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U.S. unemployment rate drops to 5-year low

December 11, 2013

In November, the unemployment rate declined from 7.3 percent to 7.0 percent—the lowest figure since November 2008 when the unemployment rate was 6.8 percent.

Unemployment rate, by age, sex, and educational attainment, January 2003–November 2013, seasonally adjusted
MonthTotal, 16 years and overTeenagers, 16 to 19 years20 years and over25 years and over
Adult menAdult womenLess than a high school diplomaHigh school graduates, no collegeSome college or associate degreeBachelor's degree and higher

Jan 2003

5.817.25.64.98.85.24.73.0

Feb 2003

5.917.25.55.18.95.44.73.0

Mar 2003

5.917.85.45.18.65.54.83.1

Apr 2003

6.017.75.75.18.55.74.83.0

May 2003

6.117.95.85.29.05.64.93.0

Jun 2003

6.319.06.05.29.45.74.93.1

Jul 2003

6.218.25.95.18.85.45.03.1

Aug 2003

6.116.65.85.29.35.44.93.2

Sep 2003

6.117.65.75.38.65.34.93.2

Oct 2003

6.017.25.65.19.05.54.83.1

Nov 2003

5.815.75.65.08.75.34.73.1

Dec 2003

5.716.25.25.17.95.44.43.0

Jan 2004

5.717.05.25.19.14.94.52.9

Feb 2004

5.616.55.14.98.65.04.32.9

Mar 2004

5.816.85.25.38.85.34.72.9

Apr 2004

5.616.65.14.98.65.34.12.9

May 2004

5.617.15.24.88.85.14.02.9

Jun 2004

5.617.05.15.08.75.24.12.7

Jul 2004

5.517.85.04.88.25.04.22.6

Aug 2004

5.416.75.04.78.14.94.12.7

Sep 2004

5.416.65.04.68.74.74.12.6

Oct 2004

5.517.44.94.78.44.84.22.5

Nov 2004

5.416.44.94.78.04.84.32.5

Dec 2004

5.417.64.84.68.14.84.22.5

Jan 2005

5.316.24.74.77.74.74.12.4

Feb 2005

5.417.54.84.77.84.94.22.4

Mar 2005

5.217.14.64.67.84.73.92.4

Apr 2005

5.217.84.44.68.24.43.92.4

May 2005

5.117.84.34.77.84.53.92.4

Jun 2005

5.016.34.34.66.94.83.92.3

Jul 2005

5.016.14.24.67.54.83.72.3

Aug 2005

4.916.14.34.47.54.73.52.1

Sep 2005

5.015.54.54.68.24.93.72.3

Oct 2005

5.016.14.34.57.34.83.82.3

Nov 2005

5.017.04.34.67.44.83.92.3

Dec 2005

4.914.94.34.47.44.53.92.1

Jan 2006

4.715.14.14.37.04.43.62.1

Feb 2006

4.815.34.24.37.14.43.62.2

Mar 2006

4.716.14.14.26.94.13.72.2

Apr 2006

4.714.64.24.36.94.43.82.2

May 2006

4.614.04.24.17.04.33.82.1

Jun 2006

4.615.84.04.17.14.13.52.1

Jul 2006

4.715.94.14.27.14.53.62.0

Aug 2006

4.716.04.14.16.84.63.51.8

Sep 2006

4.516.33.74.26.44.13.62.1

Oct 2006

4.415.23.93.95.84.13.41.9

Nov 2006

4.514.84.04.06.64.33.41.8

Dec 2006

4.414.63.93.96.74.33.41.8

Jan 2007

4.614.84.24.06.94.33.82.1

Feb 2007

4.514.94.23.87.34.33.61.9

Mar 2007

4.414.94.03.86.94.03.61.8

Apr 2007

4.515.94.03.97.14.13.61.9

May 2007

4.415.94.03.86.64.43.42.0

Jun 2007

4.616.34.03.96.74.13.52.0

Jul 2007

4.715.34.24.27.34.63.62.1

Aug 2007

4.615.94.14.16.54.43.62.1

Sep 2007

4.715.94.24.17.64.53.42.0

Oct 2007

4.715.44.34.17.34.63.52.1

Nov 2007

4.716.24.24.27.74.53.32.2

Dec 2007

5.016.84.44.47.74.73.82.1

Jan 2008

5.017.84.54.37.74.73.72.1

Feb 2008

4.916.64.44.27.44.73.82.0

Mar 2008

5.116.14.64.58.45.13.92.1

Apr 2008

5.015.94.64.27.75.04.02.1

May 2008

5.419.04.94.68.15.04.32.2

Jun 2008

5.619.25.14.78.75.14.32.4

Jul 2008

5.820.75.44.78.65.44.62.5

Aug 2008

6.118.65.75.49.75.84.92.8

Sep 2008

6.119.16.15.09.86.25.02.6

Oct 2008

6.520.06.35.410.36.45.23.1

Nov 2008

6.820.36.75.710.87.05.53.2

Dec 2008

7.320.57.45.911.17.85.73.6

Jan 2009

7.820.77.96.512.48.26.53.9

Feb 2009

8.322.28.56.813.18.57.34.1

Mar 2009

8.722.29.07.114.09.27.44.3

Apr 2009

9.022.29.47.114.99.57.74.4

May 2009

9.423.49.87.515.29.97.84.8

Jun 2009

9.524.79.97.615.69.78.14.8

Jul 2009

9.524.39.87.715.49.58.04.8

Aug 2009

9.625.010.07.715.69.78.14.8

Sep 2009

9.825.910.17.914.810.68.35.0

Oct 2009

10.027.110.48.015.211.08.74.7

Nov 2009

9.926.910.37.914.810.38.84.8

Dec 2009

9.926.610.18.015.110.68.84.8

Jan 2010

9.826.010.27.915.310.28.64.8

Feb 2010

9.825.410.28.015.610.68.14.9

Mar 2010

9.926.210.28.114.810.98.44.8

Apr 2010

9.925.510.18.214.710.78.44.8

May 2010

9.626.69.78.114.610.88.34.6

Jun 2010

9.426.09.77.714.110.68.14.4

Jul 2010

9.526.09.67.913.610.18.34.6

Aug 2010

9.525.79.78.014.210.18.64.6

Sep 2010

9.525.89.68.015.49.88.94.5

Oct 2010

9.527.29.48.115.19.98.34.6

Nov 2010

9.824.69.98.415.710.08.65.1

Dec 2010

9.325.19.48.015.09.88.14.7

Jan 2011

9.125.59.07.914.49.58.14.2

Feb 2011

9.024.08.97.913.89.67.94.3

Mar 2011

8.924.48.87.813.99.67.54.4

Apr 2011

9.024.78.97.914.89.87.54.5

May 2011

9.024.08.98.014.59.67.94.5

Jun 2011

9.124.79.08.014.310.08.34.4

Jul 2011

9.024.98.87.914.79.28.24.3

Aug 2011

9.025.28.87.914.29.38.24.3

Sep 2011

9.024.48.78.213.99.58.44.2

Oct 2011

8.924.18.77.913.69.48.24.4

Nov 2011

8.623.98.37.813.08.87.74.4

Dec 2011

8.522.98.07.813.78.77.64.0

Jan 2012

8.323.47.77.713.18.57.34.2

Feb 2012

8.323.77.77.612.98.37.34.2

Mar 2012

8.225.07.77.412.68.07.54.2

Apr 2012

8.124.97.57.412.57.97.54.0

May 2012

8.224.47.77.313.08.27.83.9

Jun 2012

8.223.77.77.412.58.57.34.1

Jul 2012

8.223.97.77.512.78.67.14.1

Aug 2012

8.124.57.67.312.08.76.64.1

Sep 2012

7.823.77.37.011.28.66.54.0

Oct 2012

7.923.77.37.212.28.37.03.7

Nov 2012

7.823.67.27.012.18.16.63.9

Dec 2012

7.823.57.27.311.78.06.93.9

Jan 2013

7.923.47.37.312.08.17.03.7

Feb 2013

7.725.17.17.011.27.96.73.8

Mar 2013

7.624.26.97.011.17.66.43.8

Apr 2013

7.524.17.16.711.67.46.43.9

May 2013

7.624.57.26.511.17.46.53.8

Jun 2013

7.624.07.06.810.77.66.43.9

Jul 2013

7.423.77.06.511.07.66.03.8

Aug 2013

7.322.77.16.311.37.66.13.5

Sep 2013

7.221.47.16.210.37.66.03.7

Oct 2013

7.322.27.06.410.97.36.33.8

Nov 2013

7.020.86.76.210.87.36.43.4

Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men and women, 20 years and over, (6.7 percent and 6.2 percent, respectively) and teenagers, 16 to 19 years, (20.8 percent) changed little in November.

By educational attainment, unemployment rates in November were 10.8 percent for persons 25 years and over with less than a high school diploma; 7.3 percent for high school graduates with no college education; 6.4 percent for persons with some college or an associate degree; and 3.4 percent for persons with a bachelor's degree or higher level of education.

The number of unemployed persons, at 10.9 million, declined in November. The number of persons unemployed less than 5 weeks declined by 300,000, partially reflecting the return to work of federal employees on furlough in October. The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) was essentially unchanged at 4.1 million in November. These individuals accounted for 37.3 percent of the unemployed. The number of long-term unemployed has declined by 718,000 over the past 12 months.

Number of unemployed persons by duration of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, January 2006–November 2013
MonthLess than 5 weeks5 to 14 weeks15 to 26 weeks27 weeks and over

January 2006

2,527,0002,194,0001,100,0001,170,000

February 2006

2,577,0002,088,0001,195,0001,350,000

March 2006

2,659,0001,999,0001,064,0001,309,000

April 2006

2,665,0002,142,0001,022,0001,331,000

May 2006

2,545,0002,189,000969,0001,333,000

June 2006

2,705,0002,076,000982,0001,145,000

July 2006

2,721,0002,126,000986,0001,304,000

August 2006

2,603,0002,246,000987,0001,306,000

September 2006

2,608,0002,053,000986,0001,245,000

October 2006

2,616,0002,103,000984,0001,078,000

November 2006

2,511,0002,212,0001,028,0001,131,000

December 2006

2,596,0002,047,000990,0001,093,000

January 2007

2,561,0002,267,0001,015,0001,141,000

February 2007

2,574,0002,168,000962,0001,249,000

March 2007

2,307,0002,138,0001,010,0001,245,000

April 2007

2,456,0002,178,0001,075,0001,206,000

May 2007

2,464,0002,183,0001,100,0001,132,000

June 2007

2,551,0002,134,0001,138,0001,143,000

July 2007

2,502,0002,203,0001,073,0001,291,000

August 2007

2,614,0002,156,0001,086,0001,246,000

September 2007

2,557,0002,292,0001,091,0001,264,000

October 2007

2,545,0002,502,0001,003,0001,298,000

November 2007

2,645,0002,241,000992,0001,374,000

December 2007

2,718,0002,376,0001,177,0001,324,000

January 2008

2,554,0002,406,0001,152,0001,388,000

February 2008

2,653,0002,370,0001,116,0001,329,000

March 2008

2,823,0002,537,0001,168,0001,323,000

April 2008

2,493,0002,574,0001,314,0001,372,000

May 2008

3,278,0002,476,0001,219,0001,561,000

June 2008

2,753,0003,016,0001,337,0001,576,000

July 2008

2,854,0002,833,0001,450,0001,664,000

August 2008

3,256,0002,758,0001,554,0001,866,000

September 2008

2,848,0003,035,0001,599,0002,027,000

October 2008

3,170,0003,055,0001,710,0002,280,000

November 2008

3,335,0003,260,0001,704,0002,219,000

December 2008

3,255,0003,498,0001,936,0002,610,000

January 2009

3,530,0003,656,0002,067,0002,700,000

February 2009

3,436,0003,932,0002,442,0003,011,000

March 2009

3,421,0004,119,0002,620,0003,261,000

April 2009

3,337,0004,138,0002,659,0003,723,000

May 2009

3,246,0004,438,0003,053,0003,970,000

June 2009

3,132,0004,055,0003,471,0004,349,000

July 2009

3,136,0003,529,0002,919,0004,915,000

August 2009

2,953,0003,930,0002,780,0005,044,000

September 2009

2,845,0003,776,0002,910,0005,492,000

October 2009

3,230,0003,550,0003,020,0005,647,000

November 2009

2,812,0003,454,0002,854,0005,922,000

December 2009

2,880,0003,452,0002,728,0006,124,000

January 2010

2,938,0003,379,0002,575,0006,334,000

February 2010

2,782,0003,381,0002,723,0006,202,000

March 2010

2,703,0003,287,0002,498,0006,580,000

April 2010

2,711,0003,078,0002,414,0006,704,000

May 2010

2,782,0003,104,0002,263,0006,639,000

June 2010

2,718,0003,164,0002,267,0006,607,000

July 2010

2,807,0003,029,0002,208,0006,485,000

August 2010

2,701,0003,541,0002,151,0006,248,000

September 2010

2,828,0003,310,0002,297,0006,147,000

October 2010

2,659,0003,340,0002,413,0006,233,000

November 2010

2,895,0003,312,0002,392,0006,338,000

December 2010

2,680,0003,154,0002,144,0006,428,000

January 2011

2,704,0003,008,0002,214,0006,219,000

February 2011

2,437,0003,098,0002,199,0006,006,000

March 2011

2,453,0002,969,0001,999,0006,157,000

April 2011

2,749,0002,965,0002,150,0005,834,000

May 2011

2,696,0002,899,0002,051,0006,153,000

June 2011

2,999,0002,996,0001,868,0006,213,000

July 2011

2,643,0003,026,0001,992,0006,143,000

August 2011

2,697,0003,006,0002,189,0006,020,000

September 2011

2,758,0002,889,0002,023,0006,261,000

October 2011

2,670,0003,240,0001,985,0005,859,000

November 2011

2,535,0002,900,0002,055,0005,698,000

December 2011

2,640,0002,840,0001,987,0005,596,000

January 2012

2,495,0002,874,0001,944,0005,522,000

February 2012

2,563,0002,817,0001,974,0005,392,000

March 2012

2,596,0002,784,0001,877,0005,302,000

April 2012

2,567,0002,841,0001,984,0005,040,000

May 2012

2,602,0003,007,0001,703,0005,385,000

June 2012

2,825,0002,826,0001,813,0005,336,000

July 2012

2,697,0003,102,0001,756,0005,167,000

August 2012

2,865,0002,848,0001,823,0005,023,000

September 2012

2,535,0002,825,0001,866,0004,871,000

October 2012

2,633,0002,847,0001,813,0005,017,000

November 2012

2,596,0002,757,0001,820,0004,784,000

December 2012

2,676,0002,838,0001,895,0004,766,000

January 2013

2,766,0003,028,0001,858,0004,708,000

February 2013

2,667,0002,782,0001,695,0004,797,000

March 2013

2,464,0002,838,0001,737,0004,611,000

April 2013

2,474,0002,848,0001,967,0004,353,000

May 2013

2,706,0002,669,0001,950,0004,357,000

June 2013

2,692,0002,864,0001,896,0004,328,000

July 2013

2,563,0002,869,0001,788,0004,246,000

August 2013

2,563,0002,766,0001,694,0004,290,000

September 2013

2,596,0002,703,0001,804,0004,146,000

October 2013

2,761,0002,656,0001,782,0004,063,000

November 2013

2,461,0002,597,0001,766,0004,066,000
These data are from the Current Population Survey (CPS). For more information, see "The Employment Situation — November 2013" (HTML) (PDF), news release USDL‑13‑2315. More charts featuring CPS data can be found in Charting the labor market: Data from the Current Population Survey, November 2013 (PDF). 
SUGGESTED CITATION

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, U.S. unemployment rate drops to 5-year low at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2013/ted_20131211.htm (visited October 31, 2024).

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