The US unemployment rate rose to 4.4% in February 2026, up from 4.3% in January and slightly above market expectations, inching closer to November’s four-year high of 4.5%. The number of unemployed increased by 203,000 to 7.57 million, while total employment fell by 185,000 to 162.91 million. The labor force grew modestly by 18,000 to 170.48 million, pushing the participation rate down 0.1 percentage point to 62.0%. Meanwhile, the broader U-6 unemployment rate, which includes discouraged and underemployed workers, declined to 7.9% from 8.1%. source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Unemployment Rate in the United States increased to 4.40 percent in February from 4.30 percent in January of 2026. Unemployment Rate in the United States averaged 5.66 percent from 1948 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 14.80 percent in April of 2020 and a record low of 2.50 percent in May of 1953. This page provides the latest reported value for - United States Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. United States Unemployment Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on March of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in the United States increased to 4.40 percent in February from 4.30 percent in January of 2026. Unemployment Rate in the United States is expected to be 4.50 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the United States Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 4.30 percent in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-02-11 01:30 PM
Unemployment Rate
Jan 4.3% 4.4% 4.4% 4.5%
2026-03-06 01:30 PM
Unemployment Rate
Feb 4.4% 4.3% 4.3% 4.3%
2026-04-03 12:30 PM
Unemployment Rate
Mar 4.4% 4.50%

Components Last Previous Unit Reference
Long Term Unemployment Rate 1.11 1.06 percent Feb 2026
Youth Unemployment Rate 9.50 8.90 percent Feb 2026

Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Hourly Earnings MoM 0.40 0.40 percent Feb 2026
Average Hourly Earnings YoY 3.80 3.70 percent Feb 2026
Average Weekly Hours 34.30 34.30 Hours Feb 2026
Employment Rate 59.30 59.40 percent Feb 2026
Government Payrolls -6.00 -20.00 Thousand Feb 2026
Participation Rate 62.00 62.10 percent Feb 2026
Manufacturing Payrolls -12.00 5.00 Thousand Feb 2026
Non Farm Payrolls -92.00 126.00 Thousand Feb 2026
Nonfarm Payrolls Private -86.00 146.00 Thousand Feb 2026
Unemployed Persons 7571.00 7368.00 Thousand Feb 2026
Mean Unemployment Rate Expectations 39.90 41.90 percent Feb 2026
Unemployment Rate 4.40 4.30 percent Feb 2026


United States Unemployment Rate
In the United States, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
4.40 4.30 14.80 2.50 1948 - 2026 percent Monthly

News Stream
US Unemployment Edges Up to 4.4% in February
The US unemployment rate rose to 4.4% in February 2026, up from 4.3% in January and slightly above market expectations, inching closer to November’s four-year high of 4.5%. The number of unemployed increased by 203,000 to 7.57 million, while total employment fell by 185,000 to 162.91 million. The labor force grew modestly by 18,000 to 170.48 million, pushing the participation rate down 0.1 percentage point to 62.0%. Meanwhile, the broader U-6 unemployment rate, which includes discouraged and underemployed workers, declined to 7.9% from 8.1%.
2026-03-06
US Jobless Rate Falls to 4.3% in January
The US unemployment rate ticked down to 4.3% in January 2026 from 4.4% in December, coming in slightly below market expectations of 4.4%. The number of unemployed declined by 141,000 to 7.36 million, while total employment rose by 528,000 to 164.52 million. The labor force expanded by 387,000 to 171.88 million, lifting the participation rate by 0.1 percentage point to 62.5%. Meanwhile, the broader U-6 measure of unemployment, which includes discouraged workers and those working part-time for economic reasons, fell to 8.0% from 8.4% in the previous month.
2026-02-11
US Unemployment Rate Ticks Lower in December
The US unemployment rate edged down to 4.4% in December 2025, from a revised 4.5% in November, which had marked the highest level since October 2021. The reading also came in slightly below market expectations of 4.5%. The number of unemployed fell by 278,000 to 7.50 million, while employment increased by 232,000 to 163.99 million. Meanwhile, the labor force declined by 46,000 to 171.50 million, pushing the labor force participation rate down 0.1 percentage point to 62.4%. The broader U-6 unemployment rate, which includes discouraged workers and those working part-time for economic reasons, eased to 8.4% in December from 8.7% in November, pointing to some improvement in underlying labor market slack.
2026-01-09