Unemployment rate
Sep 2026
4.2%
- Previous (Aug 2026)
- 4.1%
- A year ago
- 4.4%
Next release Fri, Nov 6, 8:30 AM ET
Last 5 years3.4% ~ 4.5%
Nov 2021Sep 2026
What it is
The share of people in the labor force who are looking for work and don't have a job.Why it matters
Maximum employment is half of the Fed's mandate. A quick rise is a classic recession signal.Recent readings
- 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%
- Sep 20254.4%
Source: BLS · Figures are official statistics as published on FRED (St. Louis Fed) and the Bank of Korea's ECOS; year-over-year and month-over-month changes are calculated from them. Data can be revised.