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News › Price indicators › Unemployment

U.S. unemployment rate

4.1% as of Oct 2026

3.5%4.0%4.5%20222023202420252026
U.S. unemployment rate, last five years. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, retrieved from FRED.

What it measures

The share of the U.S. labor force that is out of work and looking for a job, seasonally adjusted, from the monthly jobs report.

Why it matters to a small business

A low rate means hiring is hard and wages are under pressure. A rising rate usually comes with softer customer demand, and often with interest-rate cuts.

Recent readings

DateRate
Oct 20264.1%
Sep 20264.2%
Aug 20264.1%
Jul 20264.1%
Jun 20264.2%
May 20264.3%
Apr 20264.3%
Mar 20264.3%
Feb 20264.4%
Jan 20264.3%
Dec 20254.4%
Nov 20254.5%

Source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, series UNRATE, retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Published monthly. Official figures can be revised after they are first released.

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