Unemployment duration as of July 2003
August 05, 2003
In July, the number of persons unemployed for less than 5 weeks decreased by 279,000, to 2.73 million, representing 30.3 percent of the total unemployed.
[Chart data—TXT]
There were 2.0 million unemployed persons in July who had been looking for work for 27 weeks or longer, about the same level as in June. They represented 21.7 percent of the total unemployed. The average (mean) unemployment duration was 19.3 weeks; the median duration was 10.0 weeks.
The unemployment rate edged down in July. The unemployment rate was 6.2 percent in July; the number of unemployed persons was 9.1 million. Both measures edged down over the month, largely offsetting increases in June.
These data are from the Current Population Survey, a monthly survey of households which provides data on the labor force, employment, unemployment, and persons not in the labor force. Numbers in this article are seasonally adjusted. For more information, see "The Employment Situation: July 2003" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL. 03-403.
OF INTEREST
Recent editions of Spotlight on Statistics
- Fatal Injuries to Foreign-Born Hispanic or Latino Workers
Explores the industries, occupations, and events related to these fatalities.
- For-Profit, Nonprofit, and Government Sector Jobs in 2022
Compares the labor force characteristics and experiences of workers in the for-profit, nonprofit, government, and self-employed sectors.
- Union Membership, Activity, and Compensation in 2022
Focuses on trends in union membership, work stoppages, and pay and benefits among union members.
- A Look at a Neat Industry: Distilleries
Examines trends in employment, establishments, wages, and consumer prices for distilleries.
- Healthcare Occupations: Characteristics of the Employed
Compares the demographic characteristics of workers in healthcare occupations.
United States Department of Labor
