The True Rate of Unemployment, as defined by the Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity (LISEP), measures the percentage of the U.S. labor force that is functionally unemployed.
Using data compiled by the federal government’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the True Rate of Unemployment tracks the percentage of the U.S. labor force that does not have a full-time job (35+ hours a week) but wants one, has no job, or does not earn a living wage, conservatively pegged at $20,000 annually before taxes.
Just as an accurate census is a prerequisite to funding American communities equitably, policymakers depend on economic indicators to shape economic policy. LISEP developed the TrueRate of Unemployment to provide analysts and decision-makers with a more accurate measure of Americans’ financial well-being.
For a more in-depth explanation of the True Rate of Unemployment, please reference this white paper.
OVERVIEW
True Rate of Unemployment
1995-2022
Select any point on the chart to see the True Rate of Unemployment for that month.
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
1995
By RACE
True Rate of Unemployment by Race
Select any point on the chart to see the True Rate of Unemployment for that month.
25.2%
Black
May 2022
27.1%
Hispanic
May 2022
21.1%
White
May 2022
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
1995
By SEX
True Rate of Unemployment by Sex
Select any point on the chart to see the True Rate of Unemployment for that month.
27.5%
Female
May 2022
19.2%
Male
May 2022
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
1995
By EDUCATION
True Rate of Unemployment by Education
Select any point on the chart to see the True Rate of Unemployment for that month.
47.3%
No High School
May 2022
25.5%
High School Diploma
May 2022
26.0%
Some College
May 2022
15.3%
Bachelors Degree
May 2022
11.4%
Advanced Degree
May 2022
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
1995
True Rate of Unemployment by State
August 2020
Select any state or percentage to see the most recent True Rate of Unemployment.
