U.S. Unemployment Rate 1991-2024

Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.
  • U.S. unemployment rate for 2023 was 3.63%, a 0.02% decline from 2022.
  • U.S. unemployment rate for 2022 was 3.65%, a 1.7% decline from 2021.
  • U.S. unemployment rate for 2021 was 5.35%, a 2.71% decline from 2020.
  • U.S. unemployment rate for 2020 was 8.06%, a 4.39% increase from 2019.
Data Source: World Bank

MLA Citation:
Similar Country Ranking
Country Name Unemployment Rate (%)
Spain 12.14%
Virgin Islands (U.S.) 12.09%
French Polynesia 11.72%
New Caledonia 11.22%
Greece 11.00%
Bahamas 9.20%
Chile 9.04%
Uruguay 8.35%
Barbados 7.95%
Italy 7.62%
Sweden 7.59%
France 7.32%
Finland 7.16%
Lithuania 6.96%
Panama 6.70%
Latvia 6.53%
Portugal 6.49%
Estonia 6.35%
Argentina 6.18%
Croatia 6.06%
Channel Islands 5.98%
Cyprus 5.96%
Puerto Rico 5.96%
Slovak Republic 5.84%
Belgium 5.51%
Guam 5.42%
Canada 5.37%
Brunei 5.27%
Austria 5.24%
Luxembourg 5.19%
Denmark 5.14%
Saudi Arabia 4.88%
Ireland 4.34%
Trinidad and Tobago 4.21%
Hungary 4.13%
United Kingdom 4.06%
Switzerland 4.05%
Hong Kong 3.93%
New Zealand 3.74%
Australia 3.67%
Slovenia 3.63%
United States 3.63%
Norway 3.58%
Iceland 3.56%
Netherlands 3.56%
Singapore 3.47%
Israel 3.39%
Malta 3.13%
Germany 3.05%
Poland 2.91%
UAE 2.71%
South Korea 2.64%
Czech Republic 2.59%
Japan 2.58%
Macao 2.25%
Kuwait 2.08%
Oman 1.46%
Bahrain 1.16%
Qatar 0.13%
U.S. Unemployment Rate - Historical Data
Year Unemployment Rate (%) Annual Change
2023 3.63% -0.02%
2022 3.65% -1.70%
2021 5.35% -2.71%
2020 8.06% 4.39%
2019 3.67% -0.23%
2018 3.90% -0.46%
2017 4.36% -0.51%
2016 4.87% -0.41%
2015 5.28% -0.89%
2014 6.17% -1.21%
2013 7.38% -0.69%
2012 8.07% -0.88%
2011 8.95% -0.68%
2010 9.63% 0.38%
2009 9.25% 3.47%
2008 5.78% 1.16%
2007 4.62% 0.00%
2006 4.62% -0.46%
2005 5.08% -0.45%
2004 5.53% -0.46%
2003 5.99% 0.21%
2002 5.78% 1.05%
2001 4.73% 0.74%
2000 3.99% -0.23%
1999 4.22% -0.29%
1998 4.51% -0.49%
1997 5.00% -0.45%
1996 5.45% -0.20%
1995 5.65% -0.47%
1994 6.12% -0.78%
1993 6.90% -0.60%
1992 7.50% 0.70%
1991 6.80% 0.70%