Unemployment rate — all countries

Unemployment rate — United States

Unemployment rate in the United States in 2025 — 4.2%. Ranked 70 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 2.6 pp.

2025 4.2% +0.18 pp vs 2024
World rank 70of 182
Period maximum 9.63%2010
Period minimum 3.64%2023

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of labor force

Unemployment rate — United States, 1991–202524681019911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 6.8%1992: 7.5%1993: 6.9%1994: 6.12%1995: 5.65%1996: 5.45%1997: 5%1998: 4.51%1999: 4.22%2000: 3.99%2001: 4.73%2002: 5.78%2003: 5.99%2004: 5.53%2005: 5.08%2006: 4.62%2007: 4.62%2008: 5.78%2009: 9.25%2010: 9.63%2011: 8.95%2012: 8.07%2013: 7.38%2014: 6.17%2015: 5.28%2016: 4.87%2017: 4.36%2018: 3.9%2019: 3.67%2020: 8.06%2021: 5.35%2022: 3.65%2023: 3.64%2024: 4.02%2025: 4.2%
Change over the period: −2.6 pp Annual average: -0.08 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: United States

United States 4.2%
World 4.79%
High-income countries computed 4.42%
Unemployment rate — United States, by year United States All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 4.2 +0.18 pp
2024 4.02 +0.38 pp
2023 3.64 −0.01 pp
2022 3.65 −1.7 pp
2021 5.35 −2.71 pp
2020 8.06 +4.39 pp
2019 3.67 −0.23 pp
2018 3.9 −0.46 pp
2017 4.36 −0.51 pp
2016 4.87 −0.41 pp
2015 5.28 −0.89 pp
2014 6.17 −1.21 pp
2013 7.38 −0.69 pp
2012 8.07 −0.88 pp
2011 8.95 −0.68 pp
2010 9.63 +0.38 pp
2009 9.25 +3.47 pp
2008 5.78 +1.16 pp
2007 4.62 −0 pp
2006 4.62 −0.46 pp
2005 5.08 −0.45 pp
2004 5.53 −0.46 pp
2003 5.99 +0.21 pp
2002 5.78 +1.05 pp
2001 4.73 +0.74 pp
2000 3.99 −0.23 pp
1999 4.22 −0.29 pp
1998 4.51 −0.49 pp
1997 5 −0.45 pp
1996 5.45 −0.2 pp
1995 5.65 −0.47 pp
1994 6.12 −0.78 pp
1993 6.9 −0.6 pp
1992 7.5 +0.7 pp
1991 6.8

Northern America, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

US United States 4.2 CA Canada 6.91

About the indicator

The share of the labor force that is unemployed, on the ILO definition: a person counts as unemployed if they held no job in the reference period, actively looked for one and were available to start work. People who are not looking for work are not part of the labor force, so in countries with mass withdrawal from the labor force low unemployment does not mean high employment; the employment ratio and labor force participation fill in the rest of the picture.

Important: The data are ILO modeled estimates harmonized to a common definition; they can differ from the national figures of employment services.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.