An official website of the United States government
In November 2012, among countries covered by the BLS unemployment comparisons program, the unemployment rate was 8.0 percent in Sweden, 7.7 percent in the United States, and 3.7 percent in Japan.
Click legend items to change data display.
Month | United States | Canada | Australia | Japan(1) | France | Germany(2) | Italy | Netherlands | Sweden | United Kingdom |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan 2007 | 4.6 | 5.4 | 4.5 | 3.8 | 8.5 | 9.3 | 6.2 | 4.0 | 6.5 | 5.6 |
Feb 2007 | 4.5 | 5.4 | 4.6 | 3.8 | 8.5 | 9.2 | 6.1 | 4.0 | 6.2 | 5.5 |
Mar 2007 | 4.4 | 5.4 | 4.4 | 3.8 | 8.4 | 9.0 | 6.0 | 3.8 | 6.3 | 5.5 |
Apr 2007 | 4.5 | 5.3 | 4.4 | 3.6 | 8.3 | 8.9 | 5.9 | 3.7 | 6.1 | 5.4 |
May 2007 | 4.4 | 5.1 | 4.3 | 3.6 | 8.2 | 8.8 | 6.1 | 3.6 | 5.9 | 5.4 |
Jun 2007 | 4.6 | 5.2 | 4.3 | 3.4 | 8.1 | 8.7 | 6.1 | 3.5 | 6.2 | 5.3 |
Jul 2007 | 4.7 | 5.3 | 4.3 | 3.4 | 8.2 | 8.6 | 6.4 | 3.6 | 5.9 | 5.3 |
Aug 2007 | 4.6 | 5.2 | 4.3 | 3.5 | 8.2 | 8.6 | 6.2 | 3.5 | 5.9 | 5.4 |
Sep 2007 | 4.7 | 5.1 | 4.2 | 3.7 | 8.0 | 8.5 | 6.2 | 3.4 | 6.1 | 5.3 |
Oct 2007 | 4.7 | 5.1 | 4.3 | 3.8 | 7.8 | 8.4 | 6.2 | 3.4 | 6.1 | 5.3 |
Nov 2007 | 4.7 | 5.2 | 4.5 | 3.6 | 7.6 | 8.3 | 6.2 | 3.4 | 5.9 | 5.2 |
Dec 2007 | 5.0 | 5.3 | 4.3 | 3.6 | 7.4 | 8.1 | 6.6 | 3.3 | 5.8 | 5.2 |
Jan 2008 | 5.0 | 5.2 | 4.2 | 3.6 | 7.2 | 8.0 | 6.5 | 3.3 | 6.0 | 5.2 |
Feb 2008 | 4.9 | 5.2 | 4.0 | 3.7 | 7.1 | 7.8 | 6.6 | 3.0 | 5.7 | 5.2 |
Mar 2008 | 5.1 | 5.2 | 4.1 | 3.5 | 7.1 | 7.7 | 6.5 | 3.0 | 5.6 | 5.3 |
Apr 2008 | 5.0 | 5.3 | 4.3 | 3.6 | 7.3 | 7.7 | 6.8 | 3.1 | 5.5 | 5.2 |
May 2008 | 5.4 | 5.2 | 4.3 | 3.6 | 7.4 | 7.6 | 6.9 | 3.1 | 5.6 | 5.4 |
Jun 2008 | 5.6 | 5.3 | 4.3 | 3.7 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.1 | 3.1 | 6.2 | 5.5 |
Jul 2008 | 5.8 | 5.2 | 4.3 | 3.6 | 7.4 | 7.5 | 6.8 | 3.1 | 6.0 | 5.7 |
Aug 2008 | 6.1 | 5.1 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 5.9 | 5.9 |
Sep 2008 | 6.1 | 5.2 | 4.3 | 3.7 | 7.5 | 7.4 | 6.9 | 3.1 | 6.3 | 6.0 |
Oct 2008 | 6.5 | 5.3 | 4.3 | 3.5 | 7.7 | 7.4 | 6.9 | 3.0 | 6.3 | 6.2 |
Nov 2008 | 6.8 | 5.6 | 4.5 | 3.7 | 7.9 | 7.4 | 7.1 | 3.0 | 6.8 | 6.4 |
Dec 2008 | 7.3 | 6.0 | 4.6 | 4.1 | 8.1 | 7.4 | 7.0 | 3.1 | 6.7 | 6.6 |
Jan 2009 | 7.8 | 6.4 | 4.9 | 4.0 | 8.4 | 7.4 | 7.3 | 3.1 | 6.8 | 6.8 |
Feb 2009 | 8.3 | 6.9 | 5.4 | 4.3 | 8.7 | 7.5 | 7.4 | 3.2 | 7.6 | 7.1 |
Mar 2009 | 8.7 | 7.2 | 5.8 | 4.6 | 9.0 | 7.7 | 7.6 | 3.3 | 7.9 | 7.3 |
Apr 2009 | 8.9 | 7.4 | 5.5 | 4.7 | 9.2 | 7.9 | 7.6 | 3.5 | 7.8 | 7.6 |
May 2009 | 9.4 | 7.6 | 5.8 | 4.8 | 9.4 | 7.9 | 7.5 | 3.6 | 8.8 | 7.8 |
Jun 2009 | 9.5 | 7.6 | 5.9 | 4.9 | 9.3 | 7.9 | 7.8 | 3.6 | 8.4 | 7.9 |
Jul 2009 | 9.5 | 7.7 | 5.7 | 5.1 | 9.2 | 7.9 | 8.1 | 3.8 | 8.4 | 7.9 |
Aug 2009 | 9.6 | 7.7 | 5.8 | 5.1 | 9.2 | 7.9 | 8.2 | 3.9 | 8.6 | 7.9 |
Sep 2009 | 9.8 | 7.4 | 5.7 | 5.0 | 9.4 | 7.9 | 8.3 | 4.1 | 8.6 | 7.9 |
Oct 2009 | 10.0 | 7.4 | 5.6 | 4.9 | 9.6 | 7.8 | 8.3 | 4.1 | 8.6 | 7.8 |
Nov 2009 | 9.9 | 7.5 | 5.6 | 4.9 | 9.7 | 7.8 | 8.3 | 4.3 | 8.6 | 7.8 |
Dec 2009 | 9.9 | 7.5 | 5.5 | 4.9 | 9.7 | 7.7 | 8.4 | 4.4 | 8.8 | 7.8 |
Jan 2010 | 9.7 | 7.3 | 5.3 | 4.8 | 9.6 | 7.4 | 8.6 | 4.6 | 8.7 | 8.0 |
Feb 2010 | 9.8 | 7.3 | 5.3 | 4.7 | 9.5 | 7.4 | 8.6 | 4.5 | 8.7 | 8.0 |
Mar 2010 | 9.8 | 7.4 | 5.4 | 4.8 | 9.4 | 7.4 | 8.5 | 4.5 | 8.5 | 8.0 |
Apr 2010 | 9.9 | 7.3 | 5.5 | 4.8 | 9.4 | 7.2 | 8.8 | 4.5 | 8.9 | 8.0 |
May 2010 | 9.6 | 7.2 | 5.2 | 4.8 | 9.4 | 7.1 | 8.7 | 4.5 | 8.5 | 7.9 |
Jun 2010 | 9.4 | 7.0 | 5.2 | 4.8 | 9.4 | 7.1 | 8.4 | 4.5 | 8.2 | 7.9 |
Jul 2010 | 9.5 | 7.1 | 5.3 | 4.7 | 9.3 | 7.0 | 8.5 | 4.6 | 8.4 | 7.8 |
Aug 2010 | 9.6 | 7.1 | 5.1 | 4.7 | 9.4 | 7.0 | 8.4 | 4.5 | 8.2 | 7.7 |
Sep 2010 | 9.5 | 7.0 | 5.1 | 4.8 | 9.4 | 6.9 | 8.3 | 4.4 | 8.1 | 7.9 |
Oct 2010 | 9.5 | 6.9 | 5.3 | 4.8 | 9.4 | 6.9 | 8.6 | 4.4 | 7.9 | 7.9 |
Nov 2010 | 9.8 | 6.7 | 5.1 | 4.7 | 9.4 | 6.8 | 8.3 | 4.4 | 7.8 | 7.9 |
Dec 2010 | 9.4 | 6.5 | 4.9 | 4.6 | 9.4 | 6.8 | 8.3 | 4.3 | 7.8 | 7.9 |
Jan 2011 | 9.1 | 6.7 | 5.1 | 4.5 | 9.2 | 6.3 | 8.2 | 4.3 | 7.7 | 7.8 |
Feb 2011 | 9.0 | 6.7 | 5.0 | 4.3 | 9.2 | 6.2 | 8.0 | 4.3 | 7.5 | 7.8 |
Mar 2011 | 8.9 | 6.6 | 5.0 | 4.3 | 9.1 | 6.1 | 8.0 | 4.2 | 7.6 | 7.7 |
Apr 2011 | 9.0 | 6.6 | 5.0 | 4.4 | 9.2 | 6.0 | 7.9 | 4.2 | 7.4 | 7.8 |
May 2011 | 9.0 | 6.4 | 5.0 | 4.3 | 9.2 | 6.0 | 8.1 | 4.3 | 7.6 | 7.9 |
Jun 2011 | 9.1 | 6.5 | 5.0 | 4.3 | 9.3 | 5.9 | 8.1 | 4.2 | 7.5 | 8.0 |
Jul 2011 | 9.1 | 6.3 | 5.1 | 4.3 | 9.3 | 5.9 | 8.4 | 4.4 | 7.4 | 8.2 |
Aug 2011 | 9.1 | 6.4 | 5.3 | 4.0 | 9.3 | 5.9 | 8.5 | 4.4 | 7.3 | 8.3 |
Sep 2011 | 9.0 | 6.4 | 5.2 | 3.8 | 9.3 | 5.8 | 8.9 | 4.6 | 7.2 | 8.3 |
Oct 2011 | 8.9 | 6.5 | 5.1 | 4.1 | 9.4 | 5.8 | 8.9 | 4.8 | 7.5 | 8.4 |
Nov 2011 | 8.7 | 6.5 | 5.2 | 4.1 | 9.5 | 5.8 | 9.4 | 5.0 | 7.3 | 8.4 |
Dec 2011 | 8.5 | 6.5 | 5.2 | 4.1 | 9.6 | 5.8 | 9.6 | 4.9 | 7.3 | 8.4 |
Jan 2012 | 8.3 | 6.5 | 5.1 | 4.3 | 9.7 | 5.7 | 9.8 | 5.0 | 7.5 | 8.3 |
Feb 2012 | 8.3 | 6.3 | 5.2 | 4.1 | 9.7 | 5.7 | 10.1 | 4.9 | 7.3 | 8.2 |
Mar 2012 | 8.2 | 6.2 | 5.2 | 4.1 | 9.8 | 5.7 | 10.4 | 5.0 | 7.3 | 8.2 |
Apr 2012 | 8.1 | 6.4 | 5.0 | 4.2 | 9.8 | 5.7 | 10.6 | 5.3 | 7.3 | 8.1 |
May 2012 | 8.2 | 6.5 | 5.2 | 4.0 | 9.9 | 5.7 | 10.6 | 5.2 | 7.6 | 8.0 |
Jun 2012 | 8.2 | 6.3 | 5.3 | 3.9 | 10.0 | 5.7 | 10.7 | 5.2 | 7.4 | 8.1 |
Jul 2012 | 8.3 | 6.3 | 5.2 | 3.9 | 9.9 | 5.7 | 10.6 | 5.3 | 7.4 | 7.9 |
Aug 2012 | 8.1 | 6.2 | 5.1 | 3.8 | 10.0 | 5.8 | 10.6 | 5.3 | 7.7 | 7.9 |
Sep 2012 | 7.8 | 6.3 | 5.4 | 3.8 | 10.1 | 5.8 | 10.9 | 5.4 | 7.8 | 7.8 |
Oct 2012 | 7.9 | 6.5 | 5.4 | 3.8 | 10.1 | 5.8 | 11.2 | 5.5 | 7.6 | |
Nov 2012 | 7.7 | 6.3 | 5.2 | 3.7 | 5.6 | 8.0 | ||||
Footnotes: | ||||||||||
NOTE: Latest monthly data are shown for each country. |
For some countries covered by the BLS unemployment comparisons program, October 2012 is the latest month for which data are available. Italy (11.2 percent) and France (10.1 percent) had the highest unemployment rates in October 2012.
From November 2011 to November 2012, the United States experienced the largest decrease in its unemployment rate (−1.0 percentage point), followed by Japan (−0.4 percentage point) and Canada (−0.2 percentage point). Sweden experienced the largest unemployment rate increase (+0.7 percentage points) followed by the Netherlands (+0.6 percentage points). Australia experienced no change in its unemployment rate over the year.
These data are from the International Labor Comparisons program. Concepts and definitions of unemployment in labor force surveys may differ from country to country, and BLS adjusts the estimates from some countries to make them more comparable with U.S. concepts and definitions. To learn more, see "International Unemployment rates and Employment Indexes, Seasonally Adjusted, 2008–2012" (HTML) (PDF) (XLS). The estimates presented here for the United States do not reflect updates to the seasonally adjusted unemployment rates that BLS released on January 4, 2013.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, International unemployment rates, November 2012 at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2013/ted_20130125.htm (visited October 31, 2024).