Labor Marketmonthly
Unemployment Rate (U3)
Headline unemployment rate, percentage of the labor force without jobs.
The Unemployment Rate (U3) is currently 4.30%, last updated .
4.30%
1W -2.27%1M -2.27%3M +0.00%
Updated 6m agoThe labor market is the backbone of the consumer economy. Rising jobless claims and a climbing unemployment rate are classic late-cycle signals that precede recessions and rate cuts. The Fed has a dual mandate, maximum employment and stable prices, so labor data directly influences the path of monetary policy.
Updated just now
Recent Data
| Date | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 1, 2026 | 4.30% | -2.27% |
| Feb 1, 2026 | 4.40% | +2.33% |
| Jan 1, 2026 | 4.30% | -2.27% |
| Dec 1, 2025 | 4.40% | -2.22% |
| Nov 1, 2025 | 4.50% | +2.27% |
| Sep 1, 2025 | 4.40% | +2.33% |
| Aug 1, 2025 | 4.30% | +0.00% |
| Jul 1, 2025 | 4.30% | +4.88% |
| Jun 1, 2025 | 4.10% | -4.65% |
| May 1, 2025 | 4.30% | — |
Related in Labor Market
Underemployment Rate (U6)
Broadest unemployment measure including discouraged and part-time workers.
Initial Jobless Claims
Weekly first-time unemployment insurance claims, the highest-frequency labor indicator.
Initial Claims 4-Week MA
Smoothed jobless claims average, removes weekly volatility.
Continued Claims
Ongoing unemployment insurance claims, measures difficulty of finding new work.
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Forecast 2026
Unemployment Rate (U3) Outlook
Scenario-weighted forecast using regime implied approach.
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Scenario
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All Labor Market Data
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Frequently Asked Questions
▶What is Unemployment Rate (U3)?
Headline unemployment rate, percentage of the labor force without jobs.
▶How does Unemployment Rate (U3) relate to labor market?
Unemployment Rate (U3) is part of the Labor Market category. The labor market is the backbone of the consumer economy. Rising jobless claims and a climbing unemployment rate are classic late-cycle signals that precede recessions and rate cuts. The Fed has a dual mandate, maximum employment and stable prices, so labor data directly influences the path of monetary policy.
▶How often is Unemployment Rate (U3) updated?
Unemployment Rate (U3) is updated once per month when the releasing agency publishes new data. Each metric page on Convex shows the exact time of the last data update and provides historical data going back up to five years.
▶Where does Convex source Unemployment Rate (U3) data?
Convex sources Unemployment Rate (U3) data from the Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) API, maintained by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Data is fetched automatically and displayed alongside interactive charts, AI analysis, and historical context.
▶What can I do on the Unemployment Rate (U3) chart page?
The Unemployment Rate (U3) page includes an interactive chart with selectable time ranges (1 month to 5 years), percentage changes over multiple timeframes, a table of recent readings, AI-generated analysis, and links to related metrics and comparisons.
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Data sourced from FRED, CoinGecko, CBOE, CFTC, and EIA. Updated monthly. This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.