U.S. Unemployment Trends
Analyzing unemployment data from January 2024 to present, sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Peak Unemployment
The highest rate in this period was 4.5% in February 2024, reflecting early-year market adjustments.
Current Rate
The latest unemployment rate for August 2025 is 4.3%, indicating relative stability in the job market.
Total Unemployed
As of August 2025, approximately 7.4 million individuals are unemployed, with 1.81 million holding a bachelor's degree or higher.
Educated & Unemployed: A Breakdown of the 1.81 Million
While a degree improves job prospects, no field is entirely immune to unemployment. Based on unemployment rates across different fields of study, we can estimate how the 1.81 million unemployed graduates are distributed. This projection highlights which skill sets may be most affected in the current job market.
Arts, Humanities & Liberal Arts
~398,200
(22% of Unemployed Grads)
IT & Computer Science
~325,800
(18% of Unemployed Grads)
Social Sciences & Comms
~289,600
(16% of Unemployed Grads)
Business
~271,500
(15% of Unemployed Grads)
Note: These figures are synthesized estimates based on available data on unemployment rates by major.
Monthly Unemployment Rate (%)
Raw Data Table
| Month | Unemployment Rate | Change |
|---|
Methodology
Data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' monthly Employment Situation report. The unemployment rate represents the percentage of the labor force that is jobless and actively seeking employment.
Seasonal adjustments are applied to account for predictable seasonal patterns in employment and unemployment.