Unemployment rate compared with underemployment (U-6)
Percent of the labor force without a job and looking for one, seasonally adjusted. Monthly.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, FRED, Unemployment Rate (UNRATE).
4.2%
Unemployment rate and Underemployment (U-6)
No figure for October 2025: the Bureau of Labor Statistics did not conduct its household survey that month because of the federal government shutdown (Oct. 1 to Nov. 12, 2025), and there is no estimate for that month. Source: BLS, 2025 federal government shutdown impact on the Current Population Survey. The line connects the readings on either side, and the data table marks the gap “not published.”
From Sept. 2025 to Sept. 2026, the periods both series have.
Left and Right arrows read the values point by point; Page Up and Page Down jump a tenth of the way later or earlier; Home and End go to the ends; Escape clears.
From Sept. 2016 to Sept. 2026, the periods both series have.
Left and Right arrows read the values point by point; Page Up and Page Down jump a tenth of the way later or earlier; Home and End go to the ends; Escape clears.
From Jan. 2000 to Sept. 2026, the periods both series have.
Left and Right arrows read the values point by point; Page Up and Page Down jump a tenth of the way later or earlier; Home and End go to the ends; Escape clears.
From Sept. 2021 to Sept. 2026, the periods both series have.
Left and Right arrows read the values point by point; Page Up and Page Down jump a tenth of the way later or earlier; Home and End go to the ends; Escape clears.
Both lines are percentages on the same scale. A month of monthly data is one or two numbers, so the shortest range is a year.
Data table
| Date | Unemployment rate | Underemployment (U-6) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-01 | 4.2% | 7.6% |
| 2026-08-01 | 4.1% | 7.7% |
| 2026-07-01 | 4.1% | 7.9% |
| 2026-06-01 | 4.2% | 7.9% |
| 2026-05-01 | 4.3% | 8.1% |
| 2026-04-01 | 4.3% | 8.2% |
| 2026-03-01 | 4.3% | 8.0% |
| 2026-02-01 | 4.4% | 7.9% |
| 2026-01-01 | 4.3% | 8.1% |
| 2025-12-01 | 4.4% | 8.4% |
| 2025-11-01 | 4.5% | 8.7% |
| 2025-10-01 | not published | not published |
| 2025-09-01 | 4.4% | 8.1% |
| 2025-08-01 | 4.3% | 8.1% |
| 2025-07-01 | 4.3% | 7.9% |
| 2025-06-01 | 4.1% | 7.7% |
| 2025-05-01 | 4.3% | 7.8% |
| 2025-04-01 | 4.2% | 7.8% |
| 2025-03-01 | 4.2% | 7.9% |
| 2025-02-01 | 4.2% | 8.0% |
| 2025-01-01 | 4.0% | 7.5% |
| 2024-12-01 | 4.1% | 7.6% |
| 2024-11-01 | 4.2% | 7.7% |
| 2024-10-01 | 4.1% | 7.7% |
| 2024-09-01 | 4.1% | 7.7% |
| 2024-08-01 | 4.2% | 7.8% |
| 2024-07-01 | 4.2% | 7.8% |
| 2024-06-01 | 4.1% | 7.4% |
| 2024-05-01 | 3.9% | 7.4% |
| 2024-04-01 | 3.9% | 7.4% |
| 2024-03-01 | 3.9% | 7.3% |
| 2024-02-01 | 3.9% | 7.3% |
| 2024-01-01 | 3.7% | 7.2% |
| 2023-12-01 | 3.8% | 7.2% |
| 2023-11-01 | 3.7% | 7.0% |
| 2023-10-01 | 3.9% | 7.2% |
| 2023-09-01 | 3.7% | 7.0% |
| 2023-08-01 | 3.7% | 7.1% |
| 2023-07-01 | 3.5% | 6.7% |
| 2023-06-01 | 3.6% | 6.9% |
| 2023-05-01 | 3.6% | 6.7% |
| 2023-04-01 | 3.4% | 6.6% |
| 2023-03-01 | 3.5% | 6.7% |
| 2023-02-01 | 3.6% | 6.8% |
| 2023-01-01 | 3.5% | 6.7% |
| 2022-12-01 | 3.5% | 6.6% |
| 2022-11-01 | 3.6% | 6.7% |
| 2022-10-01 | 3.6% | 6.7% |
| 2022-09-01 | 3.5% | 6.7% |
| 2022-08-01 | 3.6% | 6.9% |
| 2022-07-01 | 3.5% | 6.8% |
| 2022-06-01 | 3.6% | 6.7% |
| 2022-05-01 | 3.6% | 7.1% |
| 2022-04-01 | 3.7% | 7.0% |
| 2022-03-01 | 3.7% | 7.0% |
| 2022-02-01 | 3.9% | 7.2% |
| 2022-01-01 | 4.0% | 7.1% |
| 2021-12-01 | 3.9% | 7.3% |
| 2021-11-01 | 4.1% | 7.7% |
| 2021-10-01 | 4.5% | 8.2% |
| 2021-09-01 | 4.7% | 8.4% |
| 2021-08-01 | 5.1% | 8.8% |
| 2021-07-01 | 5.4% | 9.2% |
| 2021-06-01 | 5.9% | 9.8% |
| 2021-05-01 | 5.8% | 10.1% |
| 2021-04-01 | 6.1% | 10.3% |
| 2021-03-01 | 6.1% | 10.8% |
| 2021-02-01 | 6.2% | 11.1% |
| 2021-01-01 | 6.4% | 11.2% |
| 2020-12-01 | 6.7% | 11.7% |
| 2020-11-01 | 6.7% | 11.9% |
| 2020-10-01 | 6.9% | 12.1% |
| 2020-09-01 | 7.8% | 12.8% |
| 2020-08-01 | 8.4% | 14.2% |
| 2020-07-01 | 10.2% | 16.5% |
| 2020-06-01 | 11.0% | 18.0% |
| 2020-05-01 | 13.2% | 21.1% |
| 2020-04-01 | 14.8% | 22.9% |
| 2020-03-01 | 4.4% | 8.8% |
| 2020-02-01 | 3.5% | 7.0% |
| 2020-01-01 | 3.6% | 7.0% |
| 2019-12-01 | 3.6% | 6.8% |
| 2019-11-01 | 3.6% | 6.8% |
| 2019-10-01 | 3.6% | 6.9% |
| 2019-09-01 | 3.5% | 6.9% |
| 2019-08-01 | 3.6% | 7.2% |
| 2019-07-01 | 3.7% | 6.9% |
| 2019-06-01 | 3.6% | 7.2% |
| 2019-05-01 | 3.6% | 7.1% |
| 2019-04-01 | 3.7% | 7.4% |
| 2019-03-01 | 3.8% | 7.4% |
| 2019-02-01 | 3.8% | 7.2% |
| 2019-01-01 | 4.0% | 8.0% |
| 2018-12-01 | 3.9% | 7.6% |
| 2018-11-01 | 3.8% | 7.6% |
| 2018-10-01 | 3.8% | 7.5% |
| 2018-09-01 | 3.7% | 7.5% |
| 2018-08-01 | 3.8% | 7.4% |
| 2018-07-01 | 3.8% | 7.5% |
| 2018-06-01 | 4.0% | 7.8% |
| 2018-05-01 | 3.8% | 7.8% |
| 2018-04-01 | 4.0% | 7.9% |
| 2018-03-01 | 4.0% | 8.0% |
| 2018-02-01 | 4.1% | 8.1% |
| 2018-01-01 | 4.0% | 8.0% |
| 2017-12-01 | 4.1% | 8.1% |
| 2017-11-01 | 4.2% | 8.0% |
| 2017-10-01 | 4.2% | 8.1% |
| 2017-09-01 | 4.3% | 8.3% |
| 2017-08-01 | 4.4% | 8.6% |
| 2017-07-01 | 4.3% | 8.5% |
| 2017-06-01 | 4.3% | 8.5% |
| 2017-05-01 | 4.4% | 8.5% |
| 2017-04-01 | 4.4% | 8.6% |
| 2017-03-01 | 4.4% | 8.8% |
| 2017-02-01 | 4.6% | 9.0% |
| 2017-01-01 | 4.7% | 9.2% |
| 2016-12-01 | 4.7% | 9.2% |
| 2016-11-01 | 4.7% | 9.4% |
| 2016-10-01 | 4.9% | 9.6% |
| 2016-09-01 | 5.0% | 9.7% |
| 2016-08-01 | 4.9% | 9.6% |
| 2016-07-01 | 4.8% | 9.6% |
| 2016-06-01 | 4.9% | 9.5% |
| 2016-05-01 | 4.8% | 9.9% |
| 2016-04-01 | 5.1% | 9.9% |
| 2016-03-01 | 5.0% | 9.8% |
| 2016-02-01 | 4.9% | 9.6% |
| 2016-01-01 | 4.8% | 9.7% |
| 2015-12-01 | 5.0% | 9.9% |
| 2015-11-01 | 5.1% | 10.0% |
| 2015-10-01 | 5.0% | 9.8% |
| 2015-09-01 | 5.0% | 10.0% |
| 2015-08-01 | 5.1% | 10.2% |
| 2015-07-01 | 5.2% | 10.3% |
| 2015-06-01 | 5.3% | 10.4% |
| 2015-05-01 | 5.6% | 10.9% |
| 2015-04-01 | 5.4% | 10.9% |
| 2015-03-01 | 5.4% | 10.9% |
| 2015-02-01 | 5.5% | 10.9% |
| 2015-01-01 | 5.7% | 11.2% |
| 2014-12-01 | 5.6% | 11.2% |
| 2014-11-01 | 5.8% | 11.4% |
| 2014-10-01 | 5.7% | 11.5% |
| 2014-09-01 | 5.9% | 11.7% |
| 2014-08-01 | 6.1% | 12.0% |
| 2014-07-01 | 6.2% | 12.1% |
| 2014-06-01 | 6.1% | 12.0% |
| 2014-05-01 | 6.3% | 12.3% |
| 2014-04-01 | 6.2% | 12.3% |
| 2014-03-01 | 6.7% | 12.7% |
| 2014-02-01 | 6.7% | 12.6% |
| 2014-01-01 | 6.6% | 12.6% |
| 2013-12-01 | 6.7% | 13.1% |
| 2013-11-01 | 6.9% | 13.1% |
| 2013-10-01 | 7.2% | 13.6% |
| 2013-09-01 | 7.2% | 13.5% |
| 2013-08-01 | 7.2% | 13.6% |
| 2013-07-01 | 7.3% | 13.8% |
| 2013-06-01 | 7.5% | 14.2% |
| 2013-05-01 | 7.5% | 13.9% |
| 2013-04-01 | 7.6% | 14.0% |
| 2013-03-01 | 7.5% | 13.9% |
| 2013-02-01 | 7.7% | 14.3% |
| 2013-01-01 | 8.0% | 14.5% |
| 2012-12-01 | 7.9% | 14.4% |
| 2012-11-01 | 7.7% | 14.4% |
| 2012-10-01 | 7.8% | 14.4% |
| 2012-09-01 | 7.8% | 14.8% |
| 2012-08-01 | 8.1% | 14.6% |
| 2012-07-01 | 8.2% | 14.7% |
| 2012-06-01 | 8.2% | 14.7% |
| 2012-05-01 | 8.2% | 14.8% |
| 2012-04-01 | 8.2% | 14.7% |
| 2012-03-01 | 8.2% | 14.6% |
| 2012-02-01 | 8.3% | 15.0% |
| 2012-01-01 | 8.3% | 15.1% |
| 2011-12-01 | 8.5% | 15.2% |
| 2011-11-01 | 8.6% | 15.6% |
| 2011-10-01 | 8.8% | 15.8% |
| 2011-09-01 | 9.0% | 16.4% |
| 2011-08-01 | 9.0% | 16.1% |
| 2011-07-01 | 9.0% | 15.9% |
| 2011-06-01 | 9.1% | 16.1% |
| 2011-05-01 | 9.0% | 15.9% |
| 2011-04-01 | 9.1% | 16.1% |
| 2011-03-01 | 9.0% | 16.0% |
| 2011-02-01 | 9.0% | 16.0% |
| 2011-01-01 | 9.1% | 16.1% |
| 2010-12-01 | 9.3% | 16.6% |
| 2010-11-01 | 9.8% | 16.9% |
| 2010-10-01 | 9.4% | 16.6% |
| 2010-09-01 | 9.5% | 16.9% |
| 2010-08-01 | 9.5% | 16.5% |
| 2010-07-01 | 9.4% | 16.4% |
| 2010-06-01 | 9.4% | 16.4% |
| 2010-05-01 | 9.6% | 16.7% |
| 2010-04-01 | 9.9% | 17.2% |
| 2010-03-01 | 9.9% | 17.1% |
| 2010-02-01 | 9.8% | 17.0% |
| 2010-01-01 | 9.8% | 16.6% |
| 2009-12-01 | 9.9% | 17.2% |
| 2009-11-01 | 9.9% | 17.1% |
| 2009-10-01 | 10.0% | 17.1% |
| 2009-09-01 | 9.8% | 16.7% |
| 2009-08-01 | 9.6% | 16.7% |
| 2009-07-01 | 9.5% | 16.4% |
| 2009-06-01 | 9.5% | 16.5% |
| 2009-05-01 | 9.4% | 16.5% |
| 2009-04-01 | 9.0% | 15.9% |
| 2009-03-01 | 8.7% | 15.8% |
| 2009-02-01 | 8.3% | 15.1% |
| 2009-01-01 | 7.8% | 14.1% |
| 2008-12-01 | 7.3% | 13.6% |
| 2008-11-01 | 6.8% | 12.7% |
| 2008-10-01 | 6.5% | 11.8% |
| 2008-09-01 | 6.1% | 11.1% |
| 2008-08-01 | 6.1% | 10.8% |
| 2008-07-01 | 5.8% | 10.5% |
| 2008-06-01 | 5.6% | 10.0% |
| 2008-05-01 | 5.4% | 9.7% |
| 2008-04-01 | 5.0% | 9.2% |
| 2008-03-01 | 5.1% | 9.1% |
| 2008-02-01 | 4.9% | 9.0% |
| 2008-01-01 | 5.0% | 9.1% |
| 2007-12-01 | 5.0% | 8.8% |
| 2007-11-01 | 4.7% | 8.5% |
| 2007-10-01 | 4.7% | 8.4% |
| 2007-09-01 | 4.7% | 8.4% |
| 2007-08-01 | 4.6% | 8.4% |
| 2007-07-01 | 4.7% | 8.4% |
| 2007-06-01 | 4.6% | 8.3% |
| 2007-05-01 | 4.4% | 8.2% |
| 2007-04-01 | 4.5% | 8.2% |
| 2007-03-01 | 4.4% | 8.0% |
| 2007-02-01 | 4.5% | 8.1% |
| 2007-01-01 | 4.6% | 8.3% |
| 2006-12-01 | 4.4% | 7.9% |
| 2006-11-01 | 4.5% | 8.1% |
| 2006-10-01 | 4.4% | 8.2% |
| 2006-09-01 | 4.5% | 8.0% |
| 2006-08-01 | 4.7% | 8.4% |
| 2006-07-01 | 4.7% | 8.5% |
| 2006-06-01 | 4.6% | 8.4% |
| 2006-05-01 | 4.6% | 8.2% |
| 2006-04-01 | 4.7% | 8.1% |
| 2006-03-01 | 4.7% | 8.2% |
| 2006-02-01 | 4.8% | 8.4% |
| 2006-01-01 | 4.7% | 8.4% |
| 2005-12-01 | 4.9% | 8.6% |
| 2005-11-01 | 5.0% | 8.7% |
| 2005-10-01 | 5.0% | 8.7% |
| 2005-09-01 | 5.0% | 9.0% |
| 2005-08-01 | 4.9% | 8.9% |
| 2005-07-01 | 5.0% | 8.8% |
| 2005-06-01 | 5.0% | 9.0% |
| 2005-05-01 | 5.1% | 8.9% |
| 2005-04-01 | 5.2% | 9.0% |
| 2005-03-01 | 5.2% | 9.1% |
| 2005-02-01 | 5.4% | 9.2% |
| 2005-01-01 | 5.3% | 9.2% |
| 2004-12-01 | 5.4% | 9.3% |
| 2004-11-01 | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2004-10-01 | 5.5% | 9.7% |
| 2004-09-01 | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2004-08-01 | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2004-07-01 | 5.5% | 9.5% |
| 2004-06-01 | 5.6% | 9.6% |
| 2004-05-01 | 5.6% | 9.7% |
| 2004-04-01 | 5.6% | 9.6% |
| 2004-03-01 | 5.8% | 10.0% |
| 2004-02-01 | 5.6% | 9.7% |
| 2004-01-01 | 5.7% | 9.8% |
| 2003-12-01 | 5.7% | 9.8% |
| 2003-11-01 | 5.8% | 10.1% |
| 2003-10-01 | 6.0% | 10.2% |
| 2003-09-01 | 6.1% | 10.4% |
| 2003-08-01 | 6.1% | 10.1% |
| 2003-07-01 | 6.2% | 10.3% |
| 2003-06-01 | 6.3% | 10.3% |
| 2003-05-01 | 6.1% | 10.1% |
| 2003-04-01 | 6.0% | 10.2% |
| 2003-03-01 | 5.9% | 10.0% |
| 2003-02-01 | 5.9% | 10.1% |
| 2003-01-01 | 5.8% | 9.9% |
| 2002-12-01 | 6.0% | 9.8% |
| 2002-11-01 | 5.9% | 9.8% |
| 2002-10-01 | 5.7% | 9.6% |
| 2002-09-01 | 5.7% | 9.6% |
| 2002-08-01 | 5.7% | 9.6% |
| 2002-07-01 | 5.8% | 9.6% |
| 2002-06-01 | 5.8% | 9.5% |
| 2002-05-01 | 5.8% | 9.6% |
| 2002-04-01 | 5.9% | 9.7% |
| 2002-03-01 | 5.7% | 9.4% |
| 2002-02-01 | 5.7% | 9.5% |
| 2002-01-01 | 5.7% | 9.4% |
| 2001-12-01 | 5.7% | 9.6% |
| 2001-11-01 | 5.5% | 9.4% |
| 2001-10-01 | 5.3% | 9.3% |
| 2001-09-01 | 5.0% | 8.7% |
| 2001-08-01 | 4.9% | 8.2% |
| 2001-07-01 | 4.6% | 7.9% |
| 2001-06-01 | 4.5% | 7.9% |
| 2001-05-01 | 4.3% | 7.5% |
| 2001-04-01 | 4.4% | 7.4% |
| 2001-03-01 | 4.3% | 7.3% |
| 2001-02-01 | 4.2% | 7.3% |
| 2001-01-01 | 4.2% | 7.3% |
| 2000-12-01 | 3.9% | 6.9% |
| 2000-11-01 | 3.9% | 7.1% |
| 2000-10-01 | 3.9% | 6.8% |
| 2000-09-01 | 3.9% | 7.0% |
| 2000-08-01 | 4.1% | 7.1% |
| 2000-07-01 | 4.0% | 7.0% |
| 2000-06-01 | 4.0% | 7.0% |
| 2000-05-01 | 4.0% | 7.1% |
| 2000-04-01 | 3.8% | 6.9% |
| 2000-03-01 | 4.0% | 7.1% |
| 2000-02-01 | 4.1% | 7.1% |
| 2000-01-01 | 4.0% | 7.0% |
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, FRED: Unemployment Rate (UNRATE). UNRATE · retrieved Oct. 5, 2026 · 320 rows · as of September 2026 · monthly. Compared with: Total Unemployed, Plus All Persons Marginally Attached to the Labor Force, Plus Total Employed Part Time for Economic Reasons, as a Percent of the Civilian Labor Force Plus All Persons Marginally Attached to the Labor Force (U-6) (U6RATE), Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, FRED, U6RATE · retrieved Oct. 5, 2026 · 320 rows · as of September 2026 · monthly. CSV of Underemployment (U-6). Download CSV