U.S. Unemployment Rate 1991-2021
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.
- U.S. unemployment rate for 2020 was 8.31%, a 4.64% increase from 2019.
- U.S. unemployment rate for 2019 was 3.67%, a 0.23% decline from 2018.
- U.S. unemployment rate for 2018 was 3.90%, a 0.46% decline from 2017.
- U.S. unemployment rate for 2017 was 4.36%, a 0.51% decline from 2016.
| Similar Country Ranking | |
|---|---|
| Country Name | Unemployment Rate (%) |
| Greece | 16.85% |
| New Caledonia | 16.52% |
| Spain | 15.67% |
| Bahamas | 14.41% |
| French Polynesia | 13.81% |
| Barbados | 12.79% |
| Uruguay | 12.67% |
| Virgin Islands (U.S.) | 11.84% |
| Argentina | 11.67% |
| Chile | 11.51% |
| Puerto Rico | 11.17% |
| Panama | 10.23% |
| Canada | 9.48% |
| Italy | 9.31% |
| France | 8.62% |
| Sweden | 8.45% |
| Lithuania | 8.43% |
| Brunei | 8.37% |
| United States | 8.31% |
| Saudi Arabia | 8.22% |
| Latvia | 8.19% |
| Channel Islands | 8.16% |
| Finland | 7.83% |
| Guam | 7.51% |
| Cyprus | 7.21% |
| Croatia | 7.20% |
| Portugal | 7.20% |
| Luxembourg | 6.96% |
| Kuwait | 6.79% |
| Slovak Republic | 6.79% |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 6.74% |
| Australia | 6.61% |
| Estonia | 6.46% |
| Belgium | 6.01% |
| Ireland | 5.92% |
| Hong Kong | 5.80% |
| Austria | 5.77% |
| Denmark | 5.66% |
| Singapore | 5.19% |
| Slovenia | 5.17% |
| Iceland | 5.01% |
| UAE | 5.00% |
| Oman | 4.97% |
| Switzerland | 4.94% |
| Norway | 4.62% |
| Israel | 4.61% |
| New Zealand | 4.55% |
| Hungary | 4.35% |
| United Kingdom | 4.34% |
| Germany | 4.31% |
| Netherlands | 4.09% |
| Malta | 4.09% |
| Bahrain | 4.09% |
| South Korea | 4.07% |
| Poland | 3.55% |
| Qatar | 3.45% |
| Japan | 2.97% |
| Czech Republic | 2.94% |
| Macao | 2.50% |
| U.S. Unemployment Rate - Historical Data | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Unemployment Rate (%) | Annual Change |
| 2020 | 8.31% | 4.64% |
| 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% |
