Unemployment Data
Six separate federal programs produce the monthly labor picture. They use different samples, different reference concepts, and different revision schedules — and only one of them can produce an unemployment rate at all.
This section covers what each program measures, what it leaves out, and how to read the numbers without drawing conclusions the data doesn't support.
Start here
- The Unemployment Numbers, Broken Down — which survey measures what, all six U rates, what you can derive by combining them, and the BLS API series IDs for pulling it all yourself
The six rates at a glance
Every one of these comes from the Current Population Survey, and no two of the broader measures share a denominator.
| Rate | Numerator | Denominator |
|---|---|---|
| U-1 | Unemployed 15 weeks or longer | Labor force |
| U-2 | Job losers + completed temporary jobs | Labor force |
| U-3 | All unemployed (official rate) | Labor force |
| U-4 | Unemployed + discouraged | Labor force + discouraged |
| U-5 | Unemployed + all marginally attached | Labor force + marginally attached |
| U-6 | Unemployed + marginally attached + involuntary part time | Labor force + marginally attached |
Which program produces what
| Variable | Program |
|---|---|
| Unemployment rate, U-1 to U-6 | CPS only |
| Payroll jobs, hours, earnings | CES |
| County-level employment and wages | QCEW |
| Openings, hires, quits, layoffs | JOLTS |
| State and county unemployment rates | LAUS |
| Insured unemployment rate | UI claims |