Change countryChange indicator
4.2%up 0.1 points from Aug 2026September 2026 · released 2 Oct 2026
United States −0.8 ptsEstonia −0.1 ptsover 10 years
Key data points
- Last release
- 2 Oct 2026
- Observation period
- September 2026
- Next release
- 14 Oct 2026, 12:30 UTC
- Previous
- 4.1% Aug 2026
- Highest
- 14.8% Apr 2020
- Lowest
- 2.5% May 1953
- A year ago
- 4.4%
- Data since
- 1948
Indicator info
- Category
- Labour
- Source
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), US Census Bureau
- Frequency
- Monthly
- Units
- Percent
The share of the labour force that is out of work and actively looking for a job.
Related indicators
Reports
Released 2 Oct 20264.2%September 2026
In 5 days
Next release, 12:30 UTC14 Oct 2026September 2026
History
| Period | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 4.2% | +0.1 |
| August 2026 | 4.1% | 0.0 |
| July 2026 | 4.1% | −0.1 |
| June 2026 | 4.2% | −0.1 |
| May 2026 | 4.3% | 0.0 |
| April 2026 | 4.3% | 0.0 |
| March 2026 | 4.3% | −0.1 |
| February 2026 | 4.4% | +0.1 |
| January 2026 | 4.3% | −0.1 |
| December 2025 | 4.4% | −0.1 |
| November 2025 | 4.5% | +0.1 |
| September 2025 | 4.4% | +0.1 |
| August 2025 | 4.3% |
Common questions
What is the unemployment rate in the United States now?
The unemployment rate in the United States was 4.2% in September 2026, up 0.1 points from Aug 2026. The figure was released on 2 Oct 2026.
When is the next unemployment rate release for the United States?
The next release is scheduled for 14 Oct 2026, 12:30 UTC, covering September 2026.
What are the highest and lowest values of the unemployment rate in the United States?
In data since 1948, the highest was 14.8% in Apr 2020 and the lowest was 2.5% in May 1953.
Where does this data come from?
Published by Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), US Census Bureau, and shown here exactly as published. Publishers revise figures, and the latest published figure replaces the earlier one.
