNRATE
Unemployment rate
Level
4.2%
▲
Prev 4.1% (+0.10 pp)
2026-09-01 as of ・Percent
Next scheduled release：Fri, Nov 6, 2026（Employment Situation）
The share of the labor force that is unemployed. A headline gauge of the economy and the job market; lower means a tighter labor market.
Key points
- Share of the labor force that is unemployed (%)
- Lower = tighter labor market; rising = slowdown signal
- Key for the Fed's maximum-employment mandate
How to read it
Read the level (%) and the change from the prior month. Historically the 3–4% range is low (near full employment); a rising trend signals a slowing economy. It is defined by active job search, so read it alongside the participation rate.
Trend
Year by year
Shows the level (%) from 2016-10 to 2026-09, grouped by calendar year.
Latest4.2%2026-09-01
Period high14.80%Apr 2020
Period low3.40%Apr 2023
| Year | Average | Year-end | High | Low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (months 1–9) | 4.24% | 4.20% | 4.40% | 4.10% |
| 2025 | 4.26% | 4.40% | 4.50% | 4.00% |
| 2024 | 4.03% | 4.10% | 4.20% | 3.70% |
| 2023 | 3.63% | 3.80% | 3.90% | 3.40% |
| 2022 | 3.65% | 3.50% | 4.00% | 3.50% |
| 2021 | 5.35% | 3.90% | 6.40% | 3.90% |
| 2020 | 8.10% | 6.70% | 14.80% | 3.50% |
| 2019 | 3.68% | 3.60% | 4.00% | 3.50% |
| 2018 | 3.89% | 3.90% | 4.10% | 3.70% |
| 2017 | 4.36% | 4.10% | 4.70% | 4.10% |
| 2016 (months 10–12) | 4.77% | 4.70% | 4.90% | 4.70% |
Recent trend
| Period | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-01 | 4.2 | +0.1 |
| 2026-08-01 | 4.1 | 0 |
| 2026-07-01 | 4.1 | -0.1 |
| 2026-06-01 | 4.2 | -0.1 |
| 2026-05-01 | 4.3 | 0 |
| 2026-04-01 | 4.3 | 0 |
| 2026-03-01 | 4.3 | -0.1 |
| 2026-02-01 | 4.4 | +0.1 |
| 2026-01-01 | 4.3 | -0.1 |
| 2025-12-01 | 4.4 | -0.1 |
| 2025-11-01 | 4.5 | +0.1 |
| 2025-09-01 | 4.4 | +0.1 |
FAQ
Unemployment rate: what is the latest reading?
As of Sep 2026, it is 4.2%. Since Oct 2016, the high was 14.80% (Apr 2020) and the low was 3.40% (Apr 2023). The next release is scheduled for Fri, Nov 6, 2026.
How is the unemployment rate defined?
The share of the labor force made up of people who want to work and are actively job-searching but have no job.
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.
- FRED (series page)：UNRATE
- Source agency：U.S. BLS
- FRED last updated：2026-10-02 08:24:37-05
FRED® is a registered trademark of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. This site is not endorsed or certified by FRED / the St. Louis Fed.