The real unemployment rate (U-6) is a broader definition of unemployment than the official unemployment rate (U-3). In July 2019, it was 7.0%. The U-3 is the rate most often reported in the media. In the U-3 rate, the Bureau of Labor Statistics only counts people without jobs who are in the labor force.

The real unemployment rate is probably somewhere between 10%-12%. Here’s why: the 3.7% is the U-3 rate, per thelabor dept. But that’s the rate only for full time employed. What the labor dept. calls the U-6 includes what it calls discouraged workers (those who haven’t looked for work in the past 4 weeks). U-4 unemployment includes the labor force that has been unemployed for 15 weeks or longer, those who have just lost their jobs, those who have completed temporary work, those who have actively looked for work within the last four weeks and those who are discouraged and have therefore given up looking for work. Technically called the U6, the real unemployment rate tends to run about 4 points higher than the official rate. The gap ballooned to 7 points in late 2009 before beginning to decline. Here's the real unemployment rate. The official unemployment rate dropped to 4.4 percent, its lowest level since May 2007. But the 'U-6' rate declined slightly to just 8.6 percent. The national unemployment rate fell to 4.4 percent in April, the Labor Department said Friday. Unemployment Rate in the United States averaged 5.73 percent from 1948 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 10.80 percent in November of 1982 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 The state and federal governments calculate unemployment differently. States often measure unemployment by the number of people receiving unemployment benefits. But that, of course, can be misleading since unemployment benefits expire, The highest rate of U.S. unemployment was 24.9% in 1933, during the Great Depression. Unemployment remained above 14% from 1931 to 1940. It remained in the single digits until September 1982 when it reached 10.1%.

A reader of this blog recently asked an important question: what do I think is the actual unemployment rate in the US today, not the media’s 3.8% that is almost always quoted.

The unemployment rate is the percentage of unemployed workers in the labor force. It's a key indicator of the health of the country's economy. Unemployment typically rises during recessions and falls during periods of economic prosperity. It also declined during five U.S. wars, especially World War II. The unemployment rate rose in the recessions that followed those wars. A reader of this blog recently asked an important question: what do I think is the actual unemployment rate in the US today, not the media’s 3.8% that is almost always quoted. Will the “Real Unemployment Rate” Please Stand Up? Many economists believe that the popularly quoted Unemployment Rate understates the real unemployment rate because it fails to include workers who would like to work but have given up looking because they don’t think there are any jobs available for them.. Is U-6 the“Real Unemployment Rate”? This rate of unemployment is 8.2 percent, double the 4.1 percent reported rate. The US government no longer tracks unemployment among discouraged workers who have been out of the work force for more than one year. However, John Williams of shadowstats.com continues to estimate this rate and places it at 22 or 23 percent, a far cry from 4.1 percent. The unemployment rate is probably the single most quoted statistic that measures the health of the economy. Changes in the gross domestic product (GDP)—which signal the beginning and end of recessions—are also important, but the public understandably seems to care more about how difficult it is to find a job than how much the economy is actually producing.For this reason, it’s critical The unemployment rate is a variable that economists routinely use to measure the health of the economy. However, some people think the federal unemployment rate doesn’t accurately reflect reality. In fact, the real rate of unemployment may actually be much higher than what’s reported. True Unemployment Is Not Reflected in the Unemployment Rate There are many problems with relying too heavily on the national unemployment rate as a meaningful indicator of the state of the economy

U3, or the U-3 unemployment rate, is the most commonly reported rate of unemployment in the United States and represents the number of people actively seeking a job. The U-6 rate, or U6, includes discouraged, underemployed, and unemployed workers in the country.

This rate of unemployment is 8.2 percent, double the 4.1 percent reported rate. The US government no longer tracks unemployment among discouraged workers who have been out of the work force for more than one year. However, John Williams of shadowstats.com continues to estimate this rate and places it at 22 or 23 percent, a far cry from 4.1 percent. The unemployment rate is probably the single most quoted statistic that measures the health of the economy. Changes in the gross domestic product (GDP)—which signal the beginning and end of recessions—are also important, but the public understandably seems to care more about how difficult it is to find a job than how much the economy is actually producing.For this reason, it’s critical

The U-3 unemployment rate is the monthly headline number. The U-6 unemployment rate is the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) broadest unemployment measure, including short-term discouraged and other marginally-attached workers as well as those forced to work part-time because they cannot find full-time employment.

Unemployment Rate in the United States averaged 5.73 percent from 1948 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 10.80 percent in November of 1982 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 The state and federal governments calculate unemployment differently. States often measure unemployment by the number of people receiving unemployment benefits. But that, of course, can be misleading since unemployment benefits expire, The highest rate of U.S. unemployment was 24.9% in 1933, during the Great Depression. Unemployment remained above 14% from 1931 to 1940. It remained in the single digits until September 1982 when it reached 10.1%. U3, or the U-3 unemployment rate, is the most commonly reported rate of unemployment in the United States, and represents the number of people actively seeking a job. The U-6 rate, or U6, includes What’s the True Unemployment Rate in the US? by Jack Rasmus The Depression of 1873–79: New York City police violently attacking unemployed workers in Tompkins Square Park, Manhattan, New York

U3, or the U-3 unemployment rate, is the most commonly reported rate of unemployment in the United States, and represents the number of people actively seeking a job. The U-6 rate, or U6, includes

The unemployment rate is the percentage of unemployed workers in the labor force. It's a key indicator of the health of the country's economy. Unemployment typically rises during recessions and falls during periods of economic prosperity. It also declined during five U.S. wars, especially World War II. The unemployment rate rose in the recessions that followed those wars. A reader of this blog recently asked an important question: what do I think is the actual unemployment rate in the US today, not the media’s 3.8% that is almost always quoted. Will the “Real Unemployment Rate” Please Stand Up? Many economists believe that the popularly quoted Unemployment Rate understates the real unemployment rate because it fails to include workers who would like to work but have given up looking because they don’t think there are any jobs available for them.. Is U-6 the“Real Unemployment Rate”? This rate of unemployment is 8.2 percent, double the 4.1 percent reported rate. The US government no longer tracks unemployment among discouraged workers who have been out of the work force for more than one year. However, John Williams of shadowstats.com continues to estimate this rate and places it at 22 or 23 percent, a far cry from 4.1 percent. The unemployment rate is probably the single most quoted statistic that measures the health of the economy. Changes in the gross domestic product (GDP)—which signal the beginning and end of recessions—are also important, but the public understandably seems to care more about how difficult it is to find a job than how much the economy is actually producing.For this reason, it’s critical The unemployment rate is a variable that economists routinely use to measure the health of the economy. However, some people think the federal unemployment rate doesn’t accurately reflect reality. In fact, the real rate of unemployment may actually be much higher than what’s reported. True Unemployment Is Not Reflected in the Unemployment Rate There are many problems with relying too heavily on the national unemployment rate as a meaningful indicator of the state of the economy

A reader of this blog recently asked an important question: what do I think is the actual unemployment rate in the US today, not the media’s 3.8% that is almost always quoted. Will the “Real Unemployment Rate” Please Stand Up? Many economists believe that the popularly quoted Unemployment Rate understates the real unemployment rate because it fails to include workers who would like to work but have given up looking because they don’t think there are any jobs available for them.. Is U-6 the“Real Unemployment Rate”? This rate of unemployment is 8.2 percent, double the 4.1 percent reported rate. The US government no longer tracks unemployment among discouraged workers who have been out of the work force for more than one year. However, John Williams of shadowstats.com continues to estimate this rate and places it at 22 or 23 percent, a far cry from 4.1 percent. The unemployment rate is probably the single most quoted statistic that measures the health of the economy. Changes in the gross domestic product (GDP)—which signal the beginning and end of recessions—are also important, but the public understandably seems to care more about how difficult it is to find a job than how much the economy is actually producing.For this reason, it’s critical The unemployment rate is a variable that economists routinely use to measure the health of the economy. However, some people think the federal unemployment rate doesn’t accurately reflect reality. In fact, the real rate of unemployment may actually be much higher than what’s reported. True Unemployment Is Not Reflected in the Unemployment Rate There are many problems with relying too heavily on the national unemployment rate as a meaningful indicator of the state of the economy The U-3 unemployment rate is the monthly headline number. The U-6 unemployment rate is the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) broadest unemployment measure, including short-term discouraged and other marginally-attached workers as well as those forced to work part-time because they cannot find full-time employment.