U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Office of Publications & Special Studies

Record unemployment among older workers does not keep them out of the job market

Chart 2. Labor force participation rates for all civilian workers, by age, seasonally adjusted, 1948-2010
Reference month	Labor force participation rate
Reference month	16-24 years	25-54 years	55 years and older
January 1948	59.7	64.2	43.0
February 1948	60.1	64.6	43.3
March 1948	59.5	64.3	43.0
April 1948	59.7	64.8	43.4
May 1948	58.3	64.3	43.2
June 1948	60.0	65.0	43.6
July 1948	59.7	65.4	43.5
August 1948	59.0	65.0	43.5
September 1948	58.9	65.4	43.2
October 1948	58.1	65.0	43.3
November 1948(1)	58.4	64.9	43.2
December 1948(1)	59.3	65.1	43.6
January 1949(1)	58.7	64.9	43.0
February 1949(1)	59.5	65.0	43.0
March 1949(1)	60.5	64.9	42.7
April 1949(1)	59.4	64.9	42.8
May 1949(1)	60.4	65.3	42.7
June 1949(1)	58.7	65.3	42.7
July 1949(1)	59.4	65.3	43.0
August 1949(1)	60.0	65.4	43.1
September 1949(1)	60.1	65.3	43.6
October 1949(1)	59.9	65.7	43.6
November 1949	60.5	65.4	43.6
December 1949	60.2	65.2	43.5
January 1950	60.2	64.9	43.2
February 1950	60.1	64.9	43.2
March 1950	59.0	65.1	43.1
April 1950	59.8	65.5	43.1
May 1950	59.5	65.6	43.3
June 1950	58.8	66.1	43.2
July 1950	58.5	65.8	43.0
August 1950	59.9	66.0	42.9
September 1950	60.5	65.7	42.6
October 1950	60.7	65.9	42.4
November 1950	60.3	66.0	42.7
December 1950	60.5	65.7	42.5
January 1951	59.4	66.0	42.1
February 1951	59.3	65.8	42.6
March 1951	61.0	66.2	43.4
April 1951	59.1	65.9	42.9
May 1951	59.6	66.2	42.9
June 1951	58.9	65.6	42.8
July 1951	59.4	66.4	42.6
August 1951	59.1	66.3	42.4
September 1951	58.9	66.3	42.2
October 1951	59.0	66.7	42.1
November 1951	59.0	66.5	42.2
December 1951	59.6	66.8	42.2
January 1952	58.9	66.7	42.4
February 1952	58.6	67.0	42.0
March 1952	57.5	66.7	41.3
April 1952	57.4	66.5	41.5
May 1952	57.7	66.6	42.1
June 1952	58.2	66.6	41.6
July 1952	57.1	66.4	42.0
August 1952	56.3	66.3	42.3
September 1952	56.1	66.9	43.0
October 1952	55.4	66.3	42.5
November 1952	56.5	66.7	43.2
December 1952	57.0	66.8	42.7
January 1953	58.0	67.3	42.0
February 1953	58.9	67.1	42.2
March 1953	57.9	67.4	42.7
April 1953	57.2	66.9	42.1
May 1953	56.4	66.3	41.6
June 1953	56.3	66.7	42.2
July 1953(1)	55.6	66.8	42.4
August 1953(1)	55.5	66.5	42.2
September 1953(1)	54.9	66.6	41.5
October 1953(1)	54.0	66.8	41.7
November 1953(1)	54.6	67.2	41.0
December 1953(1)	54.8	66.9	40.8
January 1954(1)	55.4	66.8	41.3
February 1954(1)	56.3	67.5	41.7
March 1954(1)	57.0	67.2	41.6
April 1954(1)	56.4	67.3	41.9
May 1954(1)	55.6	67.2	41.6
June 1954	54.0	67.1	41.4
July 1954	54.7	66.8	41.3
August 1954	55.2	66.8	42.0
September 1954	56.2	67.3	42.1
October 1954	54.7	67.0	42.3
November 1954	54.6	67.0	42.0
December 1954	52.9	66.8	41.8
January 1955	54.2	67.2	41.6
February 1955	54.0	67.0	41.3
March 1955	54.3	67.0	41.5
April 1955	55.0	67.5	42.0
May 1955	54.8	67.3	41.8
June 1955	54.3	67.5	41.8
July 1955	55.7	67.8	42.2
August 1955	56.4	68.0	42.6
September 1955	57.2	67.8	42.4
October 1955	57.5	67.9	42.8
November 1955	58.9	67.9	42.8
December 1955	59.2	68.2	42.8
January 1956	57.4	68.4	43.0
February 1956	57.4	67.9	42.5
March 1956	57.1	68.0	43.0
April 1956	57.0	68.0	43.3
May 1956	58.4	68.2	43.4
June 1956	59.0	68.2	43.0
July 1956	58.3	68.2	43.1
August 1956	57.6	68.2	42.7
September 1956	57.6	68.3	42.8
October 1956	57.5	68.1	42.4
November 1956	57.8	68.2	42.6
December 1956	57.6	68.1	42.5
January 1957	57.6	67.9	42.0
February 1957	57.2	68.3	42.3
March 1957	57.7	68.4	42.4
April 1957	57.0	68.3	41.7
May 1957	56.9	68.2	41.9
June 1957	57.8	68.4	42.1
July 1957	58.1	68.6	41.8
August 1957(1)	56.7	68.1	41.2
September 1957(1)	56.8	68.4	41.3
October 1957(1)	56.6	68.5	41.3
November 1957(1)	56.8	68.5	41.2
December 1957(1)	56.9	68.4	41.7
January 1958(1)	56.1	68.3	41.3
February 1958(1)	56.2	68.2	41.8
March 1958(1)	55.9	68.3	41.8
April 1958(1)	56.7	68.6	41.6
May 1958	57.1	68.7	41.6
June 1958	56.1	68.7	41.5
July 1958	56.5	68.8	41.2
August 1958	56.5	69.1	41.1
September 1958	56.5	68.8	41.2
October 1958	56.8	68.8	41.2
November 1958	55.8	68.5	41.0
December 1958	55.6	68.6	41.0
January 1959	55.8	68.7	40.9
February 1959	55.3	68.5	40.5
March 1959	55.6	68.8	41.0
April 1959	56.2	68.8	41.0
May 1959	55.1	68.7	41.2
June 1959	55.0	68.8	41.0
July 1959	55.2	68.8	41.4
August 1959	55.5	68.5	41.3
September 1959	56.1	68.5	41.3
October 1959	56.0	68.8	41.5
November 1959	55.6	68.6	41.0
December 1959	56.5	68.8	41.2
January 1960	55.8	68.6	40.8
February 1960	56.4	68.8	40.6
March 1960	55.8	68.2	40.0
April 1960(1)	57.3	68.9	40.8
May 1960(1)	57.1	68.9	40.7
June 1960(1)	57.6	69.1	40.8
July 1960(1)	56.4	69.1	40.7
August 1960(1)	56.0	69.2	40.9
September 1960(1)	56.3	69.4	41.2
October 1960(1)	55.9	69.0	41.2
November 1960(1)	56.5	69.3	41.7
December 1960(1)	56.0	69.1	41.9
January 1961(1)	57.1	68.9	41.9
February 1961(1)	56.8	68.8	41.6
March 1961	57.0	69.2	41.6
April 1961	56.0	69.1	40.6
May 1961	55.3	69.3	40.7
June 1961	55.7	69.6	40.9
July 1961	55.7	69.2	40.7
August 1961	56.6	68.9	40.6
September 1961	56.7	68.8	40.0
October 1961	56.0	69.1	40.2
November 1961	56.6	68.8	40.1
December 1961	55.7	68.7	40.3
January 1962	55.4	68.8	40.2
February 1962	55.1	69.0	40.6
March 1962	55.4	68.9	40.6
April 1962	55.6	68.9	39.8
May 1962	56.2	69.0	40.0
June 1962	56.6	69.0	39.7
July 1962	56.1	68.9	39.2
August 1962	56.5	69.4	39.7
September 1962	55.8	69.4	39.9
October 1962	55.9	69.0	39.5
November 1962	55.6	69.1	39.2
December 1962	55.2	69.0	39.3
January 1963	55.5	69.2	39.3
February 1963	55.5	69.2	39.3
March 1963	55.2	69.4	39.4
April 1963	55.5	69.5	39.2
May 1963	55.6	69.5	39.5
June 1963	54.8	69.4	39.5
July 1963	55.4	69.4	39.5
August 1963	55.0	69.3	39.4
September 1963	55.5	69.3	39.7
October 1963	55.4	69.5	39.5
November 1963	54.8	69.8	39.6
December 1963	54.4	69.6	39.2
January 1964	54.9	69.5	39.3
February 1964	55.4	69.5	39.5
March 1964	55.3	69.5	39.5
April 1964	55.4	69.9	40.1
May 1964	55.7	69.9	40.0
June 1964	54.9	69.7	39.6
July 1964	54.9	69.5	39.4
August 1964	55.4	69.6	39.3
September 1964	56.1	69.4	39.2
October 1964	55.4	69.4	39.6
November 1964	55.2	69.4	39.2
December 1964	55.3	69.6	39.2
January 1965	54.5	69.8	39.5
February 1965	55.0	69.7	39.7
March 1965	55.1	69.7	39.7
April 1965	55.9	69.7	39.5
May 1965	56.1	69.9	39.6
June 1965	55.0	70.1	39.6
July 1965	56.3	70.1	39.5
August 1965	55.7	70.1	39.2
September 1965	55.7	69.8	39.0
October 1965	56.5	69.9	39.2
November 1965	56.5	69.9	38.9
December 1965	56.9	70.0	39.2
January 1966	56.9	70.1	39.3
February 1966	56.1	69.9	39.1
March 1966	56.3	70.0	39.2
April 1966	56.8	70.0	39.1
May 1966	56.8	70.2	39.0
June 1966	57.4	70.2	39.1
July 1966	57.2	70.2	39.3
August 1966	57.4	70.3	39.5
September 1966	56.2	70.6	39.5
October 1966	56.9	70.7	39.2
November 1966	57.5	70.8	39.5
December 1966	58.0	70.7	39.2
January 1967	57.4	70.6	39.3
February 1967	57.5	70.6	39.0
March 1967	57.1	70.5	38.7
April 1967	57.2	70.7	39.1
May 1967	57.1	70.6	39.1
June 1967	58.0	70.8	39.5
July 1967	58.1	70.9	39.4
August 1967	58.2	71.0	39.4
September 1967	57.7	71.1	39.5
October 1967	57.8	71.3	39.6
November 1967	58.0	71.1	39.5
December 1967	58.2	71.3	39.5
January 1968	56.8	70.7	38.9
February 1968	57.7	71.0	39.1
March 1968	57.5	71.1	39.1
April 1968	57.2	71.1	39.0
May 1968	57.5	71.3	39.7
June 1968	58.3	71.3	39.8
July 1968	58.3	71.2	39.4
August 1968	58.1	71.0	39.1
September 1968	57.5	71.1	39.2
October 1968	57.5	71.0	39.2
November 1968	57.4	71.2	39.4
December 1968	57.6	71.2	39.3
January 1969	57.5	71.3	39.0
February 1969	58.0	71.5	39.5
March 1969	58.4	71.4	39.4
April 1969	58.6	71.3	39.5
May 1969	57.7	71.4	39.3
June 1969	59.3	71.6	39.2
July 1969	59.3	71.5	39.2
August 1969	59.4	71.8	39.3
September 1969	59.6	71.8	39.3
October 1969	59.7	71.8	39.2
November 1969	59.7	71.7	39.0
December 1969(1)	59.4	71.9	39.0
January 1970(1)	59.8	72.0	39.0
February 1970(1)	59.9	72.0	39.3
March 1970(1)	59.8	72.2	39.4
April 1970(1)	59.7	72.3	39.3
May 1970(1)	59.6	71.9	39.1
June 1970(1)	59.0	72.1	39.0
July 1970(1)	59.7	72.2	38.9
August 1970(1)	59.7	72.1	38.7
September 1970(1)	60.4	71.8	38.6
October 1970(1)	60.1	72.1	38.7
November 1970(1)	60.1	72.2	38.7
December 1970	60.1	72.1	38.7
January 1971	60.0	72.1	38.9
February 1971	59.6	72.1	38.4
March 1971	59.3	71.9	38.4
April 1971	59.8	71.9	38.4
May 1971	59.7	72.0	38.4
June 1971	58.3	72.0	38.1
July 1971	60.2	71.9	37.9
August 1971	60.5	72.0	38.0
September 1971	60.0	72.1	38.0
October 1971	60.1	72.1	38.1
November 1971	60.6	72.2	38.3
December 1971	61.1	72.1	38.1
January 1972	60.8	72.1	37.7
February 1972	61.0	72.1	37.4
March 1972	61.4	72.4	37.5
April 1972	61.4	72.2	37.3
May 1972	61.4	72.3	37.4
June 1972	61.6	72.3	37.3
July 1972	61.7	72.3	37.2
August 1972	62.4	72.3	37.2
September 1972	61.9	72.2	37.3
October 1972	62.3	72.1	37.2
November 1972	62.4	72.0	36.6
December 1972	62.8	72.3	36.6
January 1973	61.8	72.2	36.0
February 1973	63.1	72.6	36.2
March 1973	63.6	72.6	36.2
April 1973	63.7	72.7	35.9
May 1973	63.3	72.7	35.9
June 1973	64.0	72.9	36.0
July 1973	63.5	73.0	36.0
August 1973	63.2	72.8	35.9
September 1973	63.9	72.9	35.7
October 1973	64.3	73.1	35.6
November 1973(1)	64.6	73.3	35.5
December 1973(1)	64.8	73.3	35.5
January 1974(1)	64.8	73.5	35.5
February 1974(1)	65.1	73.5	35.7
March 1974(1)	64.9	73.4	35.5
April 1974(1)	64.3	73.3	35.5
May 1974(1)	64.7	73.4	35.2
June 1974(1)	64.9	73.6	35.2
July 1974(1)	64.9	73.8	35.1
August 1974(1)	64.4	73.6	35.2
September 1974(1)	65.6	73.7	35.0
October 1974(1)	65.4	73.8	34.9
November 1974(1)	65.4	73.8	34.3
December 1974(1)	65.1	73.8	34.7
January 1975(1)	65.1	73.9	34.8
February 1975(1)	64.6	73.5	34.9
March 1975(1)	64.7	73.8	34.8
April 1975	64.5	73.9	34.9
May 1975	65.3	74.0	34.9
June 1975	64.3	74.2	34.6
July 1975	64.8	74.1	34.8
August 1975	64.7	74.3	34.4
September 1975	64.8	74.3	34.3
October 1975	64.3	74.5	34.3
November 1975	63.8	74.2	34.1
December 1975	64.4	74.1	34.1
January 1976	64.7	74.3	34.2
February 1976	64.8	74.3	34.1
March 1976	64.9	74.4	33.9
April 1976	65.7	74.7	33.7
May 1976	65.7	74.6	33.6
June 1976	65.0	74.9	33.8
July 1976	66.0	75.1	33.8
August 1976	65.6	75.1	34.0
September 1976	64.9	75.1	34.0
October 1976	65.4	75.1	33.8
November 1976	65.7	75.2	33.7
December 1976	65.6	75.3	33.8
January 1977	65.5	75.1	33.5
February 1977	66.2	75.3	33.6
March 1977	66.3	75.5	33.5
April 1977	66.2	75.6	33.7
May 1977	66.1	75.7	33.8
June 1977	67.3	75.8	33.4
July 1977	66.6	75.7	33.3
August 1977	67.4	75.8	33.2
September 1977	66.8	75.9	33.6
October 1977	66.9	76.0	33.8
November 1977	67.3	76.3	33.9
December 1977	67.0	76.3	33.9
January 1978	67.4	76.5	33.7
February 1978	67.1	76.5	33.5
March 1978	67.2	76.6	33.5
April 1978	67.7	76.7	33.8
May 1978	68.0	76.8	33.7
June 1978	68.7	76.7	33.9
July 1978	68.4	76.9	33.7
August 1978	69.0	76.7	33.4
September 1978	68.5	77.1	33.6
October 1978	68.6	77.3	33.4
November 1978	68.5	77.4	33.7
December 1978	68.7	77.5	33.8
January 1979	68.8	77.5	33.9
February 1979	69.1	77.7	33.8
March 1979	69.1	77.7	33.7
April 1979	68.7	77.4	33.3
May 1979	68.2	77.4	33.4
June 1979	68.7	77.6	33.3
July 1979	68.6	77.9	33.2
August 1979	68.2	78.1	33.3
September 1979	68.8	78.2	33.3
October 1979	68.4	78.2	33.4
November 1979	68.4	78.1	33.2
December 1979	68.8	78.4	33.1
January 1980(1)	68.6	78.7	33.3
February 1980(1)	68.3	78.7	33.3
March 1980(1)	68.1	78.6	32.9
April 1980(1)	67.7	78.7	33.0
May 1980(1)	68.5	78.6	32.9
June 1980(1)	68.0	78.5	32.8
July 1980(1)	68.3	78.6	32.8
August 1980	67.7	78.6	33.0
September 1980	67.8	78.7	32.6
October 1980	68.3	78.7	32.5
November 1980	68.0	78.7	32.4
December 1980	67.7	78.8	32.2
January 1981	68.5	79.0	32.3
February 1981	68.2	79.0	32.5
March 1981	68.1	79.3	32.6
April 1981	68.5	79.4	32.6
May 1981	68.5	79.6	32.6
June 1981	67.0	79.3	32.4
July 1981(1)	67.3	79.2	32.3
August 1981(1)	67.7	79.2	32.1
September 1981(1)	67.3	79.0	31.8
October 1981(1)	67.7	79.4	31.9
November 1981(1)	67.4	79.6	31.7
December 1981(1)	67.0	79.4	31.8
January 1982(1)	67.1	79.4	31.8
February 1982(1)	67.3	79.6	31.6
March 1982(1)	67.1	79.6	31.9
April 1982(1)	67.3	79.6	32.0
May 1982(1)	67.7	79.9	32.1
June 1982(1)	66.6	79.9	32.2
July 1982(1)	66.8	80.0	32.0
August 1982(1)	67.3	80.0	31.9
September 1982(1)	67.1	80.0	32.3
October 1982(1)	67.4	80.0	31.7
November 1982(1)	67.7	79.9	31.8
December 1982	67.5	80.0	31.7
January 1983	67.1	79.8	31.6
February 1983	66.9	79.6	31.5
March 1983	66.5	79.7	31.4
April 1983	66.6	79.9	31.3
May 1983	65.9	79.9	31.2
June 1983	68.1	80.2	31.4
July 1983	67.6	80.2	31.3
August 1983	68.1	80.4	31.2
September 1983	67.5	80.5	31.5
October 1983	66.9	80.2	31.3
November 1983	67.2	80.2	31.4
December 1983	67.1	80.3	31.3
January 1984	67.0	80.1	31.0
February 1984	67.1	80.3	31.0
March 1984	67.2	80.4	30.8
April 1984	67.6	80.6	30.9
May 1984	67.7	80.8	30.8
June 1984	68.7	80.8	30.6
July 1984	68.3	81.0	30.6
August 1984	67.2	81.0	30.6
September 1984	67.9	80.7	30.7
October 1984	67.8	80.9	30.4
November 1984	68.0	80.8	30.4
December 1984	68.2	81.0	30.5
January 1985	68.5	81.3	30.4
February 1985	68.3	81.2	30.4
March 1985	68.4	81.4	30.8
April 1985	68.3	81.5	30.5
May 1985	68.4	81.2	30.3
June 1985	67.5	81.3	30.4
July 1985	68.4	81.3	30.2
August 1985	67.6	81.4	30.3
September 1985	68.3	81.8	30.2
October 1985	68.7	81.6	30.3
November 1985	68.5	81.6	30.1
December 1985	68.5	81.7	30.0
January 1986	67.9	81.7	30.3
February 1986	68.8	81.6	29.9
March 1986	68.9	81.8	30.0
April 1986	68.9	81.8	30.0
May 1986	68.6	81.8	30.1
June 1986	68.8	82.1	30.4
July 1986	68.6	82.1	30.4
August 1986	68.4	82.1	30.3
September 1986	68.9	82.3	30.0
October 1986	68.7	82.3	29.9
November 1986	68.6	82.3	30.0
December 1986	68.3	82.3	29.8
January 1987	68.6	82.2	29.9
February 1987	68.9	82.3	29.7
March 1987	68.5	82.4	29.9
April 1987	68.4	82.5	29.8
May 1987	68.8	82.6	30.1
June 1987	67.7	82.5	30.1
July 1987	68.1	82.6	30.0
August 1987	69.0	82.6	30.0
September 1987	68.2	82.6	30.0
October 1987	68.2	82.7	30.2
November 1987	68.2	82.6	30.2
December 1987	68.2	82.7	30.2
January 1988	68.9	82.6	30.1
February 1988	68.7	82.7	30.2
March 1988	67.8	82.8	29.9
April 1988	68.0	82.8	30.1
May 1988	67.6	82.8	29.8
June 1988	68.6	82.6	29.9
July 1988	68.7	82.8	29.7
August 1988	68.9	83.0	30.0
September 1988	68.7	82.9	30.0
October 1988	68.3	83.0	30.1
November 1988	68.0	83.3	30.3
December 1988	68.2	83.2	30.2
January 1989	68.5	83.5	30.5
February 1989	68.1	83.4	30.3
March 1989	68.1	83.3	30.4
April 1989	68.5	83.3	30.4
May 1989	68.2	83.2	30.4
June 1989	69.5	83.2	30.3
July 1989	69.2	83.3	30.3
August 1989	69.7	83.3	30.1
September 1989	68.3	83.6	30.1
October 1989	68.4	83.5	30.2
November 1989	68.7	83.8	30.2
December 1989	67.7	83.7	30.4
January 1990	67.8	83.8	30.3
February 1990	67.7	83.8	30.2
March 1990	67.9	83.6	30.1
April 1990	67.7	83.5	30.0
May 1990	67.7	83.5	30.2
June 1990	67.3	83.4	29.9
July 1990(1)	67.2	83.4	29.9
August 1990(1)	67.3	83.4	30.1
September 1990(1)	66.9	83.4	30.1
October 1990(1)	66.9	83.4	30.0
November 1990(1)	66.6	83.5	30.0
December 1990(1)	66.6	83.4	30.0
January 1991(1)	67.0	83.2	29.6
February 1991(1)	66.5	83.5	29.7
March 1991(1)	66.6	83.4	29.7
April 1991	66.1	83.7	29.8
May 1991	66.0	83.4	29.5
June 1991	65.7	83.4	29.7
July 1991	65.6	83.3	29.6
August 1991	65.4	83.4	29.4
September 1991	65.7	83.4	29.6
October 1991	66.0	83.4	29.4
November 1991	65.9	83.4	29.4
December 1991	65.8	83.2	29.3
January 1992	65.9	83.5	29.7
February 1992	66.1	83.4	29.7
March 1992	66.0	83.5	29.9
April 1992	65.5	83.7	29.8
May 1992	66.0	83.8	29.8
June 1992	66.3	83.9	29.8
July 1992	66.5	83.8	29.9
August 1992	66.6	83.8	29.6
September 1992	66.5	83.6	29.5
October 1992	65.3	83.5	29.4
November 1992	66.2	83.5	29.6
December 1992	66.5	83.4	29.4
January 1993	66.3	83.3	29.2
February 1993	66.6	83.1	29.6
March 1993	66.4	83.2	29.3
April 1993	66.0	83.2	29.2
May 1993	66.8	83.4	29.5
June 1993	66.0	83.6	29.6
July 1993	66.4	83.5	29.2
August 1993	66.1	83.5	29.5
September 1993	65.6	83.4	29.3
October 1993	65.7	83.5	29.4
November 1993	65.7	83.6	29.3
December 1993	65.5	83.6	29.4
January 1994(2)	66.3	83.4	30.4
February 1994	66.6	83.5	30.1
March 1994	66.3	83.3	29.8
April 1994	66.6	83.2	29.8
May 1994	66.4	83.3	30.3
June 1994	66.7	82.9	30.0
July 1994	66.0	83.2	29.9
August 1994	67.0	83.3	30.1
September 1994	65.8	83.6	30.0
October 1994	66.6	83.5	30.1
November 1994	66.1	83.6	30.4
December 1994	66.5	83.5	30.2
January 1995	66.9	83.5	30.2
February 1995	66.7	83.6	30.0
March 1995	66.9	83.5	29.9
April 1995	66.9	83.7	30.0
May 1995	65.9	83.5	29.8
June 1995	66.6	83.3	29.7
July 1995	66.2	83.4	30.1
August 1995	66.7	83.3	30.0
September 1995	65.8	83.5	30.3
October 1995	65.7	83.4	30.4
November 1995	65.3	83.5	30.2
December 1995	65.5	83.4	29.9
January 1996	65.5	83.5	29.9
February 1996	65.3	83.5	30.2
March 1996	65.6	83.5	30.2
April 1996	65.7	83.6	29.8
May 1996	66.0	83.7	30.2
June 1996	65.3	83.6	30.4
July 1996	65.5	83.9	30.6
August 1996	64.7	84.0	30.4
September 1996	65.7	83.9	30.4
October 1996	66.0	84.1	30.3
November 1996	65.5	84.1	30.4
December 1996	65.4	84.1	30.5
January 1997	65.5	84.0	30.7
February 1997	65.4	83.9	30.6
March 1997	65.7	84.0	31.0
April 1997	65.5	84.0	30.8
May 1997	66.1	83.8	31.1
June 1997	65.2	84.1	30.8
July 1997	65.5	84.3	30.7
August 1997	65.1	84.5	30.9
September 1997	65.2	84.3	30.9
October 1997	65.0	84.2	31.0
November 1997	65.7	84.0	31.4
December 1997	65.3	84.1	31.4
January 1998	66.4	84.0	31.1
February 1998	66.0	84.1	31.1
March 1998	66.0	84.2	30.9
April 1998	65.5	83.9	31.2
May 1998	66.0	83.9	31.3
June 1998	65.9	84.0	31.1
July 1998	65.5	84.1	31.2
August 1998	65.9	84.1	31.1
September 1998	66.5	84.2	31.4
October 1998	65.9	84.1	31.5
November 1998	65.4	84.1	31.7
December 1998	65.4	84.2	31.8
January 1999	65.5	84.6	31.5
February 1999	65.6	84.4	31.6
March 1999	65.7	84.0	31.7
April 1999	65.2	84.1	31.8
May 1999	65.7	84.1	31.7
June 1999	65.2	84.1	32.1
July 1999	65.6	83.9	32.1
August 1999	65.3	84.0	32.0
September 1999	65.6	84.0	31.9
October 1999	65.5	84.1	31.8
November 1999	65.4	84.2	31.8
December 1999	65.6	84.0	32.1
January 2000	66.1	84.4	32.3
February 2000	66.0	84.4	32.4
March 2000	65.9	84.3	32.4
April 2000	66.3	84.4	32.2
May 2000	65.7	84.1	32.2
June 2000	66.0	84.1	32.2
July 2000	65.0	83.9	32.3
August 2000	65.8	83.8	32.5
September 2000	65.8	83.7	32.4
October 2000	65.8	83.6	32.4
November 2000	65.6	83.8	32.3
December 2000	65.9	83.9	32.6
January 2001	66.1	84.1	32.8
February 2001	65.6	84.1	32.7
March 2001(1)	65.7	84.1	32.8
April 2001(1)	65.1	83.7	33.0
May 2001(1)	64.0	83.8	33.0
June 2001(1)	64.3	83.6	33.1
July 2001(1)	64.3	83.6	33.2
August 2001(1)	63.2	83.5	33.4
September 2001(1)	64.5	83.5	33.5
October 2001(1)	64.2	83.6	33.5
November 2001(1)	64.3	83.5	33.6
December 2001	63.7	83.7	33.8
January 2002	62.9	83.5	33.8
February 2002	63.5	83.7	34.1
March 2002	64.0	83.5	33.8
April 2002	63.3	83.6	34.2
May 2002	63.5	83.6	34.4
June 2002	63.4	83.2	34.6
July 2002	63.3	83.1	34.7
August 2002	63.3	83.2	34.8
September 2002	63.5	83.3	35.2
October 2002	62.9	83.2	35.1
November 2002	62.9	82.9	35.0
December 2002	62.7	83.1	34.9
January 2003	62.4	82.9	35.5
February 2003	62.3	83.0	35.5
March 2003	61.4	83.1	35.5
April 2003	61.9	83.2	35.5
May 2003	61.9	83.1	35.6
June 2003	62.2	83.3	35.6
July 2003	61.5	83.0	35.5
August 2003	61.1	83.0	35.7
September 2003	61.4	82.8	35.6
October 2003	61.0	82.9	35.8
November 2003	61.0	82.8	36.1
December 2003	60.5	82.8	36.0
January 2004	61.5	82.8	36.0
February 2004	61.0	82.7	36.2
March 2004	60.6	82.8	36.3
April 2004	61.3	82.7	35.8
May 2004	61.1	82.8	36.0
June 2004	60.9	82.9	36.2
July 2004	61.3	83.0	36.1
August 2004	61.1	82.7	36.4
September 2004	60.6	82.7	36.3
October 2004	61.6	82.6	36.2
November 2004	61.3	82.7	36.5
December 2004	61.2	82.6	36.6
January 2005	60.8	82.7	36.3
February 2005	60.6	82.8	36.7
March 2005	60.8	82.6	36.6
April 2005	60.7	82.7	37.2
May 2005	60.8	82.9	37.1
June 2005	60.8	82.6	37.2
July 2005	60.7	82.8	37.3
August 2005	60.8	82.9	37.5
September 2005	60.6	82.9	37.6
October 2005	60.9	82.7	37.6
November 2005	61.1	82.7	37.4
December 2005	60.4	82.7	37.6
January 2006	60.2	82.8	37.6
February 2006	60.9	82.9	37.5
March 2006	60.5	83.0	37.6
April 2006	60.3	82.8	38.0
May 2006	60.5	82.9	37.9
June 2006	60.6	82.9	38.0
July 2006	60.5	82.9	38.0
August 2006	61.0	82.9	38.1
September 2006	60.3	82.9	38.3
October 2006	60.6	82.9	38.3
November 2006	60.7	83.0	38.4
December 2006	60.9	83.1	38.5
January 2007	60.6	83.4	38.0
February 2007	60.2	83.2	38.3
March 2007	60.1	83.2	38.5
April 2007	59.3	83.0	38.2
May 2007	58.7	83.0	38.6
June 2007	59.5	82.9	38.7
July 2007	59.0	82.9	38.9
August 2007	58.2	82.9	38.8
September 2007	59.6	82.9	38.9
October 2007	59.2	82.8	38.7
November 2007	59.5	82.9	38.9
December 2007(1)	59.1	83.1	38.9
January 2008(1)	59.4	83.3	39.1
February 2008(1)	58.3	83.1	39.2
March 2008(1)	58.5	83.3	39.3
April 2008(1)	58.9	83.2	39.1
May 2008(1)	60.0	83.1	39.0
June 2008(1)	59.1	83.2	39.3
July 2008(1)	59.1	83.1	39.5
August 2008(1)	58.9	83.1	39.7
September 2008(1)	58.9	83.1	39.5
October 2008(1)	58.5	83.1	39.8
November 2008(1)	57.8	82.9	39.8
December 2008(1)	58.0	82.8	39.9
January 2009(1)	57.3	82.7	40.0
February 2009(1)	58.0	82.7	39.9
March 2009(1)	57.8	82.6	39.9
April 2009(1)	58.0	82.9	40.0
May 2009(1)	57.7	83.0	40.3
June 2009(1)	57.4	83.0	40.2
July 2009(1)	57.2	82.8	40.0
August 2009(1)	56.8	82.8	40.0
September 2009(1)	56.2	82.6	40.0
October 2009(1)	55.5	82.6	39.9
November 2009(1)	55.5	82.4	39.9
December 2009(1)	55.1	82.0	39.8
January 2010(1)	54.7	82.2	39.9
Footnotes: (1) Represents recessionary period, as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not yet determined an end point for the recession that began in December 2007. (2) Beginning in 1994, data reflect the introduction of a major redesign of the Current Population Survey.
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics