US & World Economies US Economy Unemployment What Is the Current US Unemployment Rate? The unemployment rate was 3.7% in November 2022 By Kimberly Amadeo Updated on December 2, 2022 Reviewed by Robert C. Kelly Reviewed by Robert C. Kelly Robert Kelly is managing director of XTS Energy LLC, and has more than three decades of experience as a business executive. He is a professor of economics and has raised more than $4.5 billion in investment capital. learn about our financial review board In This Article View All In This Article What the Current Unemployment Rate Means for You Unemployment Rate vs. Jobs Report How to Use the Unemployment Rate Recent Unemployment History Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Photo: Halfpoint Images / Getty Images The current unemployment rate, which measures the percentage of workers who want a job but don’t have one, has remained low as the U.S. economy continues to rebound from COVID-19. The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks unemployment and jobs on a monthly basis. The current unemployment rate reveals more about the state of the overall economy and its impact on the average American's finances. By The Numbers The unemployment rate was 3.7% in November 2022, on par with pre-pandemic levels. That number is the same as it was in October, and unemployment has stayed within the range of 3.5% to 3.7% since March. Overall, there were 6 million unemployed people.In November, 263,000 jobs were added to the market, and the labor force participation rate didn't change much at 62.1%. What the Current Unemployment Rate Means for You When businesses are hiring, wages rise and fewer people are unemployed. That’s seemingly good news for you and your wallet. But that might not necessarily be the case. Because there are so few unemployed people, employers have to compete even harder to attract employees and get staffed up. That means pay rises–but inflation comes along for the ride. Inflation is makes gas, groceries, and nearly anything else you want to buy way more expensive. Note The inverse relationship between low levels of unemployment and high levels of inflation has been studied using the Phillips Curve since 1958. The Federal Reserve is typically trying to help you catch a break by raising interest rates, but in doing so also makes borrowing more expensive for consumers and businesses alike. High interest rates make it more expensive for individuals to buy a house or car, and for businesses to invest in equipment or more employees, which hurts the job market. Difference Between the Unemployment and Jobs Reports The unemployment rate and figures from the jobs report don't always tell the same story, because they are taken from two different surveys. The unemployment rate is taken from the household survey of individuals. It describes who is employed and who isn't based on their responses. The number of jobs added is taken from the establishment report, more commonly called the "nonfarm payroll report." This survey of businesses describes how many jobs were created or lost by industry. The number of unemployed doesn't match the number of jobs lost, because these reports are taken from completely different sources. Those discrepancies are expected, and the estimates are revised each month as more data comes in. How to Use the Unemployment Rate Keep in mind that the unemployment rate is a lagging indicator. It tells you what has already happened, since employers only lay off workers after business slows down. Companies resist hiring new workers when a recession is over, until they can be sure that the economy will stay strong. The economy could improve for months, and the recession could be over before the unemployment rate drops. It's not suitable for predicting trends, but it's useful for confirming them. Recent Unemployment History You can check the unemployment rates since 1929 to put this month's report into perspective, Unemployment stayed above 14% for nine years between 1931 and 1940. The unemployment rate reached a record of 24.8% in 1933 after a few years of increasing. April 2020's unemployment rate skyrocketed to 14.7% in only one month. Unemployment rose to 10.8% in November 1982, dropped to 3.8% in April 2000, then peaked at 10% in October 2009. These two recession-driven spikes resulted in elevated unemployment levels that lasted for years. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) How is the unemployment rate calculated? The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) calculates unemployment as the percentage of the eligible workforce not currently employed. Eligible workers are those age 16 or older who were available to work full time and actively looked for work in the past four weeks. Temporarily laid-off workers are also counted. How does a high unemployment rate affect the economy? Although high unemployment is a lagging indicator that demonstrates other economic problems, it can also cause economic damage of its own. When workers aren't participating in the economy, the gross domestic product will suffer, reducing economic growth. It can also create health problems among unemployed workers, leading to increased healthcare costs down the road. Studies have shown that sustained high unemployment can also cause long-term damage to workers' earning potential and wealth. What was the lowest unemployment rate in U.S. history? The U.S. reached its lowest unemployment rate in 1944, when unemployment was only 1.2%. Want to read more content like this? Sign up for The Balance’s newsletter for daily insights, analysis, and financial tips, all delivered straight to your inbox every morning! Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Employment Situation Summary.” Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Labor Force Statistics From the Current Population Survey: Comparing Employment From the BLS Household and Payroll Surveys." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Labor Force, Employment, and Unemployment, 1929-39: Estimating Methods," Page 51, Table 1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Top Picks." Select "Unemployment Rate," Click "Retrieve Data." Economic Policy Institute. "Sustained, High Joblessness Causes Lasting Damage to Wages, Benefits, Income, and Wealth." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Labor Force Statistics From the Current Population Survey."