Record unemployment among older workers does not keep them out of the job market

Chart 1. Unemployment rates for civilian workers, by age, seasonally adjusted, 1948-2010
Reference month	Unemployment rate
Reference month	16-24 years	25-54 years	55 years and older
January 1948	6.8	2.5	2.9
February 1948	7.7	2.9	3.1
March 1948	8.7	2.8	3.0
April 1948	7.8	3.0	3.0
May 1948	6.7	2.7	3.1
June 1948	7.3	2.7	2.8
July 1948	7.5	2.6	2.8
August 1948	7.1	3.1	3.3
September 1948	6.7	3.1	3.2
October 1948	6.4	2.9	3.2
November 1948(1)	6.8	2.9	3.7
December 1948(1)	7.2	3.0	3.9
January 1949(1)	8.0	3.4	3.5
February 1949(1)	8.7	3.7	4.0
March 1949(1)	9.3	3.8	4.3
April 1949(1)	10.0	4.2	4.4
May 1949(1)	11.0	4.8	5.3
June 1949(1)	11.2	5.0	5.3
July 1949(1)	11.9	5.3	6.1
August 1949(1)	12.5	5.3	6.2
September 1949(1)	11.8	5.2	6.3
October 1949(1)	12.9	6.7	5.9
November 1949	11.4	5.3	5.5
December 1949	11.6	5.4	5.5
January 1950	12.2	5.1	5.3
February 1950	11.8	5.1	5.2
March 1950	10.9	5.1	5.3
April 1950	9.7	4.7	5.5
May 1950	10.0	4.6	4.7
June 1950	9.3	4.3	5.5
July 1950	8.7	4.2	4.3
August 1950	8.0	3.6	4.0
September 1950	8.7	3.5	3.8
October 1950	6.9	3.3	4.1
November 1950	7.1	3.4	4.0
December 1950	7.4	3.4	4.2
January 1951	5.9	3.0	3.8
February 1951	5.5	2.8	3.8
March 1951	5.8	2.7	3.1
April 1951	5.5	2.5	3.1
May 1951	4.8	2.6	2.9
June 1951	5.7	2.6	3.1
July 1951	5.9	2.5	2.7
August 1951	5.4	2.7	2.4
September 1951	5.8	2.9	2.7
October 1951	5.7	2.9	3.6
November 1951	6.6	2.8	3.3
December 1951	5.3	2.7	2.8
January 1952	6.2	2.5	2.5
February 1952	6.0	2.6	2.6
March 1952	5.9	2.3	2.6
April 1952	5.8	2.3	2.6
May 1952	6.3	2.3	2.7
June 1952	6.0	2.5	2.5
July 1952	6.4	2.6	2.8
August 1952	6.4	2.7	3.0
September 1952	7.1	2.3	2.7
October 1952	6.3	2.3	2.3
November 1952	5.9	2.3	2.1
December 1952	5.9	2.0	2.3
January 1953	5.2	2.4	2.5
February 1953	4.9	2.0	2.6
March 1953	5.3	2.0	2.5
April 1953	5.6	2.2	2.4
May 1953	4.8	2.2	2.0
June 1953	5.4	2.1	2.0
July 1953(1)	5.2	2.0	2.7
August 1953(1)	6.1	1.9	2.3
September 1953(1)	6.0	2.3	2.8
October 1953(1)	6.6	2.6	2.4
November 1953(1)	7.1	2.9	3.1
December 1953(1)	9.8	3.6	3.5
January 1954(1)	10.2	4.0	3.6
February 1954(1)	11.1	4.3	3.8
March 1954(1)	10.8	4.7	4.6
April 1954(1)	11.4	4.9	4.7
May 1954(1)	11.1	5.2	4.7
June 1954	9.5	5.1	4.6
July 1954	10.7	5.0	4.6
August 1954	11.1	5.2	4.6
September 1954	12.1	5.3	4.5
October 1954	10.4	5.1	4.7
November 1954	10.3	4.5	4.7
December 1954	10.0	4.1	4.4
January 1955	9.6	3.9	4.6
February 1955	9.0	3.8	4.2
March 1955	8.6	3.8	3.9
April 1955	8.6	4.1	3.9
May 1955	8.7	3.4	4.0
June 1955	8.7	3.2	4.1
July 1955	8.5	3.1	3.7
August 1955	8.6	3.2	4.1
September 1955	9.0	3.1	3.8
October 1955	8.4	3.4	4.5
November 1955	8.4	3.3	3.7
December 1955	8.2	3.3	3.8
January 1956	8.1	3.2	3.4
February 1956	8.0	3.2	3.4
March 1956	8.7	3.4	3.2
April 1956	8.4	3.1	3.6
May 1956	9.0	3.3	3.7
June 1956	9.2	3.3	3.7
July 1956	8.9	3.6	3.5
August 1956	8.1	3.3	3.1
September 1956	7.8	3.3	3.2
October 1956	8.1	3.1	3.2
November 1956	9.0	3.4	3.5
December 1956	8.3	3.5	3.5
January 1957	8.8	3.3	3.2
February 1957	8.4	3.1	3.3
March 1957	8.0	2.9	3.2
April 1957	8.5	3.1	3.1
May 1957	8.6	3.1	3.5
June 1957	9.1	3.4	3.3
July 1957	8.6	3.3	3.3
August 1957(1)	8.9	3.2	3.2
September 1957(1)	8.8	3.6	3.5
October 1957(1)	8.8	3.8	3.6
November 1957(1)	10.9	4.1	3.8
December 1957(1)	10.4	4.3	3.9
January 1958(1)	11.7	4.8	4.1
February 1958(1)	12.4	5.6	4.6
March 1958(1)	12.7	5.8	4.9
April 1958(1)	14.5	6.4	5.2
May 1958	13.8	6.4	5.1
June 1958	13.2	6.5	5.2
July 1958	14.5	6.4	5.3
August 1958	13.5	6.4	5.8
September 1958	13.9	5.8	5.6
October 1958	13.0	5.6	5.6
November 1958	12.0	5.0	5.2
December 1958	12.1	5.1	5.3
January 1959	11.6	4.9	4.8
February 1959	11.1	4.9	4.8
March 1959	11.1	4.6	4.5
April 1959	10.8	4.2	4.3
May 1959	10.0	4.1	4.4
June 1959	10.5	4.0	3.9
July 1959	10.5	4.1	4.3
August 1959	11.2	4.2	3.8
September 1959	11.3	4.4	4.2
October 1959	11.5	4.6	4.5
November 1959	11.3	4.8	4.4
December 1959	11.1	4.2	4.3
January 1960	10.9	4.1	4.2
February 1960	10.2	3.8	3.9
March 1960	11.5	4.2	4.2
April 1960(1)	10.9	4.1	4.0
May 1960(1)	10.7	4.0	3.7
June 1960(1)	11.0	4.3	4.1
July 1960(1)	10.8	4.5	4.0
August 1960(1)	11.4	4.6	4.3
September 1960(1)	11.0	4.6	4.0
October 1960(1)	11.8	5.1	4.5
November 1960(1)	12.0	5.2	4.3
December 1960(1)	13.0	5.6	4.5
January 1961(1)	13.0	5.4	4.9
February 1961(1)	13.3	5.7	4.9
March 1961	13.4	5.6	5.2
April 1961	14.3	5.5	5.5
May 1961	13.1	6.0	5.5
June 1961	13.1	5.7	5.5
July 1961	13.4	5.7	5.9
August 1961	13.0	5.3	5.6
September 1961	13.1	5.2	5.7
October 1961	12.8	5.2	5.3
November 1961	12.0	4.9	4.7
December 1961	11.9	4.7	4.9
January 1962	12.0	4.6	4.5
February 1962	11.6	4.4	4.0
March 1962	11.6	4.4	3.9
April 1962	11.2	4.6	3.8
May 1962	11.0	4.3	4.3
June 1962	10.5	4.5	4.1
July 1962	11.1	4.3	3.9
August 1962	11.9	4.4	4.3
September 1962	11.3	4.4	4.5
October 1962	11.1	4.0	4.7
November 1962	11.9	4.3	4.7
December 1962	11.1	4.3	4.5
January 1963	11.6	4.6	4.2
February 1963	12.4	4.6	4.4
March 1963	12.0	4.5	4.0
April 1963	12.0	4.4	4.2
May 1963	12.7	4.4	4.4
June 1963	12.2	4.1	4.2
July 1963	12.6	4.2	3.9
August 1963	11.8	4.2	3.6
September 1963	12.5	4.0	3.8
October 1963	12.5	4.0	3.9
November 1963	12.5	4.4	4.1
December 1963	11.7	4.1	4.2
January 1964	12.1	4.1	4.0
February 1964	11.8	3.9	4.2
March 1964	11.8	4.0	4.0
April 1964	11.9	4.0	3.9
May 1964	11.6	3.6	3.7
June 1964	11.7	3.7	3.7
July 1964	10.7	3.6	3.5
August 1964	11.5	3.6	3.6
September 1964	11.1	3.5	4.0
October 1964	11.4	3.6	3.8
November 1964	10.8	3.6	3.2
December 1964	11.4	3.7	3.0
January 1965	11.1	3.5	3.1
February 1965	11.2	3.7	3.5
March 1965	10.6	3.4	3.3
April 1965	11.1	3.3	3.5
May 1965	10.3	3.3	3.0
June 1965	10.4	3.2	3.4
July 1965	9.9	3.1	3.1
August 1965	9.5	3.1	3.3
September 1965	9.6	3.1	2.9
October 1965	9.5	2.9	2.9
November 1965	9.3	2.9	3.0
December 1965	9.1	2.8	2.7
January 1966	8.8	2.8	2.8
February 1966	8.2	2.6	2.8
March 1966	8.7	2.6	2.7
April 1966	8.7	2.6	2.5
May 1966	9.0	2.6	2.8
June 1966	8.8	2.6	2.4
July 1966	8.3	2.7	2.8
August 1966	8.5	2.7	2.6
September 1966	8.4	2.5	2.5
October 1966	8.3	2.6	2.5
November 1966	8.1	2.6	2.4
December 1966	8.6	2.6	2.6
January 1967	8.5	2.7	2.9
February 1967	8.4	2.7	2.4
March 1967	8.1	2.7	2.6
April 1967	8.2	2.7	2.5
May 1967	8.5	2.6	2.6
June 1967	8.7	2.9	2.2
July 1967	8.9	2.6	2.3
August 1967	8.8	2.5	2.6
September 1967	8.9	2.6	2.2
October 1967	9.1	2.8	2.4
November 1967	9.0	2.7	2.6
December 1967	8.9	2.7	2.4
January 1968	8.4	2.5	2.6
February 1968	9.0	2.6	2.4
March 1968	8.8	2.4	2.3
April 1968	8.1	2.4	1.9
May 1968	8.5	2.2	2.1
June 1968	9.6	2.2	2.3
July 1968	9.0	2.4	2.2
August 1968	8.6	2.3	2.0
September 1968	8.2	2.2	2.0
October 1968	8.2	2.2	2.0
November 1968	8.4	2.2	2.2
December 1968	8.5	2.1	2.0
January 1969	8.2	2.3	2.0
February 1969	8.1	2.2	2.1
March 1969	8.3	2.2	1.9
April 1969	8.2	2.2	1.9
May 1969	8.3	2.3	1.7
June 1969	8.3	2.3	1.9
July 1969	8.7	2.3	2.0
August 1969	8.2	2.3	2.1
September 1969	8.9	2.4	2.2
October 1969	8.8	2.3	2.2
November 1969	8.2	2.4	2.0
December 1969(1)	8.4	2.3	2.1
January 1970(1)	9.3	2.5	2.1
February 1970(1)	9.8	2.8	2.4
March 1970(1)	9.6	3.1	2.7
April 1970(1)	10.4	3.1	2.7
May 1970(1)	10.4	3.2	3.1
June 1970(1)	11.2	3.4	2.8
July 1970(1)	11.0	3.6	2.9
August 1970(1)	11.4	3.6	2.8
September 1970(1)	12.1	3.6	3.1
October 1970(1)	12.2	3.8	3.1
November 1970(1)	12.9	4.1	3.3
December 1970	12.8	4.4	3.5
January 1971	12.6	4.1	3.7
February 1971	12.5	4.1	3.6
March 1971	12.8	4.2	3.4
April 1971	12.5	4.2	3.5
May 1971	13.0	4.1	3.4
June 1971	13.2	4.0	3.2
July 1971	12.9	4.3	3.1
August 1971	12.8	4.3	3.4
September 1971	12.4	4.3	3.2
October 1971	12.4	4.3	2.9
November 1971	13.0	4.2	3.4
December 1971	12.7	4.3	3.4
January 1972	12.7	3.9	3.2
February 1972	12.8	3.8	3.2
March 1972	12.8	3.8	3.3
April 1972	12.4	3.8	3.6
May 1972	11.8	3.9	3.5
June 1972	11.8	3.9	3.5
July 1972	12.0	3.9	3.4
August 1972	12.1	3.8	3.5
September 1972	12.0	3.7	3.2
October 1972	12.0	3.7	3.5
November 1972	11.5	3.5	2.8
December 1972	11.3	3.4	3.0
January 1973	10.2	3.4	2.8
February 1973	10.9	3.4	2.8
March 1973	10.4	3.3	2.6
April 1973	11.0	3.3	2.5
May 1973	10.7	3.2	2.5
June 1973	10.4	3.3	2.6
July 1973	10.6	3.1	2.8
August 1973	10.3	3.2	2.7
September 1973	10.7	3.1	2.7
October 1973	10.0	3.0	2.7
November 1973(1)	10.4	3.1	2.7
December 1973(1)	10.5	3.3	2.6
January 1974(1)	10.8	3.3	2.8
February 1974(1)	11.0	3.4	2.8
March 1974(1)	10.7	3.4	2.6
April 1974(1)	10.5	3.6	2.6
May 1974(1)	11.3	3.3	2.7
June 1974(1)	11.8	3.4	2.7
July 1974(1)	12.1	3.5	2.8
August 1974(1)	11.7	3.6	3.2
September 1974(1)	12.6	3.9	3.1
October 1974(1)	12.5	4.2	3.1
November 1974(1)	13.4	4.7	3.2
December 1974(1)	14.2	5.2	3.8
January 1975(1)	15.1	6.1	4.2
February 1975(1)	15.6	6.0	4.5
March 1975(1)	16.2	6.4	4.6
April 1975	16.5	6.7	4.9
May 1975	16.9	6.9	5.0
June 1975	16.3	6.8	4.9
July 1975	16.6	6.5	4.9
August 1975	16.3	6.3	4.7
September 1975	16.1	6.4	4.6
October 1975	16.1	6.4	4.9
November 1975	15.7	6.2	4.8
December 1975	15.6	6.0	5.0
January 1976	15.4	5.7	4.6
February 1976	14.7	5.6	4.6
March 1976	14.6	5.4	4.7
April 1976	14.9	5.5	4.6
May 1976	14.3	5.4	4.3
June 1976	14.5	5.6	4.8
July 1976	14.2	5.9	4.9
August 1976	15.0	5.7	4.7
September 1976	14.4	5.8	4.7
October 1976	14.9	5.7	4.5
November 1976	14.9	5.8	4.5
December 1976	14.8	5.8	4.2
January 1977	14.3	5.5	4.3
February 1977	14.5	5.5	4.7
March 1977	14.2	5.5	4.3
April 1977	13.7	5.3	4.1
May 1977	13.7	5.1	4.1
June 1977	14.0	5.2	3.9
July 1977	13.3	5.0	3.9
August 1977	13.7	5.0	3.8
September 1977	13.5	4.8	4.0
October 1977	13.0	5.0	4.2
November 1977	13.1	4.8	4.0
December 1977	12.2	4.6	3.9
January 1978	12.9	4.5	3.5
February 1978	13.0	4.3	3.3
March 1978	13.0	4.4	3.2
April 1978	12.6	4.2	3.2
May 1978	11.8	4.4	3.2
June 1978	11.7	4.1	3.1
July 1978	12.5	4.3	3.1
August 1978	11.7	4.3	2.9
September 1978	12.1	4.2	3.3
October 1978	11.5	4.1	3.1
November 1978	11.9	4.1	3.0
December 1978	12.1	4.3	3.0
January 1979	11.6	4.3	2.9
February 1979	11.7	4.2	3.1
March 1979	11.6	4.2	3.2
April 1979	11.6	4.2	3.0
May 1979	11.6	3.9	3.1
June 1979	11.5	4.0	2.9
July 1979	11.6	4.0	3.1
August 1979	12.2	4.3	3.1
September 1979	12.1	4.1	2.9
October 1979	12.1	4.2	3.1
November 1979	11.6	4.3	2.9
December 1979	12.4	4.2	2.8
January 1980(1)	12.6	4.5	3.4
February 1980(1)	12.5	4.7	2.9
March 1980(1)	12.3	4.9	2.9
April 1980(1)	13.1	5.4	3.3
May 1980(1)	14.7	5.7	3.4
June 1980(1)	14.7	5.8	3.3
July 1980(1)	14.9	6.0	3.4
August 1980	14.7	6.1	3.4
September 1980	14.3	5.9	3.5
October 1980	14.5	5.8	3.3
November 1980	14.4	5.7	3.4
December 1980	13.7	5.6	3.5
January 1981	14.5	5.7	3.5
February 1981	14.6	5.6	3.6
March 1981	14.5	5.6	3.7
April 1981	14.5	5.4	3.3
May 1981	15.1	5.6	3.4
June 1981	14.9	5.6	3.3
July 1981(1)	14.1	5.5	3.5
August 1981(1)	14.5	5.7	3.5
September 1981(1)	14.9	5.8	3.8
October 1981(1)	15.3	6.1	3.8
November 1981(1)	15.9	6.4	3.7
December 1981(1)	16.1	6.8	4.1
January 1982(1)	16.5	6.8	4.2
February 1982(1)	17.0	6.9	4.4
March 1982(1)	16.9	7.3	4.7
April 1982(1)	17.4	7.4	5.0
May 1982(1)	17.3	7.6	4.9
June 1982(1)	17.5	7.8	5.1
July 1982(1)	18.0	8.0	5.1
August 1982(1)	18.1	8.0	5.1
September 1982(1)	18.2	8.5	5.1
October 1982(1)	18.5	8.7	5.4
November 1982(1)	19.0	8.9	5.5
December 1982	18.9	9.1	5.7
January 1983	18.5	8.7	5.5
February 1983	18.4	8.7	5.6
March 1983	18.2	8.7	5.4
April 1983	18.0	8.5	5.8
May 1983	17.7	8.5	5.4
June 1983	17.8	8.4	5.5
July 1983	16.8	7.8	5.2
August 1983	17.3	7.8	5.0
September 1983	16.4	7.6	5.0
October 1983	16.2	7.2	4.8
November 1983	15.4	6.9	4.8
December 1983	14.9	6.8	4.9
January 1984	14.8	6.5	4.7
February 1984	14.3	6.4	4.4
March 1984	14.4	6.3	4.3
April 1984	14.5	6.3	4.4
May 1984	13.6	6.0	4.5
June 1984	13.2	5.8	4.6
July 1984	13.7	6.1	4.4
August 1984	14.1	6.0	4.5
September 1984	14.0	5.9	4.3
October 1984	13.6	5.9	4.6
November 1984	13.2	5.8	4.4
December 1984	13.7	5.9	4.1
January 1985	13.6	6.0	4.3
February 1985	13.6	5.9	4.0
March 1985	13.6	5.9	3.9
April 1985	13.2	6.1	4.1
May 1985	13.6	5.8	4.2
June 1985	13.5	6.0	4.4
July 1985	14.2	5.9	4.5
August 1985	13.3	5.8	4.2
September 1985	13.3	5.9	4.0
October 1985	14.1	5.7	3.9
November 1985	13.5	5.6	3.8
December 1985	13.5	5.6	3.9
January 1986	13.0	5.4	3.9
February 1986	13.6	5.9	4.3
March 1986	13.2	5.9	4.2
April 1986	13.7	5.8	3.9
May 1986	13.7	5.9	3.6
June 1986	13.5	5.9	3.8
July 1986	13.3	5.8	3.9
August 1986	13.1	5.6	3.8
September 1986	13.6	5.7	3.9
October 1986	13.0	5.7	4.1
November 1986	12.8	5.7	3.8
December 1986	13.0	5.4	3.4
January 1987	13.0	5.5	3.2
February 1987	13.1	5.4	3.0
March 1987	12.8	5.4	3.5
April 1987	12.6	5.1	3.5
May 1987	12.5	5.1	3.5
June 1987	12.3	5.0	3.2
July 1987	11.8	5.0	3.1
August 1987	11.7	4.9	3.3
September 1987	11.8	4.8	3.4
October 1987	11.8	4.9	3.2
November 1987	11.5	4.7	3.4
December 1987	11.2	4.7	3.1
January 1988	11.5	4.6	3.4
February 1988	11.3	4.7	3.2
March 1988	11.8	4.5	3.1
April 1988	11.2	4.4	3.0
May 1988	11.3	4.5	3.3
June 1988	10.5	4.4	3.0
July 1988	10.8	4.4	3.0
August 1988	11.0	4.5	3.1
September 1988	10.8	4.4	2.9
October 1988	10.8	4.4	2.8
November 1988	10.5	4.5	2.8
December 1988	10.8	4.3	3.1
January 1989	11.8	4.2	3.0
February 1989	10.6	4.1	3.0
March 1989	10.1	4.1	2.7
April 1989	10.6	4.3	2.9
May 1989	10.4	4.2	3.0
June 1989	11.2	4.1	3.3
July 1989	10.6	4.2	3.1
August 1989	10.9	4.1	3.0
September 1989	11.1	4.3	3.0
October 1989	11.0	4.3	3.0
November 1989	11.3	4.3	3.3
December 1989	11.2	4.3	3.4
January 1990	10.8	4.3	3.4
February 1990	10.7	4.2	3.3
March 1990	10.6	4.2	3.2
April 1990	11.1	4.3	3.2
May 1990	10.8	4.3	3.0
June 1990	10.4	4.3	2.8
July 1990(1)	10.7	4.6	3.1
August 1990(1)	11.5	4.7	3.2
September 1990(1)	11.7	4.8	3.3
October 1990(1)	11.8	4.9	3.6
November 1990(1)	12.0	5.2	3.5
December 1990(1)	12.0	5.3	3.5
January 1991(1)	12.6	5.2	3.5
February 1991(1)	12.8	5.5	3.8
March 1991(1)	13.1	5.7	4.0
April 1991	12.7	5.7	3.8
May 1991	13.6	5.8	4.0
June 1991	13.6	5.7	4.2
July 1991	13.8	5.6	3.9
August 1991	13.5	5.8	3.9
September 1991	13.4	5.8	3.8
October 1991	13.9	5.9	3.7
November 1991	13.8	5.9	4.2
December 1991	14.6	6.0	4.4
January 1992	13.9	6.2	4.4
February 1992	14.2	6.3	4.4
March 1992	14.1	6.3	4.5
April 1992	13.6	6.3	4.8
May 1992	14.4	6.5	4.9
June 1992	15.2	6.5	5.3
July 1992	14.5	6.4	5.3
August 1992	14.2	6.5	5.0
September 1992	14.5	6.4	4.8
October 1992	13.5	6.4	4.9
November 1992	14.3	6.3	4.7
December 1992	14.2	6.3	4.6
January 1993	14.0	6.1	4.4
February 1993	14.1	6.0	4.3
March 1993	13.6	6.0	4.3
April 1993	13.8	5.9	4.2
May 1993	14.2	5.9	4.2
June 1993	13.7	6.0	4.3
July 1993	13.1	5.9	4.3
August 1993	13.0	5.7	4.2
September 1993	12.6	5.7	4.6
October 1993	13.0	5.8	4.5
November 1993	12.9	5.5	4.2
December 1993	12.5	5.5	4.4
January 1994(2)	13.4	5.4	4.5
February 1994	12.9	5.5	4.5
March 1994	13.1	5.3	4.5
April 1994	13.3	5.1	4.2
May 1994	12.5	4.9	4.1
June 1994	12.4	4.9	4.0
July 1994	12.4	4.9	4.1
August 1994	12.5	4.9	4.1
September 1994	12.1	4.8	3.7
October 1994	12.0	4.7	4.0
November 1994	11.4	4.5	3.9
December 1994	11.5	4.4	3.5
January 1995	11.4	4.5	3.9
February 1995	11.7	4.3	3.6
March 1995	11.6	4.3	3.5
April 1995	12.0	4.6	3.8
May 1995	11.9	4.6	3.8
June 1995	12.0	4.5	3.8
July 1995	12.5	4.5	3.8
August 1995	12.5	4.4	3.7
September 1995	12.7	4.4	3.6
October 1995	12.4	4.4	3.5
November 1995	12.0	4.5	3.8
December 1995	12.4	4.4	3.5
January 1996	12.8	4.5	3.6
February 1996	12.2	4.3	3.7
March 1996	12.2	4.3	3.6
April 1996	12.0	4.4	3.3
May 1996	12.2	4.4	3.6
June 1996	11.8	4.2	3.5
July 1996	12.4	4.2	3.7
August 1996	11.6	4.1	3.2
September 1996	11.4	4.2	3.3
October 1996	11.6	4.1	3.2
November 1996	11.9	4.3	3.0
December 1996	11.8	4.2	3.4
January 1997	12.2	4.2	3.1
February 1997	11.8	4.2	3.1
March 1997	11.7	4.1	3.2
April 1997	11.6	3.9	3.0
May 1997	11.1	3.9	3.1
June 1997	11.4	3.9	3.2
July 1997	11.2	3.8	3.0
August 1997	11.1	3.8	3.1
September 1997	11.2	3.8	3.0
October 1997	11.0	3.7	2.9
November 1997	10.8	3.5	2.7
December 1997	10.5	3.7	2.7
January 1998	10.9	3.6	2.7
February 1998	10.6	3.6	2.6
March 1998	10.5	3.7	2.7
April 1998	9.7	3.4	2.6
May 1998	10.3	3.4	2.6
June 1998	10.6	3.5	2.6
July 1998	10.6	3.5	2.8
August 1998	10.8	3.4	2.7
September 1998	11.0	3.4	2.7
October 1998	10.5	3.5	2.7
November 1998	9.8	3.4	3.0
December 1998	9.6	3.4	2.9
January 1999	10.2	3.3	2.8
February 1999	10.1	3.4	2.8
March 1999	9.9	3.2	2.8
April 1999	10.0	3.3	2.9
May 1999	9.6	3.2	2.8
June 1999	10.0	3.2	3.1
July 1999	9.9	3.3	3.0
August 1999	9.6	3.2	2.7
September 1999	10.2	3.2	2.6
October 1999	10.0	3.1	2.6
November 1999	9.9	3.0	2.6
December 1999	9.6	3.0	2.6
January 2000	9.4	3.1	2.7
February 2000	9.9	3.0	2.8
March 2000	9.6	3.0	2.7
April 2000	9.2	2.9	2.3
May 2000	9.8	3.1	2.5
June 2000	9.3	3.1	2.3
July 2000	9.3	3.2	2.5
August 2000	9.3	3.2	2.7
September 2000	8.9	3.1	2.7
October 2000	8.9	3.0	2.7
November 2000	9.1	3.0	2.8
December 2000	9.2	3.0	2.4
January 2001	9.6	3.3	2.7
February 2001	9.6	3.3	2.8
March 2001(1)	9.8	3.3	2.7
April 2001(1)	10.2	3.4	2.7
May 2001(1)	9.9	3.5	2.6
June 2001(1)	10.4	3.6	2.7
July 2001(1)	10.2	3.7	2.9
August 2001(1)	11.2	3.9	3.0
September 2001(1)	10.8	4.0	3.3
October 2001(1)	11.5	4.4	3.5
November 2001(1)	11.6	4.6	3.5
December 2001	12.2	4.7	3.9
January 2002	12.1	4.7	3.6
February 2002	11.8	4.7	3.9
March 2002	12.5	4.7	3.6
April 2002	12.3	4.9	4.0
May 2002	11.6	5.0	3.9
June 2002	11.8	4.8	3.9
July 2002	12.1	4.8	3.7
August 2002	12.0	4.7	3.9
September 2002	11.7	4.7	3.8
October 2002	11.8	4.8	3.9
November 2002	12.1	5.0	3.6
December 2002	12.1	4.9	4.3
January 2003	12.0	4.8	4.1
February 2003	12.1	5.0	3.9
March 2003	12.0	5.0	3.9
April 2003	12.6	5.0	4.2
May 2003	12.9	5.1	4.3
June 2003	13.2	5.2	4.4
July 2003	13.0	5.1	4.1
August 2003	12.3	5.1	4.2
September 2003	12.8	5.1	4.0
October 2003	12.2	5.1	3.8
November 2003	12.1	4.9	3.9
December 2003	11.7	4.8	3.9
January 2004	12.0	4.7	3.7
February 2004	11.7	4.7	3.8
March 2004	12.0	4.9	3.7
April 2004	11.6	4.6	3.8
May 2004	12.1	4.6	4.0
June 2004	12.0	4.6	4.1
July 2004	12.1	4.5	3.5
August 2004	11.5	4.5	3.7
September 2004	11.7	4.4	3.7
October 2004	12.1	4.3	3.8
November 2004	11.5	4.4	3.7
December 2004	11.7	4.4	3.4
January 2005	11.6	4.3	3.5
February 2005	12.4	4.3	3.6
March 2005	11.8	4.2	3.5
April 2005	11.8	4.1	3.5
May 2005	11.7	4.1	3.3
June 2005	11.1	4.1	3.1
July 2005	10.7	4.1	3.4
August 2005	11.1	4.0	3.2
September 2005	10.8	4.2	3.6
October 2005	10.8	4.1	3.2
November 2005	11.1	4.2	3.2
December 2005	10.5	4.0	3.2
January 2006	10.5	3.8	3.1
February 2006	10.8	4.0	2.9
March 2006	10.5	3.9	2.6
April 2006	10.3	3.9	3.0
May 2006	10.0	3.8	3.0
June 2006	10.4	3.7	3.0
July 2006	10.9	3.8	3.1
August 2006	10.7	3.8	2.9
September 2006	10.6	3.7	2.9
October 2006	10.6	3.4	3.0
November 2006	10.6	3.6	3.0
December 2006	10.0	3.6	3.0
January 2007	10.3	3.7	3.3
February 2007	9.9	3.7	3.1
March 2007	9.9	3.5	3.1
April 2007	10.3	3.6	3.0
May 2007	9.9	3.6	3.2
June 2007	10.6	3.6	3.1
July 2007	10.5	3.8	3.2
August 2007	10.7	3.8	3.2
September 2007	11.1	3.8	3.1
October 2007	10.8	3.8	3.1
November 2007	10.8	3.9	3.0
December 2007(1)	11.8	4.1	3.2
January 2008(1)	11.7	4.0	3.2
February 2008(1)	11.4	3.9	3.2
March 2008(1)	11.4	4.2	3.4
April 2008(1)	10.9	4.2	3.0
May 2008(1)	13.0	4.4	3.3
June 2008(1)	12.8	4.5	3.3
July 2008(1)	13.5	4.7	3.7
August 2008(1)	13.2	5.2	4.2
September 2008(1)	13.5	5.2	4.3
October 2008(1)	13.7	5.6	4.6
November 2008(1)	14.0	5.9	4.8
December 2008(1)	14.9	6.4	5.0
January 2009(1)	15.0	6.9	5.3
February 2009(1)	15.8	7.3	5.7
March 2009(1)	16.4	7.7	6.2
April 2009(1)	16.7	7.9	6.4
May 2009(1)	17.5	8.5	6.7
June 2009(1)	17.9	8.5	7.0
July 2009(1)	18.0	8.4	6.7
August 2009(1)	18.3	8.8	6.8
September 2009(1)	18.3	9.1	6.8
October 2009(1)	19.2	9.2	7.0
November 2009(1)	19.1	8.9	7.1
December 2009(1)	18.9	8.9	7.2
January 2010(1)	18.9	8.6	6.8
Footnotes: (1) Represents recessionary period, as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not yet determined an end point for the recession that began in December 2007. (2) Beginning in 1994, data reflect the introduction of a major redesign of the Current Population Survey.
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

US Department of Labor

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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