U.S. Unemployment Rate 1991-2023

Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.
  • U.S. unemployment rate for 2021 was 5.46%, a 2.59% decline from 2020.
  • U.S. unemployment rate for 2020 was 8.05%, a 4.38% 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.
Data Source: World Bank

MLA Citation:
Similar Country Ranking
Country Name Unemployment Rate (%)
New Caledonia 16.57%
Greece 14.80%
Spain 14.73%
French Polynesia 14.39%
Virgin Islands (U.S.) 13.27%
Bahamas 13.24%
Panama 12.09%
Argentina 10.90%
Uruguay 10.45%
Barbados 10.41%
Italy 9.83%
Chile 9.13%
Croatia 8.68%
Sweden 8.66%
Puerto Rico 8.27%
France 8.06%
Lithuania 7.90%
Brunei 7.65%
Latvia 7.60%
Finland 7.53%
Canada 7.51%
Channel Islands 7.37%
Saudi Arabia 7.36%
Guam 6.98%
Slovak Republic 6.74%
Portugal 6.65%
Ireland 6.63%
Belgium 6.42%
Estonia 6.33%
Austria 6.30%
Cyprus 6.13%
United States 5.46%
Iceland 5.40%
Switzerland 5.32%
Hong Kong 5.32%
Luxembourg 5.23%
Australia 5.11%
Israel 5.05%
Norway 4.99%
Trinidad and Tobago 4.81%
Denmark 4.80%
United Kingdom 4.53%
Slovenia 4.42%
New Zealand 4.12%
Hungary 4.12%
Netherlands 4.01%
Kuwait 3.71%
Singapore 3.62%
Germany 3.54%
South Korea 3.53%
Malta 3.50%
Poland 3.37%
UAE 3.36%
Oman 3.12%
Macao 3.01%
Czech Republic 2.89%
Japan 2.80%
Bahrain 1.87%
Qatar 0.26%
U.S. Unemployment Rate - Historical Data
Year Unemployment Rate (%) Annual Change
2021 5.46% -2.59%
2020 8.05% 4.38%
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% -1.20%
2013 7.37% -0.70%
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%