Unemployment Rate
Share of the labour force without a job and looking for one, from the BLS household survey.
4.20%2026-09-01
Percent, seasonally adjusted
Why it matters
Half of the Fed's mandate. Rises in the rate from its recent low are a classic recession signal (the Sahm rule).
Release schedule: Monthly with the Employment Situation report, 8:30 am ET (BLS)
Recent readings
| Period | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-01 | 4.20% | +0.10 |
| 2026-08-01 | 4.10% | +0.00 |
| 2026-07-01 | 4.10% | -0.10 |
| 2026-06-01 | 4.20% | -0.10 |
| 2026-05-01 | 4.30% | +0.00 |
| 2026-04-01 | 4.30% | +0.00 |
| 2026-03-01 | 4.30% | -0.10 |
| 2026-02-01 | 4.40% | +0.10 |
| 2026-01-01 | 4.30% | -0.10 |
| 2025-12-01 | 4.40% | -0.10 |
| 2025-11-01 | 4.50% | +0.10 |
| 2025-09-01 | 4.40% | — |
Source: FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; original data from the agency named in the description. This product uses the FRED® API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.