Department of Numbers

US Unemployment

The BLS household survey showed that the US unemployment rate rose 0.3 percentage points in May 2023 to 3.7%. The unemployment rate peaked in April 2020 at 14.7% and is now 11.0 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.4% in January 2023, the unemployment rate has now risen by 0.3 percentage points.

Unemployment Rate May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% +0.3 +0.1

Unemployment Rate

Note: Recessions shown in gray

US Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in the US peaked in April 2020 at 23,050,000. There are now 16,953,000 fewer people unemployed in the country. From a post peak low of 5,657,000 in April 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown again by 440,000. US employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained) is also available.

Unemployed Persons May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 6,097,000 +440,000 +118,000

Unemployed Persons

US Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
National
Unemployed Persons
May 2023 3.7% 6,097,000
April 2023 3.4% 5,657,000
March 2023 3.5% 5,839,000
February 2023 3.6% 5,936,000
January 2023 3.4% 5,694,000
December 2022 3.5% 5,722,000
November 2022 3.6% 6,000,000
October 2022 3.7% 6,053,000
September 2022 3.5% 5,770,000
August 2022 3.7% 6,021,000
July 2022 3.5% 5,718,000
June 2022 3.6% 5,945,000