Economy

What is the unemployment rate in the right now?

Updates published monthly
About 4.3% in August 2025. That's a 0.1 percentage point increase from a year before. The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who are actively looking for work but not currently employed. It's a common way to measure the health of the job market and economy.
In August 2025,

4.3%

of the labor force was unemployed in the US
August 2025 had a

+0.1

percentage point change from August 2024
The Bureau of Labor Statistics calculates the unemployment rate through a monthly survey to identify the civilian labor force, meaning people who are employed or actively seeking work. It counts part-time workers as employed. It excludes people who aren’t actively looking for work, such as retirees or discouraged workers.

In August 2025, the unemployment rate in the US was 4.3%.

Seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, January 2007 to August 2025

The unemployment rate historically has increased during or shortly after the start of a recession. As economic activity slows, demand for goods and services decreases, leading businesses to cut costs with layoffs or hiring freezes. The unemployment rate can also change based on the number of people joining or leaving the labor force.
Labor force participation
In August 2025, the labor force participation rate was 62.3%.

Our government is complex. Our data doesn’t have to be.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get data-backed answers to today’s most debated issues

Since 1948, the unemployment rate has often increased during or after recessions.

Seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, January 1948 to August 2025

The unemployment rate varies throughout the country. Based on the most recently available state-level data, South Dakota had the lowest unemployment rate in July 2025 at 1.9%. California had the highest unemployment rate at 5.5%.

In July 2025, the unemployment rate varied across states.

Seasonally adjusted unemployment rate

Unemployment rate, by state (July 2025)

Unemployment rate, by state (July 2025)

Keep exploring

Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.

Page sources

USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.

  • Bureau of Labor Statistics

    Local Area Unemployment Statistics and Current Population Survey

    Bureau of Labor Statistics logo