The U.S. unemployment rate held at 3.7% in early 2024. This article presents the latest figures from over 50 countries and details the persistent gaps affecting youth, demographics, and regions.
Key Takeaways
- Nigeria's unemployment rate was 5.3% in Q4 2023 (new methodology)
- India's urban unemployment rate was 6.6% in 2023-24
- U.S. unemployment rate for Black or African American workers was 5.6% in February 2024
- The unemployment rate in the Euro Area stood at 6.5% in March 2024
- Global unemployment rate projected at 5.0% for 2024 by ILO
- Brazil's unemployment rate was 7.7% in March 2024
- U.S. long-term unemployment rate (27 weeks+) was 1.2 million persons in February 2024
- UAE unemployment rate was 2.5% in 2023
- Canada's unemployment rate was 6.1% in March 2024
- Australia's unemployment rate was 4.1% in March 2024
The unemployment rate held steady, signaling a stable labor market with only minor month to month changes.
Related reading
01 · Category
Africa5 stats
01
Nigeria's unemployment rate was 5.3% in Q4 2023 (new methodology)
02
Egypt's unemployment rate was 6.2% in Q1 2024
03
Morocco's unemployment rate was 13.3% in Q4 2023
04
Algeria's unemployment rate was 12.7% in 2023
05
Ghana unemployment rate was 13.4% in 2022
Interpretation
Africa Interpretation
While Nigeria's fresh statistical paint job looks impressively tidy, the region's unemployment picture is still a gallery of grim portraits where over a tenth of Morocco, Algeria, and Ghana's workforces are unfortunately starring as "the actively available."
02 · Category
Asia14 stats
01
India's urban unemployment rate was 6.6% in 2023-24
02
Japan's unemployment rate was 2.6% in March 2024
03
China's urban unemployment rate was 5.2% in March 2024
04
South Korea's unemployment rate was 2.7% in March 2024
05
Philippines unemployment rate was 3.9% in March 2024
06
Indonesia's unemployment rate was 4.8% in February 2024
07
Thailand's unemployment rate was 0.9% in January 2024
08
Vietnam's unemployment rate was 2.2% in Q1 2024
09
Malaysia's unemployment rate was 3.3% in March 2024
10
Singapore's unemployment rate was 1.9% in March 2024
11
Taiwan's unemployment rate was 3.4% in March 2024
12
Pakistan urban unemployment was 6.3% in 2020-21
13
Bangladesh unemployment rate was 4.7% in 2023
14
Sri Lanka unemployment rate was 4.3% in Q1 2024
Interpretation
Asia Interpretation
While East Asia seems to have mastered the art of keeping people busy, with Thailand's enviable 0.9% rate looking like a statistical magic trick, the South Asian giants are still wrestling with the more stubborn challenge of creating enough quality jobs for their vast urban populations.
03 · Category
Demographic14 stats
01
U.S. unemployment rate for Black or African American workers was 5.6% in February 2024
02
U.S. unemployment rate for Hispanics was 5.0% in February 2024
03
U.S. female unemployment rate was 3.6% in February 2024
04
U.S. male unemployment rate was 3.8% in February 2024
05
U.S. unemployment rate for 25+ years was 3.3% in February 2024
06
U.S. Asian unemployment rate was 3.0% in February 2024
07
U.S. White unemployment rate was 3.4% in February 2024
08
U.S. Native Hawaiian unemployment was 4.2% in 2023 annual
09
U.S. unemployment rate for veterans was 3.1% in 2023 annual avg
10
U.S. disability unemployment rate was 7.5% in 2023
11
U.S. older workers (55+) unemployment was 3.1% in Feb 2024
12
U.S. Native American unemployment was 6.6% in 2023
13
U.S. college grad unemployment was 2.1% in Feb 2024
14
U.S. high school grad no college unemployment 5.5% Feb 2024
Interpretation
Demographic Interpretation
The job market's uneven recovery feels like a game of musical chairs where some groups showed up to find a few of their seats already missing.
04 · Category
Europe30 stats
01
The unemployment rate in the Euro Area stood at 6.5% in March 2024
02
Spain's unemployment rate was 11.7% in March 2024
03
Germany's unemployment rate was 5.9% in March 2024
04
France's unemployment rate (ILO) was 7.4% in Q4 2023
05
Italy's unemployment rate was 7.1% in March 2024
06
UK's unemployment rate was 4.2% in Feb-Apr 2024
07
Greece's unemployment rate dropped to 10.0% in March 2024
08
Sweden's unemployment rate was 8.2% in March 2024
09
Poland's unemployment rate was 2.9% in March 2024
10
Netherlands unemployment rate was 3.7% in March 2024
11
Turkey's unemployment rate was 8.0% in March 2024
12
Belgium's unemployment rate was 5.8% in March 2024
13
Portugal's unemployment rate was 6.5% in March 2024
14
Austria's unemployment rate was 5.3% in March 2024
15
Finland's unemployment rate was 8.5% in March 2024
16
Denmark's unemployment rate was 4.9% in March 2024
17
Ireland's unemployment rate was 4.3% in March 2024
18
Norway's unemployment rate was 3.8% in March 2024
19
Switzerland's unemployment rate was 2.3% in March 2024
20
Czech Republic unemployment rate was 2.4% in March 2024
21
Hungary's unemployment rate was 4.2% in March 2024
22
Slovakia's unemployment rate was 5.6% in March 2024
23
Romania's unemployment rate was 5.7% in March 2024
24
Bulgaria's unemployment rate was 4.0% in March 2024
25
Lithuania's unemployment rate was 6.5% in March 2024
26
Latvia's unemployment rate was 6.8% in March 2024
27
Estonia's unemployment rate was 6.9% in March 2024
28
Cyprus unemployment rate was 6.2% in March 2024
29
Malta's unemployment rate was 3.1% in March 2024
30
Slovenia's unemployment rate was 3.7% in March 2024
Interpretation
Europe Interpretation
Europe presents a vibrant, if not entirely harmonious, orchestra of labor markets, where Switzerland's precision beats a steady 2.3%, Spain's flamenco of unemployment flares at 11.7%, and Poland's remarkable 2.9% keeps the tempo briskly optimistic.
05 · Category
Global1 stats
01
Global unemployment rate projected at 5.0% for 2024 by ILO
Interpretation
Global Interpretation
Behind this seemingly modest number lies a quiet, global sigh of 165 million people caught between the lines of economic recovery and the relentless grind of progress.
06 · Category
Latin America6 stats
01
Brazil's unemployment rate was 7.7% in March 2024
02
Mexico's unemployment rate was 2.5% in March 2024
03
Argentina's unemployment rate was 7.7% in Q4 2023
04
Chile's unemployment rate was 8.2% in March 2024
05
Peru's unemployment rate was 6.5% in March 2024
06
Colombia's unemployment rate was 10.2% in March 2024
Interpretation
Latin America Interpretation
While Argentina and Brazil are tied for second in the regional jobless pageant, Colombia is wearing the unemployment crown, Chile is nervously waiting backstage, Peru is comfortably in the middle of the pack, and Mexico is already celebrating its victory in the green room.
07 · Category
Long-term5 stats
01
U.S. long-term unemployment rate (27 weeks+) was 1.2 million persons in February 2024
02
U.S. long-term unemployed as percent of total was 20.5% in February 2024
03
U.S. long-term unemployment for women was 0.6 million in Feb 2024
04
U.S. long-term unemployment in construction was 15.2% of unemployed in 2023
05
U.S. long-term unemployment rate for men was 1.0% in 2023
Interpretation
Long-term Interpretation
While the headline unemployment figure may offer a veneer of calm, the fact that over a million Americans have been out of work for more than half a year—and a stubborn one in five of all jobless people are in that dire boat—reveals an economy with a deep, structural toothache that mere aspirin won't cure.
More related reading
08 · Category
Middle East1 stats
01
UAE unemployment rate was 2.5% in 2023
Interpretation
Middle East Interpretation
Looks like the UAE has turned unemployment into a unicorn: statistically real, but rarely seen in the wild.
09 · Category
North America1 stats
01
Canada's unemployment rate was 6.1% in March 2024
Interpretation
North America Interpretation
While it's tempting to crack a joke about 6.1% of the population mastering the art of the extended coffee break, this number quietly underscores a persistent tightness in the job market that continues to pinch household budgets.
10 · Category
Oceania2 stats
01
Australia's unemployment rate was 4.1% in March 2024
02
New Zealand unemployment rate was 4.3% in Q1 2024
Interpretation
Oceania Interpretation
While Australia holds its job market steady like a responsible adult at 4.1%, New Zealand, just across the ditch, is slightly less tidy at 4.3%, proving that even at the party of low unemployment, someone always spills a little.
11 · Category
Regional6 stats
01
U.S. unemployment rate in California was 5.3% in February 2024
02
U.S. unemployment in New York was 4.1% in February 2024
03
U.S. unemployment in Texas was 4.0% in February 2024
04
U.S. unemployment in Florida was 3.3% in February 2024
05
U.S. unemployment in Illinois was 4.5% in February 2024
06
U.S. unemployment in Pennsylvania was 3.7% in Feb 2024
Interpretation
Regional Interpretation
The Sunshine State isn't just a nickname, it's an economic boast, while California's laid-back vibe now includes a few more involuntary participants.
12 · Category
Sectoral1 stats
01
U.S. manufacturing unemployment 4.1% Feb 2024
Interpretation
Sectoral Interpretation
While a 4.1% manufacturing unemployment rate seems manageable on paper, it hints at a troubling squeeze where open factory jobs can't find the right hands, and some skilled hands can't find the right jobs.
13 · Category
US National1 stats
01
The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.7% in February 2024, seasonally adjusted
Interpretation
US National Interpretation
The unemployment rate sits at a cozy 3.7%, meaning the economy is giving most job seekers a fairly warm welcome, but it’s still keeping a few résumés out in the cold.
14 · Category
Youth8 stats
01
Youth unemployment rate (15-24) in South Africa was 59.7% in Q4 2023
02
U.S. youth unemployment rate (16-24) was 12.6% in February 2024
03
U.S. teen unemployment (16-19) was 13.4% in February 2024
04
U.S. Black youth unemployment was 17.0% in 2023 annual avg
05
U.S. Hispanic youth unemployment was 14.8% in 2023
06
U.S. youth unemployment in California was 14.2% in 2023
07
Kenya's youth unemployment was 67% in 2023
08
Ethiopia youth unemployment 27.1% in 2023
Interpretation
Youth Interpretation
A startling glance at global youth unemployment reveals a grim lottery where being born in South Africa or Kenya offers odds akin to a coin flip on finding work, while even the most disadvantaged American youth face prospects that would be considered a national emergency elsewhere.
report visual · Key figures
Unemployment rate snapshots
Across recent periods, unemployment rates vary widely by country and region.
2.6%
Japan's unemployment rate was 2.6% in March 2024
10%
Greece's unemployment rate dropped to 10.0% in March 2024
5.6%
U.S. unemployment rate for Black or African American workers was 5.6% in February 2024
4.7%
Bangladesh unemployment rate was 4.7% in 2023
5%
Global unemployment rate projected at 5.0% for 2024 by ILO
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Alexander Schmidt. (2026, February 13). Unemployment Rate Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/unemployment-rate-statistics
MLA
Alexander Schmidt. "Unemployment Rate Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/unemployment-rate-statistics.
Chicago
Alexander Schmidt. 2026. "Unemployment Rate Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/unemployment-rate-statistics.
Sources & references
45 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level