The U.S. unemployment rate rose to 4.2% in March 2025, the highest level since November and slightly above market expectations of 4.1%. The number of unemployed individuals increased by 31,000 to 7.08 million, while employment grew by 201,000 to reach 163.51 million. The labor force participation rate also edged up to 62.5% from 62.4%, and the employment-population ratio remained steady at 59.9%. Additionally, the U-6 unemployment rate, which includes those marginally attached to the labor force and those working part-time for economic reasons, decreased slightly to 7.9% in March from 8.0% in the previous month. source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Unemployment Rate in the United States increased to 4.20 percent in March from 4.10 percent in February of 2025. Unemployment Rate in the United States averaged 5.68 percent from 1948 until 2025, reaching an all time high of 14.90 percent in April of 2020 and a record low of 2.50 percent in May of 1953. This page provides the latest reported value for - United States Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. United States Unemployment Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on April of 2025.

Unemployment Rate in the United States increased to 4.20 percent in March from 4.10 percent in February of 2025. Unemployment Rate in the United States is expected to be 4.20 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the United States Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 4.30 percent in 2026 and 4.20 percent in 2027, according to our econometric models.

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Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2025-03-07 01:30 PM
Unemployment Rate
Feb 4.1% 4% 4% 4.0%
2025-04-04 12:30 PM
Unemployment Rate
Mar 4.2% 4.1% 4.1% 4.2%
2025-05-02 12:30 PM
Unemployment Rate
Apr

Components Last Previous Unit Reference
Long Term Unemployment Rate 0.88 0.85 percent Mar 2025
Youth Unemployment Rate 9.40 9.70 percent Mar 2025

Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Hourly Earnings MoM 0.30 0.20 percent Mar 2025
Average Hourly Earnings YoY 3.80 4.00 percent Mar 2025
Average Weekly Hours 34.20 34.20 Hours Mar 2025
Employment Rate 59.90 59.90 percent Mar 2025
Government Payrolls 19.00 1.00 Thousand Mar 2025
Participation Rate 62.50 62.40 percent Mar 2025
Manufacturing Payrolls 1.00 8.00 Thousand Mar 2025
Non Farm Payrolls 228.00 117.00 Thousand Mar 2025
Nonfarm Payrolls Private 209.00 116.00 Thousand Mar 2025
Unemployed Persons 7083.00 7052.00 Thousand Mar 2025
Unemployment Rate 4.20 4.10 percent Mar 2025

United States Unemployment Rate
In the United States, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
4.20 4.10 14.90 2.50 1948 - 2025 percent Monthly


News Stream
US Jobless Rate Rises to 4.2% in March
The U.S. unemployment rate rose to 4.2% in March 2025, the highest level since November and slightly above market expectations of 4.1%. The number of unemployed individuals increased by 31,000 to 7.08 million, while employment grew by 201,000 to reach 163.51 million. The labor force participation ra...te also edged up to 62.5% from 62.4%, and the employment-population ratio remained steady at 59.9%. Additionally, the U-6 unemployment rate, which includes those marginally attached to the labor force and those working part-time for economic reasons, decreased slightly to 7.9% in March from 8.0% in the previous month. more
2025-04-04
US Unemployment Rate Unexpectedly Rises
The U.S. unemployment rate rose to 4.1% in February 2025, up from 4.0% in January and slightly exceeding market expectations of 4.0%. The number of unemployed individuals increased by 203,000 to 7.05 million, while employment declined by 588,000 to 163.31 million. The labor force participation rate ...also fell to 62.4%, and the employment-population ratio decreased to 59.9%. Additionally, the U-6 unemployment rate, which includes those officially unemployed, marginally attached workers, and those involuntarily working part-time, rose to 8.0% from 7.5%. more
2025-03-07
US Jobless Rate Falls to 4%
The US unemployment rate dipped by 0.1 percentage point to 4.0% in January 2025, marking its lowest level since May and coming in just below market expectations of 4.1%. The number of unemployed individuals declined by 37,000 to 6.85 million, while employment edged up by 2,234 to 163.9 million. Addi...tionally, the labor force participation rate rose to 62.6%, and the employment-population ratio increased to 60.1%. Finally, the U-6 unemployment rate, which accounts for the officially unemployed along with marginally attached workers and those involuntarily working part-time for economic reasons, held steady at 7.5%. more
2025-02-07