Unemployment rate, United States
Unemployment rate was 4.20% in September 2026, up 0.10 pp from August 2026 and down 0.20 pp from a year earlier. The figure is published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in Employment Situation (CPS). The series starts in January 2006 and has 248 observations. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- On the previous reading (August 2026): up 0.10 pp, to 4.20%
- On a year earlier (September 2025): down 0.20 pp
- Against the five-year average of 3.95%: above
Sparklines: the last ten years; the amber dot marks the reading in the tile. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. EconoMonitor is not affiliated with or endorsed by BLS.
Overview
Over the last five years the series ranged from 3.40% (April 2023) to 4.70% (September 2021). Since January 2006 the full range is 3.40% (April 2023) to 14.80% (April 2020).
Key facts
| Reading | Period | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Latest | September 2026 | 4.20% |
| Previous | August 2026 | 4.10% |
| A year earlier | September 2025 | 4.40% |
| Five-year high | September 2021 | 4.70% |
| Five-year low | April 2023 | 3.40% |
| First observation | January 2006 | 4.70% |
Unit: percent. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. EconoMonitor is not affiliated with or endorsed by BLS.
How has it moved since January 2006?
Full history
- Unemployment rate 4.2%
Last five years
- Unemployment rate 4.2%
Latest readings
| Period | Value | Change from previous |
|---|---|---|
| August 2025 | 4.30% | 0.00 pp |
| September 2025 | 4.40% | +0.10 pp |
| November 2025 | 4.50% | +0.10 pp |
| December 2025 | 4.40% | -0.10 pp |
| January 2026 | 4.30% | -0.10 pp |
| February 2026 | 4.40% | +0.10 pp |
| March 2026 | 4.30% | -0.10 pp |
| April 2026 | 4.30% | 0.00 pp |
| May 2026 | 4.30% | 0.00 pp |
| June 2026 | 4.20% | -0.10 pp |
| July 2026 | 4.10% | -0.10 pp |
| August 2026 | 4.10% | 0.00 pp |
| September 2026 | 4.20% | +0.10 pp |
How does the latest reading compare?
The latest reading of 4.20% in September 2026 is above its five-year average of 3.95% and below its ten-year average of 4.53%. It is higher than 27% of all 248 readings since January 2006. The rise in September 2026 ended a run in the other direction or a flat reading. Over the last 12 readings, from September 2025 to September 2026, it averaged 4.29%, with a high of 4.50% in November 2025 and a low of 4.10% in July 2026. In the last ten years the largest rise from one reading to the next was in April 2020, to 14.80% from 4.40% in March 2020, and the largest fall was in June 2020, to 11.00% from 13.20% in May 2020.
Among the last 8 complete years, the average was highest in 2020, at 8.10%, and lowest in 2023, at 3.62%.
The same measure elsewhere: 6.50% in Canada (September 2026, Unemployment rate); 4.72% in Australia (September 2026, Unemployment rate); 4.90% in the United Kingdom (June 2026, Unemployment rate). Definitions differ between countries; each page gives its own.
Year by year
| Year | Average | Low | High | Last reading | Readings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4.24% | 4.10% | 4.40% | 4.20% September 2026 | 9 |
| 2025 | 4.26% | 4.00% | 4.50% | 4.40% December 2025 | 11 |
| 2024 | 4.03% | 3.70% | 4.20% | 4.10% December 2024 | 12 |
| 2023 | 3.62% | 3.40% | 3.90% | 3.80% December 2023 | 12 |
| 2022 | 3.65% | 3.50% | 4.00% | 3.50% December 2022 | 12 |
| 2021 | 5.35% | 3.90% | 6.40% | 3.90% December 2021 | 12 |
| 2020 | 8.10% | 3.50% | 14.80% | 6.70% December 2020 | 12 |
| 2019 | 3.68% | 3.50% | 4.00% | 3.60% December 2019 | 12 |
| 2018 | 3.89% | 3.70% | 4.10% | 3.90% December 2018 | 12 |
| 2017 | 4.36% | 4.10% | 4.70% | 4.10% December 2017 | 12 |
Averages, lows and highs are calculated by EconoMonitor from the published readings. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. EconoMonitor is not affiliated with or endorsed by BLS.
How is it measured?
Unemployed as a percent of the civilian labor force, seasonally adjusted.
Unemployment rate is published monthly by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in its Employment Situation (CPS) release. It is measured in percent and is seasonally adjusted. EconoMonitor holds all 248 readings since January 2006 under the publisher's code LNS14000000, keeps earlier values when the publisher revises them, and compares each release with the downloaded file before it is shown.
- Frequency: monthly; seasonal adjustment: SA.
- Unit: percent.
- Release: Employment Situation (CPS), published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Source series code: LNS14000000.
- Methodology: how EconoMonitor stores and checks this series.
Questions and sources
What is the latest reading of Unemployment rate?
4.20% in September 2026, as published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
How often is it updated?
Monthly, with each Employment Situation (CPS) release. EconoMonitor reloads the series after each release and keeps earlier values when the publisher revises them.
Where can I check it?
At the publisher: Bureau of Labor Statistics Public Data API v1, series code LNS14000000.
Definitions of the other measures quoted on this page: Unemployment rate (CA), Unemployment rate (AU), Unemployment rate (UK). Source: Statistics Canada, table 14-10-0287-01, 2026-09-30. Reproduced and distributed on an "as is" basis with the permission of Statistics Canada. For our calculations: Adapted from Statistics Canada, table 14-10-0287-01, 2026-09-30. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product. Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Labour Force, Australia (6202.0), 2026-09-30 (CC BY 4.0). Figures calculated by EconoMonitor are based on ABS data. EconoMonitor is not affiliated with or endorsed by the ABS. Source: Office for National Statistics. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. EconoMonitor is not affiliated with or endorsed by the ONS.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. EconoMonitor is not affiliated with or endorsed by BLS. Checks for this release: Check A passed, Check B passed.
Data and analysis only, not financial advice. Data publishers do not endorse EconoMonitor. See the disclaimer and methodology.