Key Takeaways
- The official U.S. unemployment rate (U-3) for May 2024 was 4.0 percent, seasonally adjusted, with 6.6 million unemployed persons.
- The official U.S. unemployment rate for April 2024 was 3.9 percent, seasonally adjusted.
- The official U.S. unemployment rate for March 2024 was 3.8 percent, seasonally adjusted.
- In May 2024, the unemployment rate for adult men (20 years and over) in the U.S. was 3.8 percent, seasonally adjusted.
- In May 2024, the unemployment rate for adult women (20 years and over) in the U.S. was 3.5 percent, seasonally adjusted.
- In May 2024, the unemployment rate for teenagers (16-19 years) in the U.S. was 13.1 percent, seasonally adjusted.
- The U.S. unemployment rate peaked at 14.8 percent in April 2020 due to COVID-19.
- The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.5 percent in January 2020, pre-pandemic low.
- In 2009, during Great Recession, U.S. unemployment reached 10.0 percent.
- In May 2024, California state unemployment rate was 5.3 percent, seasonally adjusted.
- In May 2024, Nevada state unemployment rate was 5.5 percent, seasonally adjusted.
- In May 2024, New Jersey state unemployment rate was 4.8 percent, seasonally adjusted.
- In May 2024, management, professional, and related occupations had U.S. unemployment rate of 2.1 percent.
- In May 2024, natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations unemployment was 4.2 percent.
- In May 2024, sales and office occupations unemployment rate was 4.0 percent.
Unemployment remained low but varied significantly by demographic and occupation.






