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UnemploymentFor millions of Americans, the prospect of becoming unemployed is a persistent source of financial anxiety. The US unemployment rate, or the percentage of people in the labor force who are actively looking for work but aren't currently employed, has long been considered an economic bellwether, with many economists agreeing that a rate between 4% and 5% is considered healthy. As of June 2026, the US unemployment rate was 4.2%. Americans who are unemployed for up to 26 weeks while actively looking for work can apply for unemployment benefits. These weekly payments, facilitated by the government, are calculated based on one's previous wages and funded by employer payroll taxes. Also known as unemployment insurance, the program was introduced as part of the Social Security Act that Congress passed during the Great Depression in 1935 after unemployment hit a record high of about 25% in 1933. Economic downturns are the primary cause of unemployment in the US, with a slowdown in economic activity leading to a decreased demand for goods and services, resulting in layoffs and business closures.Explore Unemployment
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Unemployment benefits are calculated as a percentage of a worker's average weekly wages over a recent base period. CNBCUnemployment is generally sorted into four different types: frictional, cyclical, structural, and institutional. InvestopediaThe US Bureau of Labor Statistics releases a monthly 'jobs report' that tracks the unemployment rate, the number of Americans currently on payroll, and more. The Wall Street JournalThe unemployment rate is calculated using a monthly survey that the Bureau of Labor Statistics uses to identify those who are employed or actively looking for work. USAFactsExplore an interactive tool that reveals why Americans are unemployed—almost 30% of unemployed Americans ages 25 to 54 cited being laid off as the reason for their unemployment, for instance. FlowingDataThe US youth unemployment rate jumped from 6.6% in 2023 to 10.4% in 2025.Youth unemployment in the U.S. is rising. For 16-to-24-year-olds, the unemployment rate jumped from 6.6% in April 2023, the lowest since the pandemic, to 10.4% in September, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Recent college graduates are particularly struggling to find jobs, prompting economists at The Burning Glass Institute to describe the situation as “no country for young grads.” Watch the video to find out why these young minds are not landing jobs, whether AI plays a role, and what this means for the economy.
Chapters:
0:00: Introduction
1:47: Chapter 1 - Why youth unemployment is rising
6:59: Chapter 2 - Economic impact
8:42: Chapter 3 - Navigating the job market
Produced by: Anuz Thapa
Edited by: Andrea Miller
Narration by: Jordan Smith
Graphics by: Jason Reginato, Emily Park
Senior Director of Video: Lindsey Jacobson
Additional Footage: Getty Images, Michael Lavin
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How AI Is Killing The Value Of A College Degree CNBCThe clearest sign of a recession is a steady increase in job losses and high unemployment.The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) looks at six key economic indicators, including industrial production, to determine when the economy is experiencing a recession. CBS NewsSee which college degrees had the highest unemployment rates as of May 2025, with degrees in anthropology, physics, and computer engineering ranking high on the list.Data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows which college degrees have had the highest unemployment rates in the US as of May 2025. Degrees in anthropology, physics, and computer engineering ranked high on the list. Visual CapitalistThe Sahm rule attempts to predict recessions based on unemployment trends.The Sahm rule states that when the three-month average US unemployment rate rises by 0.5 percentage points from a 12-month low, the US is already in a recession. 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