Bob Marshall’s August 2026 BLS Analysis for Recruiters; 9/4/26
August BLS Coaching Preface
*Be sure to visit our New Website @ www.themarshallplan.org
**“HIRE WIRE” – The Podcast for Recruiters**
Continuing with this BLS report—and again thanks to Kevin Franks, our marketing guru—we will provide the monthly podcast for recruiters, “Hire Wire”, the deep dive that explores my report in a short, 15 minute or so, audio format. So, for those of you who have asked for a shorter summary, we now have that available. Just click on the following links and enjoy the audio.
Here is the link: https://youtu.be/4A5Mq4fr7gs
Recruiting Has Changed. Human Nature Hasn’t.
Every month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics gives us a new set of numbers.
Jobs created.
Unemployment.
Labor-force participation.
Wages.
Openings.
Hiring trends.
But here’s the thing:
The numbers tell us what happened. They don’t tell us what it means for recruiters.
That’s where my monthly BLS Analysis for Recruiters comes in.
After more than 46 years of uninterrupted recruiting, I’ve learned a lesson that has held up through every market I’ve worked in:
Technology changes. Markets change. Recruiting fundamentals don’t.
And right now, recruiting is changing faster than I have ever seen it.
Artificial Intelligence is transforming sourcing.
Automation is changing how work gets done.
Candidates are more difficult to reach.
Hiring Managers have less time and more demands on their schedules.
And recruiters have access to more technology, more information and more tools than ever before.
Yet many recruiters are working harder…and producing less.
Why?
Because while technology has changed dramatically, human behavior hasn’t.
I’ve recruited through recessions, hiring booms, labor shortages, technological revolutions and just about every kind of market you can imagine.
I’ve watched fax machines disappear.
I’ve watched email replace letters.
I’ve watched LinkedIn transform recruiting.
And now I’m watching AI reshape virtually every part of the profession.
But one thing has remained remarkably consistent:
The highest-producing recruiters aren’t necessarily the smartest.
They aren’t necessarily the busiest.
And they certainly aren’t the recruiters making the most calls.
They’re the recruiters who consistently do the things that have always mattered:
They gain access to Hiring Managers.
They uncover the real hiring need.
They ask better questions.
They build stronger relationships.
And they spend their time on activities that actually produce revenue.
That’s what I teach.
Not scripts.
Not gimmicks.
Not the latest recruiting fad.
Systems.
Because a good system doesn’t become obsolete every time a new technology appears.
In fact, technology can make a good recruiting system even more powerful.
If you’re serious about building a recruiting business—not simply working a recruiting desk—my coaching is designed to help you:
• Develop trusted relationships with Hiring Managers instead of competing with everyone else for the same opportunities.
• Secure higher-quality job orders you can actually fill.
• Build a predictable business-development process instead of hoping the phone rings.
• Eliminate low-value activity and concentrate on the activities that produce placements.
• Create a realistic path toward $500,000—and beyond—in annual production.
This isn’t theory.
These are field-tested systems developed over more than four decades, refined through thousands of placements, and used by recruiters in virtually every kind of market.
And you don’t need a complicated program to put them to work.
You need the right system, the discipline to follow it, and someone who can help you stay on track.
That’s where I come in.
David’s Story
Several years ago, a recruiter I’ll call David contacted me because he had hit a ceiling.
He wasn’t failing.
Quite the opposite.
He arrived early.
Stayed late.
Made plenty of calls.
Interviewed candidates every day.
His calendar was full.
His activity level was impressive.
But his production wasn’t keeping pace with his effort.
He was busy.
Very busy.
He just wasn’t breaking through.
When we looked closely at his desk, the problem became obvious.
It wasn’t his work ethic.
It wasn’t his experience.
And it wasn’t the market.
It was where he was investing his time.
Like so many recruiters, David had become extremely good at being busy.
We changed that.
We redesigned the way he qualified job orders.
We strengthened his Hiring Manager relationships.
We established a daily process built around revenue-producing activities rather than simply filling his calendar.
Within a year, David crossed the $1 million billing mark.
What changed?
Not his work ethic.
Not his intelligence.
Not the number of hours in his day.
His focus changed.
And that’s an important lesson for every recruiter—especially in today’s market.
Because with all the technology available to us today, it’s easy to believe that the answer is to do more.
More sourcing.
More automation.
More messages.
More calls.
More activity.
But more activity doesn’t necessarily produce more revenue.
In recruiting, success usually isn’t about doing more.
It’s about doing more of what matters.
And that’s exactly what I look for when I analyze the latest BLS numbers for recruiters.
So let’s take a look at what last month’s numbers are really telling us…
If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and start building a recruiting business that consistently produces bigger fees, I’d be happy to talk with you.
Email: bob@themarshallplan.org
Call: 770-898-5550
TBMG International
Home of the $500K in 12 Months Program
Pointed in Approach. Precise in Delivery.
Bob Marshall began his recruiting career over 46 years ago at MR in Reno, NV. In 1986 he established The Bob Marshall Group, International, where he has trained recruiters throughout the United States and also in the United Kingdom, Malta and Cyprus. With a dedication to executive recruiting, he continues to offer his proven training systems to individuals, firms, and private corporations both domestic and in select international territories. To learn more about his activities and descriptions of his products and services, contact him directly @770-898-5550/470-456-0386(cell); bob@themarshallplan.org; or visit his website @ www.TheMarshallPlan.org.
August Business Articles
Jobs exist but are harder to fill, hiring managers say
HR Dive, Lara Ewen, August 18, 2026
Survey respondents said it can take 4 weeks to hire for available roles and that they permanently close some positions before finding the right candidate.
Dive Brief:
More than 2 in 5 U.S. hiring managers (43%) said it’s taking longer to fill open positions than it did 2 years ago, with 26% reporting that it takes at least 4 weeks “when factoring in resume reviews, interviews and final decisions,” according to survey results released Aug. 12 from Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll.
Meanwhile, hiring managers said an average 21% of open roles are closed without being filled. In addition, more than 1 in 4 hiring managers said 27% of their available positions “go unfilled entirely.”
Notably, 44% of hiring managers surveyed said their organization has jobs it cannot fill. This percentage is significantly up from the 36% who reported this in fall 2025 and marks the highest level recorded since fall 2023.
Dive Insight:
The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals conducted an online survey of more than 1,000 U.S. hiring managers, and separately conducted an online poll of 1,000 job-seeking adults who were either employed and looking for a new job or not employed.
Results found that despite the prolonged timelines, companies “appear to be conducting fewer interviews before making a decision.” Hiring managers also reported that candidates went through an average of four interviews before getting a job offer, down from five in spring 2023.
The process has frustrated job seekers, per the report.
Almost a third of people looking for work (31%) said that going through an automated hiring process “instead of feeling heard by people” was challenging. An additional 31% also said they think companies “are claiming to hire but only collecting resumes to review,” which impedes their job search. More than 1 in 5 added that open positions were being given to artificial intelligence, which they said also impacted their ability to find a job.
“Hiring has become more complex, and employers are working to balance speed, quality and the right fit,” Bob Funk Jr., CEO of Express Employment International, said in a statement. “Technology can help streamline the process, but it delivers the greatest value when paired with thoughtful, human interaction.”
Hiring managers should understand that an applicant’s hiring experience could be just as critical as the role itself, per the report.
Funk said that because of this, communication is more important than ever.
“When the process is clear and timely, employers can keep business moving, and candidates can better understand whether an opportunity is the right fit,” Funk said.
The survey results come amid new data analysis from Challenger, Gray and Christmas that found month-to-month U.S. job cuts were down 27% between June and July. Year-over-year layoffs were down 46%, and July posted the lowest monthly total recorded layoffs in 2 years, although job losses have continued, especially in the technology sector.
Meanwhile, workers report dissatisfaction with their current roles; Eagle Hill Consulting’s Employee Retention Index indicated that employees may be less likely to stay at their jobs over the next six months. That report found that workers were frustrated by their salaries and optimistic about the possibility of a better job elsewhere. Despite strong retention rates right now, Eagle Hill said the labor market is about to see “increased workforce mobility.”
Ghosting, other missteps can prompt backlash from candidates
SIA Editorial Staff, August 21, 2026
More than one-third of job candidates said they’ve been ghosted by employers, according to research by PeopleScout, a division of staffing firm TrueBlue. And candidates who don’t feel they are treated fairly may tell others not to apply and spurn those organization’s brands as a consumer.
In addition, only 25% are very confident that a human read their application.
“Hiring is still a human relationship, and this research is a reminder that candidates remember how they were treated far more than how fast the process moved,” TrueBlue CEO Taryn Owen said in a press release.
On a 5-point scale, the research found the most important criteria for candidates worldwide were: respect for their time, 4.36; a transparent process, 4.28; and a fair assessment, 4.27.
Amid fast-growing adoption of AI tools in the hiring process, only a sliver of candidates, just 11%, rated their hiring experience as excellent in the new survey, a drop from 18% in 2023.
“AI has not created the communication gaps evident in today’s candidate experience,” according to the report. “But it has made them more consequential.”
Among other findings in the research, two-thirds of candidates (65%) said employers never mentioned if AI was being used in the hiring process.
“We use AI-supported technology to help our clients hire with greater speed and consistency, but this research confirms what we tell every client: Technology is necessary, but it isn’t the only piece of the hiring strategy,” PeopleScout President Rick Betori said in a press release.
PeopleScout researchers surveyed more than 1,000 job seekers from the US, the UK, Australia, India, Poland, France, Germany, New Zealand, Singapore and Spain. The firm’s report also includes information from PeopleScout’s Candidate Experience Index, which surveyed more than 2,400 job seekers globally.
ADP National Employment Report: Private Sector Employment Increased by 38,000 Jobs in August; Almost All of New Job Creation (34,000) came from Large-sized Establishments; Base Pay Rose 3.2%; Gross Pay was Up 4.7%
ROSELAND, N.J. – September 2, 2026
Private-sector employment increased by 38,000 jobs in August, according to the ADP National Employment Report® produced by ADP Research in collaboration with the Stanford Digital Economy Lab (“Stanford Lab”).
For all private-sector workers in the United States, base pay rose 3.2% and gross pay was up 4.7% year over year, according to ADP Pay Insights. Base pay for job-stayers rose 3.0% year-over-year; base pay for job-changers increased 4.7%. Gross pay for job-stayers rose 4.4% year-over year; gross pay for job-changers increased 7.3%.
Beginning with today’s release of the August 2026 data, ADP Pay Insights offers deeper analytics, expanded geographic data, and an interactive data platform. Key enhancements to the monthly report include tracking of the year-over-year change in base pay drawn from contracted pay rates in addition to the reported change in gross pay.
Gross pay is drawn from base pay plus bonuses, commissions, tips, and other earnings. ADP Pay Insights also now reports pay trends for all workers, job-stayers and job-changers combined.
Data on base and gross pay is available for 56 U.S. metropolitan areas. Base and gross pay data also is available by worker mobility, demographics, sector, employer size, and pay quartile. Base and gross pay each are valuable indicators of labor-market conditions. Base pay changes tend to be long-lasting, and any change in this structural metric can send a signal on labor-market tightness or inflationary pressure.
Gross pay measures total compensation generated by labor-market activity, data that can be used to assess income growth and consumer spending power. Changes in gross pay can tell us how employers are responding to atypical economic conditions.
The ADP National Employment Report is an independent measure of the labor market based on the anonymized weekly payroll data of more than 26,000,000 private-sector employees in the United States.
ADP Pay Insights uses payroll transaction data to compare the wage growth of individual workers over 12-month intervals, resulting in more than 14,700,000 year-over-year pay-change observations each month. Together, these reports use ADP’s finely grained data to provide a representative and high-frequency picture of the private-sector labor market.
“Pay can tell us a lot about today’s choppy hiring. To understand hiring patterns, you have to look deeply into where pay growth is accelerating, where it’s slowing, and for whom,” said Dr. Nela Richardson, chief economist, ADP. “Once predictable wage growth has been overtaken by complexities of demographic change, persistent inflation, and AI’s effects on jobs,” Richardson said. “Our new Pay Insights report, with its enhanced data, can more fully reveal the dynamics of today’s labor market.”
EMPLOYMENT REPORT
Private employers added 38,000 jobs in August
Private employers posted their slowest pace of job creation since January. Manufacturing, professional services, and information shed jobs. Education and health care, construction, and leisure and hospitality all showed solid hiring.
Change in U.S. Private Employment: 38,000
Change by Sector
Goods-producing: <-10,000>
Natural resources/mining <-5,000>
Construction 12,000
Manufacturing <-17,000>
Service-providing: 48,000
Trade/transportation/utilities <-5,000>
Information <-4,000>
Financial activities 6,000
Professional/business services <-16,000>
Education/health services 45,000
Leisure/hospitality 16,000
Other services 6,000
Change by U.S. Regions
Northeast: 38,000
New England 12,000
Middle Atlantic 26,000
Midwest: 5,000
East North Central <-15,000>
West North Central 20,000
South: 3,000
South Atlantic 14,000
East South Central <-2,000>
West South Central <-9,000>
West: <-8,000>
Mountain <-3,000>
Pacific <-5,000>
Change by Establishment Size
Small establishments: 3,000
1-19 employees 20,000
20-49 employees <-17,000>
Medium establishments: 0
50-249 employees 2,000
250-499 employees <-2,000>
Large establishments: 34,000
500+ employees 34,000
PAY INSIGHTS
ADP Pay Insights provides base pay growth and gross pay growth data across worker mobility, demographics, sector, employer size, pay quartile, and 56 U.S. metropolitan areas.
The report also now offers pay growth distribution.
Drawn from ADP’s industry-leading workforce dataset, ADP Pay Insights uses payroll transaction data to provide a view on the wage dynamics of more than 14,700,000 matched workers over a 12-month period.
“With its extended history, added dimensions of base pay and distribution, and granular metro information, Pay Insights more fully captures the pay structure of the U.S. labor market and how it’s changing over time,” said Liv Wang, lead data scientist, ADP Research.
“Our August release, for example, shows that pay growth has been decelerating for the past 4 years,” Wang said. “Among lower-paid workers in particular, base pay growth has lost momentum and now is slower than it was prior to the pandemic.”
Base pay growth slowed slightly in August
Pay growth for job-stayers was unchanged at 3%, while pay growth for job changers edged down.
Gross pay growth slowed slightly in August
Pay growth for job-stayers was unchanged at 4.4%, while pay growth for job-changers slowed from 7.5% to 7.3%.
Median Change in Base Pay
All workers 3.2%
Job-stayers 3.0%
Job-changers 4.7%
Median Change in Gross Pay
All workers 4.7%
Job-stayers 4.4%
Job-changers 7.3%
Median Change in Annual Pay for Job-Stayers by Industry
Goods-producing:
Natural resources/mining 4.0%
Construction 4.5%
Manufacturing 5.0%
Service-providing:
Trade/transportation/utilities 4.4%
Information 4.0%
Financial activities 5.2%
Professional/business services 4.1%
Education/health services 4.1%
Leisure/hospitality 4.4%
Other services 4.1%
Median Change in Annual Pay for Job-Stayers by Firm Size
Small firms:
1-19 employees 2.4%
20-49 employees 4.0%
Medium firms:
50-249 employees 4.7%
250-499 employees 4.8%
Large firms:
500+ employees 4.8%
Median Change in Base Pay by Sector
Goods-producing:
Natural resources and mining 3.3%
Construction 4.0%
Manufacturing 3.5%
Service-providing:
Trade, transportation, and utilities 3.3%
Information 3.1%
Financial activities 3.5%
Professional and business services 3.2%
Education and health services 3.0%
Leisure and hospitality 2.9%
Other services 3.0%
Median Change in Base Pay by Firm Size
Medium firms:
50-249 employees 3.5%
250-499 employees 3.3%
Large firms:
500+ employees 3.2%
The September 2026 ADP National Employment Report will be released on September 30, 2026 at 8:15 a.m. ET.
Bottom-line: To my audience of recruiters, always remember this: Our ‘bread and butter’, especially on the contingency side of the house, has historically been, and continues to be, small and medium-sized client companies. Along with the large companies, these companies need to be included in your niche!
Job Openings and Labor Turnover – July 2026
September 1st, 2026
The number of job openings was little changed at 7,300,000 in July, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Hires and total separations both changed little at 5,100,000. Within separations, quits (3,100,000) and layoffs and discharges (1,700,000) were little changed.
This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm sector, by industry, and by establishment size class. Job openings include all positions that are open on the last business day of the month. Hires and separations include all changes to the payroll during the entire month.
Job Openings
The number and rate of job openings were little changed at 7,300,000 and 4.4%, respectively, in July. Job openings increased in durable goods manufacturing (+76,000).
Hires
The number and rate of hires were little changed at 5,100,000 and 3.2%, respectively, over the month. Hires decreased in professional and business services (-188,000).
Separations
Total separations include quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Quits are generally voluntary separations initiated by the employee. Therefore, the quits rate can serve as a measure of workers’ willingness or ability to leave jobs. Layoffs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the employer. Other separations include separations due to retirement, death, disability, and transfers to other locations of the same firm.
In July, the number and rate of total separations changed little at 5,100,000 and 3.2%, respectively. Total separations changed little in all industries.
The number and rate of quits were little changed at 3,100,000 and 1.9%, respectively, over the month. Quits decreased in other services (-46,000).
The number and rate of layoffs and discharges were little changed at 1,700,000 and 1.0%, respectively, in July. Layoffs and discharges decreased in finance and insurance
(-22,000).
The number of other separations was essentially unchanged at 350,000 in July.
Establishment Size Class
In July, the layoffs and discharges rate decreased for establishments with 1 to 9 employees, while the job openings, hires, quits, and total separations rates showed little or no change. The hires rate decreased in establishments with 5,000 or more employees, while job openings, quits, layoffs and discharges, and total separations rates showed little or no change.
June 2026 Revisions
The number of job openings for June was revised down by 177,000 to 7,200,000, the number of hires was revised down by 16,000 to 5,300,000, and the number of total separations was revised down by 14,000 to 5,300,000. Within separations, the number of quits was revised down by 19,000 to 3,200,000, and the number of layoffs and discharges was revised up by 19,000 to 1,800,000. (Monthly revisions result from additional reports received from businesses and government agencies since the last published estimates and from the recalculation of seasonal factors.)
____________
The Job Openings and Labor Turnover news release for August 2026 is scheduled to be published on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).
As we recruiters know, that 7,300,000 number only represents 20% of the jobs currently available in the marketplace. The other 80% of job openings are unpublished and are filled through networking or word of mouth or by using a RECRUITER. So, those 7,300,000 published job openings now become a total of 36,500,000 published and hidden job orders.
Online Labor Demand Increased in July
August 12, 2026
The Conference Board−Lightcast Help Wanted OnLine® (HWOL) Index increased in July 2026 to 113.0 (July 2018=100), from a downwardly revised 112.4 in June. The 0.5% increase between July and June followed a 2.4% decrease between June and May. Overall, the Index is up 4.4% from one year ago.
The HWOL Index measures the change in advertised online job vacancies over time, reflecting monthly trends in employment opportunities across the US. The Help Wanted OnLine® Index is produced in collaboration with Lightcast, the global leader in real-time labor market data and analysis. This collaboration enhances the Help Wanted OnLine® program by providing additional insights into important labor market trends.
PROGRAM NOTES
The June 2025 data release reflects an update to our job board coverage as a few job boards made changes to their access policy. To minimize any impact, and improve and supplement our job board coverage, we have broadened and updated our job board coverage.
Prior to 2020, The Conference Board constructed the HWOL Index based solely on online job ads over time. Using a methodology designed to reduce non-economic volatility contributed by online job sources, the HWOL Index served an effective measure of changes in labor demand over time.
Beginning January 2020, the HWOL Index was refined as an estimate of change in job openings (based on BLS JOLTS), using a series of econometric models which incorporate job ads with other macroeconomic indicators such as employment and aggregate hours worked. By adopting a modeled approach which combines other data sources with data on online job ads, the HWOL Index more accurately tracks important movements in the labor market.
HWOL Annual Revision. With the April 2025 press release, the HWOL program has incorporated its annual revision, which helps ensure the accuracy and consistency of the HWOL Data Series. This year’s annual revision includes updates to the Occupational coding and the Geographical coding for the HWOL Data Series from January 2015-forward. The HWOL Index has also been updated from January 2020-forward.
The Conference Board-Lightcast Help Wanted OnLine® (HWOL) Index measures changes over time in advertised online job vacancies, reflecting monthly trends in employment opportunities across the US. The HWOL Data Series aggregates the total number of ads available by month from the HWOL universe of online job ads. Ads in the HWOL universe are collected in real-time from over 50,000 online job domains including traditional job boards, corporate boards, social media sites, and smaller job sites that serve niche markets and smaller geographic areas.
Like The Conference Board’s long-running Help Wanted Advertising Index of print ads (which was published for over 55 years and discontinued in July 2008), Help Wanted OnLine® measures help wanted advertising—i.e. labor demand. The HWOL Data Series began in May 2005 and was revised in December 2018. With the December 2018 revision, The Conference Board released the HWOL Index, improving upon the HWOL Data Series’ ability to assess local labor market trends by reducing volatility and non-economic noise and improving correlation with local labor market conditions.
In 2019, Lightcast (formerly Emsi Burning Glass) joined the Help Wanted OnLine® program as the new sole provider of online job ad data for HWOL. With this partnership, the HWOL Data Series has been revised historically to reflect a new universe and methodology of online job advertisements and therefore cannot be used in conjunction with the pre-revised HWOL Data Series. The HWOL Data Series begins in January 2015 and the HWOL Index begins in December 2005. HWOL Index values prior to 2020 are based on job ads collected by CEB, Inc.
About The Conference Board
The Conference Board is the member-driven think tank that delivers Trusted Insights for What’s Ahead®. Founded in 1916, we are a non-partisan, not-for-profit entity holding 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status in the United States.
About Lightcast
As the global leader in labor market analytics, Lightcast illuminates the future of work with data-driven talent strategies. Formerly Emsi Burning Glass, Lightcast finds purpose in sharing the insights that build communities, educators, and companies, and takes pride in knowing our work helps others find fulfillment, too. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, and Moscow, Idaho, Lightcast is active in more than 30 countries and has offices in the United Kingdom, Italy, New Zealand, and India. Lightcast is backed by global private equity leader KKR.
Next release for August 2026 to be released Wednesday, September 9, 2026, 10am.
August U-6 Update
In August 2026, the regular unemployment rate remained at 4.1%, and the broader U-6 measure fell to 7.7%.
The above 7.7% is referred to as the U-6 unemployment rate (found in the monthly BLS Employment Situation Summary, Table A-15; Table A-12 in 2008 and before). It counts not only people without work seeking full-time employment (the more familiar U-3 rate) but also counts “marginally attached workers and those working part-time for economic reasons.” Note that some of these part-time workers counted as employed by U-3 could be working as little as an hour a week. And the “marginally attached workers” include those who have gotten discouraged and stopped looking but still want to work. The age considered for this calculation is 16 years and over.
Here is a look at the August U-6 numbers for the previous 23 years:
| MONTH | YEAR | PERCENTAGE |
| August | 2025 | 8.1% |
| August | 2024 | 7.8% |
| August | 2023 | 7.1% |
| August | 2022 | 7.0% |
| August | 2021 | 8.8% |
| August | 2020 | 14.2% |
| August | 2019 | 7.2% |
| August | 2018 | 7.4% |
| August | 2017 | 8.6% |
| August | 2016 | 9.7% |
| August | 2015 | 10.3% |
| August | 2014 | 12.0% |
| August | 2013 | 13.6% |
| August | 2012 | 14.7% |
| August | 2011 | 16.2% |
| August | 2010 | 16.7% |
| August | 2009 | 16.8% |
| August | 2008 | 10.9% |
| August | 2007 | 8.4% |
| August | 2006 | 8.4% |
| August | 2005 | 8.9% |
| August | 2004 | 9.5% |
| August | 2003 | 10.2% |
AUGUST 2026 BLS Analysis
Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 162,000 in August, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.1%, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment increased in food services and drinking places and in local government education. The information industry lost jobs.
The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for June was revised up by 11,000, from +20,000 to +31,000, and the change for July was revised up by 44,000, from
-23,000 to +21,000. With these revisions, employment in June and July combined is 55,000 higher than previously reported. (Monthly revisions result from additional reports received from businesses and government agencies since the last published estimates and from the recalculation of seasonal factors.)
The unemployment rate is also published by the BLS. That rate is found by dividing the number of unemployed by the total civilian labor force. On September 4th, 2026, the BLS published the most recent unemployment rate for August 2026 of 4.1% (actually, it is 4.141%, up by .051% from 4.090% in July).
The unemployment rate was determined by dividing the unemployed of 7,031,000
(–up from the month before by 115,000—since August 2025, this number has decreased by 349,000) by the total civilian labor force of 169,777,000 (up by 683,000 from July 2026). Since August 2025, our total civilian labor force has decreased by 973,000 workers.
(The continuing ‘Strange BLS Math’ saga—after a detour in December 2016 when the BLS {for the first time in years} DECREASED the total Civilian Noninstitutional Population—this month the BLS increased this total to 275,415,000. This is an increase of 133,000 from last month’s increase of 116,000. In one year, this population has increased by 1,414,000. For the last several years the Civilian Noninstitutional Population has increased each month—except in December 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020 & 2023—by…)
| Up from July 2026 | by | 133,000 |
| Up from June 2026 | by | 116,000 |
| Up from May 2026 | by | 112,000 |
| Up from April 2026 | by | 99,000 |
| Up from March 2026 | by | 97,000 |
| Up from February 2026 | by | 92,000 |
| Up from January 2026 | by | 90,000 |
| Up from December 2025 | by | 166,000 |
| Up from November 2025 | by | 183,000 |
| Up from October 2025 | by | NR |
| Up from September 2025 | by | – |
| Up from August 2025 | by | 225,000 |
| Up from July 2025 | by | 216,000 |
| Up from June 2025 | by | 200,000 |
| Up from May 2025 | by | 200,000 |
| Up from April 2025 | by | 188,000 |
| Up from March 2025 | by | 174,000 |
| Up from February 2025 | by | 176,000 |
| Up from January 2025 | by | 162,000 |
| Up from December 2024 | by | 3,047,000 |
| Up from November 2024 | by | 175,000 |
| Up from October 2024 | by | 174,000 |
| Up from September 2024 | by | 209,000 |
| Up from August 2024 | by | 224,000 |
| Up from July 2024 | by | 212,000 |
| Up from June 2024 | by | 206,000 |
| Up from May 2024 | by | 190,000 |
| Up from April 2024 | by | 182,000 |
| Up from March 2024 | by | 182,000 |
| Up from February 2024 | by | 173,000 |
| Up from January 2024 | by | 171,000 |
| Down from December 2023 | by | 451,000 |
| Up from November 2023 | by | 169,000 |
| Up from October 2023 | by | 180,000 |
| Up from September 2023 | by | 214,000 |
| Up from August 2023 | by | 215,000 |
Subtract the ‘civilian labor force’ from the ‘civilian noninstitutional population’) and you get 105,638,000 ‘Not in Labor Force’—down by 551,000 from last month’s 106,189,000. In one year, this NILF population has increased by 2,387,000. The government tells us that most of these NILFs got discouraged and just gave up looking for a job. My monthly recurring question is: “If that is the case, how do they survive when they don’t earn any money because they don’t have a job? Are they ALL relying on the government to support them??”
This month, our Employment Participation Rate—the population 16 years and older working or seeking work—rose to 61.6%. This rate is 0.8% below the historically low rate of 62.4% recorded in September 2015—and, before that, the rate recorded in October 1977—9 months into Jimmy Carter’s presidency—almost 49 years ago!
Final take on these numbers: Fewer people looking for work will always bring down the unemployment rate.
Anyway, back to the point I am trying to make. On the surface, these new unemployment
rates are scary, but let’s look a little deeper and consider some other numbers.
The unemployment rate includes all types of workers—construction workers, government workers, etc. We recruiters, on the other hand, mainly place management, professional and related types of workers. That unemployment rate in August was 2.9% (this rate was exactly the same as last month’s 2.9%). Or you can look at it another way. We usually place people who have college degrees. That unemployment rate in August was 2.7% (this rate was exactly the same as last month’s 2.7%).
Now stay with me a little longer. This gets better. It’s important to understand (and none of the pundits mention this) that the unemployment rate, for many reasons, will never be 0%, no matter how good the economy is. Without boring you any more than I have already, let me add here that Milton Friedman (the renowned Nobel Prize-winning economist), is famous for the theory of the “natural rate of unemployment” (or the term he preferred, NAIRU, which is the acronym for Non-Accelerating Inflation Rate of Unemployment). Basically, this theory states that full employment presupposes an ‘unavoidable and acceptable’ unemployment rate of somewhere between 4-6% with it. Economists often settle on 5%, although the “New Normal Unemployment Rate” has been suggested to fall at 6.7%.
Nevertheless (if you will allow me to apply a ‘macro’ concept to a ‘micro’ issue), if this rate is applied to our main category of Management, Professional and Related types of potential recruits, and/or our other main category of College-Degreed potential recruits,
we are well below the 4-6% threshold for full employment…we find no unemployment! None! Zilch! A Big Goose Egg!
THE IMPORTANCE OF GDP
“The economic goal of any nation, as of any individual, is to get the greatest results with the least effort. The whole economic progress of mankind has consisted in getting more production with the same labor…Translated into national terms, this first principle means that our real objective is to maximize production. In doing this, full employment—that is, the absence of involuntary idleness—becomes a necessary by-product. But production is the end, employment merely the means. We cannot continuously have the fullest production without full employment. But we can very easily have full employment without full production.”
–Economics in One Lesson, by Henry Hazlitt, Chapter X, “The Fetish of Full Employment”
On August 26th, 2026, the Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 1.5% in the second quarter of 2026 (April, May, and June), according to the second estimate released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the first quarter of 2025, real GDP increased 2.1%.
The contributors to the increase in real GDP in the second quarter were increases in consumer spending, exports, and investment that were partly offset by a decrease in government spending. Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, increased.
Real GDP increased at the same rate as in the advance estimate. An upward revision to consumer spending was partly offset by an upward revision to imports.
Compared to the first quarter, the deceleration in real GDP in the second quarter reflected a downturn in government spending and decelerations in investment and exports that were partly offset by an acceleration in consumer spending. Imports increased more in the second quarter than in the first quarter.
Annual Update of the National and Regional Economic Accounts
With improvements in the concurrent production of BEA statistics, the 2026 annual updates of national, industry, and regional data will begin on the same day for the first time: September 30, 2026. The annual update of the National Economic Accounts includes GDP, gross domestic income, GDP by industry, monthly personal income and outlays, and related statistics in the National Income and Product Accounts and the Industry Economic Accounts. The update of the Regional Economic Accounts includes GDP by state and by county, personal income by state and by county, and related statistics.
Next release: September 30, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. EDT
GDP (Third Estimate), Industries, Corporate Profits, State GDP, and State Personal Income,
2nd Quarter 2026; State PCE, 2025
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT EVER TO BE ZERO
‘Unemployment’ is an emotional ‘trigger’ word…a ‘third rail’, if you will. It conjures up negative thoughts. But it is important to realize that, while we want everyone who wants a job to have the opportunity to work, unemployment can never be zero and, in fact, can be disruptive to an economy if it gets too close to zero. Very low unemployment can actually hurt the economy by creating an upward pressure on wages which invariably leads to higher production costs and prices. This can lead to inflation. The lowest the unemployment rate has been in the US was 2.5%. That was in May and June 1953 when the economy overheated due to the Korean War. When this bubble burst, it kicked off the Recession of 1953. A healthy economy will always include some percentage of unemployment.
There are five main sources of unemployment:
1. Cyclical (or demand-deficient) unemployment – This type of unemployment fluctuates with the business cycle. It rises during a recession and falls during the subsequent recovery. Workers who are most affected by this type of unemployment are laid off during a recession when production volumes fall, and companies use lay-offs as the easiest way to reduce costs. These workers are usually rehired, some months later, when the economy improves.
2. Frictional unemployment – This comes from the normal turnover in the labor force. This is where new workers are entering the workforce and older workers are retiring and leaving vacancies to be filled by the new workers or those re-entering the workforce. This category includes workers who are between jobs.
3. Structural unemployment – This happens when the skills possessed by the unemployed worker don’t match the requirements of the opening—whether those be in characteristics and skills or in location. This can come from new technology or foreign competition (e.g., foreign outsourcing). This type of unemployment usually lasts longer than frictional unemployment because retraining, and sometimes relocation, is involved. Occasionally jobs in this category can just disappear overseas.
4. Seasonal unemployment – This happens when the workforce is affected by the climate or time of year. Construction workers and agricultural workers aren’t needed as much during the winter season because of the inclement weather. On the other hand, retail workers experience an increase in hiring shortly before, and during, the holiday season, but can be laid off shortly thereafter.
5. Surplus unemployment – This is caused by minimum wage laws and unions. When wages are set at a higher level, unemployment can often result. Why? To keep within the same payroll budget, the company must let go of some workers to pay the remaining workers a higher salary.
Other factors influencing the unemployment rate:
1. Length of unemployment – Some studies indicate that an important factor influencing a worker’s decision to accept a new job is directly related to the length of the unemployment benefit they are receiving. Currently, workers in most states are eligible for up to 26 weeks of benefits from the regular state-funded unemployment compensation program.
Extended Benefits are available to workers who have exhausted regular unemployment insurance benefits during periods of high unemployment. The basic Extended Benefits program provides up to 13 additional weeks of benefits when a State is experiencing high unemployment. Some States have also enacted a voluntary program to pay up to 7 additional weeks (20 weeks maximum) of Extended Benefits during periods of extremely high unemployment.
Studies suggest that additional weeks of benefits reduce the incentive of the unemployed to seek and accept less-desirable jobs.
2. Changes in GDP – Since hiring workers takes time, the improvement in the unemployment rate usually lags the improvement in the GDP.
WHERE RECRUITERS PLACE
Now back to the issue at hand, namely the recruiting, and placing, of professionals and those with college degrees.
If you look at the past 26 years of unemployment in the August “management, professional and related” types of worker category, you will find the following rates:
| MONTH | YEAR | PERCENTAGE |
| August | 2025 | 2.7% |
| August | 2024 | 2.9% |
| August | 2023 | 2.4% |
| August | 2022 | 2.4% |
| August | 2021 | 3.2% |
| August | 2020 | 5.5% |
| August | 2019 | 2.3% |
| August | 2018 | 2.5% |
| August | 2017 | 2.8% |
| August | 2016 | 3.1% |
| August | 2015 | 2.9% |
| August | 2014 | 3.4% |
| August | 2013 | 3.8% |
| August | 2012 | 4.5% |
| August | 2011 | 4.9% |
| August | 2010 | 5.1% |
| August | 2009 | 5.4% |
| August | 2008 | 3.3% |
| August | 2007 | 2.6% |
| August | 2006 | 2.4% |
| August | 2005 | 2.5% |
| August | 2004 | 2.9% |
| August | 2003 | 3.6% |
| August | 2002 | 3.4% |
| August | 2001 | 2.5% |
| August | 2000 | 1.8% |
Here are the rates, during those same time periods, for “college-degreed” workers:
| MONTH | YEAR | PERCENTAGE |
| August | 2025 | 2.7% |
| August | 2024 | 2.5% |
| August | 2023 | 2.2% |
| August | 2022 | 1.9% |
| August | 2021 | 2.7% |
| August | 2020 | 5.3% |
| August | 2019 | 2.1% |
| August | 2018 | 2.0% |
| August | 2017 | 2.4% |
| August | 2016 | 2.7% |
| August | 2015 | 2.5% |
| August | 2014 | 3.2% |
| August | 2013 | 3.5% |
| August | 2012 | 4.1% |
| August | 2011 | 4.3% |
| August | 2010 | 4.6% |
| August | 2009 | 4.7% |
| August | 2008 | 2.7% |
| August | 2007 | 2.1% |
| August | 2006 | 1.8% |
| August | 2005 | 2.1% |
| August | 2004 | 2.7% |
| August | 2003 | 3.1% |
| August | 2002 | 2.8% |
| August | 2001 | 2.2% |
| August | 2000 | 1.7% |
The August 2026 rates for these two categories, 2.9% and 2.7%, respectively, are pretty low. But regardless, these unemployment numbers usually include a good number of job-hoppers, job-shoppers and rejects. We, on the other hand, are engaged by our client companies to find those candidates who are happy, well-appreciated, making good money and currently working and we entice them to move for even better opportunities—especially where new technologies are expanding. This will never change. And that is why, no matter the overall unemployment rate, we still need to MARKET to find the best possible job orders to work and we still need to RECRUIT to find the best possible candidates for those Job Orders.
Below are the numbers for the over 25-year old’s:
Less than H.S. diploma – Unemployment Rate
| 1/08 | 2/08 | 3/08 | 4/08 | 5/08 | 6/08 | 7/08 | 8/08 | 9/08 | 10/08 | 11/08 | 12/08 |
| 7.7% | 7.4% | 8.2% | 7.9% | 8.4% | 8.9% | 8.6% | 9.7% | 9.8% | 10.4% | 10.6% | 10.9% |
| 1/09 | 2/09 | 3/09 | 4/09 | 5/09 | 6/09 | 7/09 | 8/09 | 9/09 | 10/09 | 11/09 | 12/09 |
| 12.0% | 12.6% | 13.3% | 14.8% | 15.5% | 15.5% | 15.4% | 15.6% | 15.0% | 15.5% | 15.0% | 15.3% |
| 1/10 | 2/10 | 3/10 | 4/10 | 5/10 | 6/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 | 10/10 | 11/10 | 12/10 |
| 15.2% | 15.6% | 14.5% | 14.7% | 15.0% | 14.1% | 13.8% | 14.0% | 15.4% | 15.3% | 15.7% | 15.3% |
| 1/11 | 2/11 | 3/11 | 4/11 | 5/11 | 6/11 | 7/11 | 8/11 | 9/11 | 10/11 | 11/11 | 12/11 |
| 14.2% | 13.9% | 13.7% | 14.6% | 14.7% | 14.3% | 15.0% | 14.3% | 14.0% | 13.8% | 13.2% | 13.8% |
| 1/12 | 2/12 | 3/12 | 4/12 | 5/12 | 6/12 | 7/12 | 8/12 | 9/12 | 10/12 | 11/12 | 12/12 |
| 13.1% | 12.9% | 12.6% | 12.5% | 13.0% | 12.6% | 12.7% | 12.0% | 11.3% | 12.2% | 12.2% | 11.7% |
| 1/13 | 2/13 | 3/13 | 4/13 | 5/13 | 6/13 | 7/13 | 8/13 | 9/13 | 10/13 | 11/13 | 12/13 |
| 12.0% | 11.2% | 11.1% | 11.6% | 11.1% | 10.7% | 11.0% | 11.3% | 10.3% | 10.9% | 10.8% | 9.8% |
| 1/14 | 2/14 | 3/14 | 4/14 | 5/14 | 6/14 | 7/14 | 8/14 | 9/14 | 10/14 | 11/14 | 12/14 |
| 9.6% | 9.8% | 9.6% | 8.9% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 9.6% | 9.1% | 8.4% | 7.9% | 8.5% | 8.8% |
| 1/15 | 2/15 | 3/15 | 4/15 | 5/15 | 6/15 | 7/15 | 8/15 | 9/15 | 10/15 | 11/15 | 12/15 |
| 8.5% | 8.4% | 8.6% | 8.6% | 8.6% | 8.2% | 8.3% | 7.7% | 7.7% | 7.3% | 6.8% | 6.7% |
| 1/16 | 2/16 | 3/16 | 4/16 | 5/16 | 6/16 | 7/16 | 8/16 | 9/16 | 10/16 | 11/16 | 12/16 |
| 7.4% | 7.3% | 7.4% | 7.5% | 7.1% | 7.5% | 6.3% | 7.2% | 8.5% | 7.3% | 7.9% | 7.9% |
| 1/17 | 2/17 | 3/17 | 4/17 | 5/17 | 6/17 | 7/17 | 8/17 | 9/17 | 10/17 | 11/17 | 12/17 |
| 7.3% | 7.9% | 6.8% | 6.5% | 6.1% | 6.4% | 6.9% | 6.0% | 6.5% | 5.7% | 5.2% | 6.3% |
| 1/18 | 2/18 | 3/18 | 4/18 | 5/18 | 6/18 | 7/18 | 8/18 | 9/18 | 10/18 | 11/18 | 12/18 |
| 5.4% | 5.7% | 5.5% | 5.9% | 5.4% | 5.5% | 5.1% | 5.7% | 5.5% | 6.0% | 5.6% | 5.8% |
| 1/19 | 2/19 | 3/19 | 4/19 | 5/19 | 6/19 | 7/19 | 8/19 | 9/19 | 10/19 | 11/19 | 12/19 |
| 5.7% | 5.3% | 5.9% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 5.3% | 5.1% | 5.4% | 4.8% | 5.6% | 5.3% | 5.2% |
| 1/20 | 2/20 | 3/20 | 4/20 | 5/20 | 6/20 | 7/20 | 8/20 | 9/20 | 10/20 | 11/20 | 12/20 |
| 5.5% | 5.7% | 6.8% | 21.2% | 19.9% | 16.6% | 15.4% | 12.6% | 10.7% | 9.9% | 9.2% | 9.8% |
| 1/21 | 2/21 | 3/21 | 4/21 | 5/21 | 6/21 | 7/21 | 8/21 | 9/21 | 10/21 | 11/21 | 12/21 |
| 9.1% | 10.1% | 8.2% | 9.3% | 9.1% | 10.2% | 9.5% | 7.8% | 7.9% | 7.4% | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| 1/22 | 2/22 | 3/22 | 4/22 | 5/22 | 6/22 | 7/22 | 8/22 | 9/22 | 10/22 | 11/22 | 12/22 |
| 6.3% | 4.3% | 5.2% | 5.4% | 5.2% | 5.8% | 5.9% | 6.2% | 5.6% | 6.3% | 4.4% | 5.0% |
| 1/23 | 2/23 | 3/23 | 4/23 | 5/23 | 6/23 | 7/23 | 8/23 | 9/23 | 10/23 | 11/23 | 12/23 |
| 4.5% | 5.8% | 4.8% | 5.4% | 5.7% | 6.0% | 5.2% | 5.4% | 5.5% | 5.8% | 6.3% | 6.0% |
| 1/24 | 2/24 | 3/24 | 4/24 | 5/24 | 6/24 | 7/24 | 8/24 | 9/24 | 10/24 | 11/24 | 12/24 |
| 6.0% | 6.1% | 4.9% | 6.0% | 5.9% | 5.9% | 6.7% | 7.1% | 6.8% | 6.6% | 6.0% | 5.6% |
| 1/25 | 2/25 | 3/25 | 4/25 | 5/25 | 6/25 | 7/25 | 8/25 | 9/25 | 10/25 | 11/25 | 12/25 |
| 5.2% | 6.0% | 5.8% | 6.1% | 5.5% | 5.8% | 5.5% | 6.7% | 6.8% | N/P | 6.8% | 5.6% |
| 1/26 | 2/26 | 3/26 | 4/26 | 5/26 | 6/26 | 7/26 | 8/26 | 9/26 | 10/26 | 11/26 | 12/26 |
| 5.3% | 5.6% | 5.9% | 6.4% | 6.0% | 5.5% | 5.4% | 4.7% |
H.S. Grad; no college – Unemployment Rate
| 1/08 | 2/08 | 3/08 | 4/08 | 5/08 | 6/08 | 7/08 | 8/08 | 9/08 | 10/08 | 11/08 | 12/08 |
| 4.6% | 4.7% | 5.1% | 5.0% | 5.2% | 5.2% | 5.3% | 5.8% | 6.3% | 6.5% | 6.9% | 7.7% |
| 1/09 | 2/09 | 3/09 | 4/09 | 5/09 | 6/09 | 7/09 | 8/09 | 9/09 | 10/09 | 11/09 | 12/09 |
| 8.1% | 8.3% | 9.0% | 9.3% | 10.0% | 9.8% | 9.4% | 9.7% | 10.8% | 11.2% | 10.4% | 10.5% |
| 1/10 | 2/10 | 3/10 | 4/10 | 5/10 | 6/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 | 10/10 | 11/10 | 12/10 |
| 10.1% | 10.5% | 10.8% | 10.6% | 10.9% | 10.8% | 10.1% | 10.3% | 10.0% | 10.1% | 10.0% | 9.8% |
| 1/11 | 2/11 | 3/11 | 4/11 | 5/11 | 6/11 | 7/11 | 8/11 | 9/11 | 10/11 | 11/11 | 12/11 |
| 9.4% | 9.5% | 9.5% | 9.7% | 9.5% | 10.0% | 9.3% | 9.6% | 9.7% | 9.6% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| 1/12 | 2/12 | 3/12 | 4/12 | 5/12 | 6/12 | 7/12 | 8/12 | 9/12 | 10/12 | 11/12 | 12/12 |
| 8.4% | 8.3% | 8.0% | 7.9% | 8.1% | 8.4% | 8.7% | 8.8% | 8.7% | 8.4% | 8.1% | 8.0% |
| 1/13 | 2/13 | 3/13 | 4/13 | 5/13 | 6/13 | 7/13 | 8/13 | 9/13 | 10/13 | 11/13 | 12/13 |
| 8.1% | 7.9% | 7.6% | 7.4% | 7.4% | 7.6% | 7.6% | 7.6% | 7.6% | 7.3% | 7.3% | 7.1% |
| 1/14 | 2/14 | 3/14 | 4/14 | 5/14 | 6/14 | 7/14 | 8/14 | 9/14 | 10/14 | 11/14 | 12/14 |
| 6.5% | 6.4% | 6.3% | 6.3% | 6.5% | 5.8% | 6.1% | 6.2% | 5.3% | 5.7% | 5.6% | 5.3% |
| 1/15 | 2/15 | 3/15 | 4/15 | 5/15 | 6/15 | 7/15 | 8/15 | 9/15 | 10/15 | 11/15 | 12/15 |
| 5.4% | 5.4% | 5.3% | 5.4% | 5.8% | 5.4% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 5.3% | 5.3% | 5.4% | 5.6% |
| 1/16 | 2/16 | 3/16 | 4/16 | 5/16 | 6/16 | 7/16 | 8/16 | 9/16 | 10/16 | 11/16 | 12/16 |
| 5.3% | 5.3% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 5.1% | 5.0% | 5.0% | 5.1% | 5.2% | 5.5% | 4.9% | 5.1% |
| 1/17 | 2/17 | 3/17 | 4/17 | 5/17 | 6/17 | 7/17 | 8/17 | 9/17 | 10/17 | 11/17 | 12/17 |
| 5.2% | 5.0% | 4.9% | 4.6% | 4.7% | 4.6% | 4.5% | 5.1% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.2% |
| 1/18 | 2/18 | 3/18 | 4/18 | 5/18 | 6/18 | 7/18 | 8/18 | 9/18 | 10/18 | 11/18 | 12/18 |
| 4.5% | 4.4% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 3.9% | 4.2% | 4.0% | 3.9% | 3.7% | 4.0% | 3.5% | 3.8% |
| 1/19 | 2/19 | 3/19 | 4/19 | 5/19 | 6/19 | 7/19 | 8/19 | 9/19 | 10/19 | 11/19 | 12/19 |
| 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.7% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.9% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 3.7% |
| 1/20 | 2/20 | 3/20 | 4/20 | 5/20 | 6/20 | 7/20 | 8/20 | 9/20 | 10/20 | 11/20 | 12/20 |
| 3.8% | 3.6% | 4.4% | 17.3% | 15.3% | 12.1% | 10.8% | 9.8% | 9.0% | 8.1% | 7.8% | 7.8% |
| 1/21 | 2/21 | 3/21 | 4/21 | 5/21 | 6/21 | 7/21 | 8/21 | 9/21 | 10/21 | 11/21 | 12/21 |
| 7.1% | 7.2% | 6.7% | 6.9% | 6.8% | 7.0% | 6.3% | 6.0% | 5.8% | 5.4% | 5.2% | 4.6% |
| 1/22 | 2/22 | 3/22 | 4/22 | 5/22 | 6/22 | 7/22 | 8/22 | 9/22 | 10/22 | 11/22 | 12/22 |
| 4.6% | 4.5% | 4.0% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 4.2% | 3.7% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 3.6% |
| 1/23 | 2/23 | 3/23 | 4/23 | 5/23 | 6/23 | 7/23 | 8/23 | 9/23 | 10/23 | 11/23 | 12/23 |
| 3.7% | 3.6% | 4.0% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 3.4% | 3.8% | 4.1% | 4.0% | 4.1% | 4.2% |
| 1/24 | 2/24 | 3/24 | 4/24 | 5/24 | 6/24 | 7/24 | 8/24 | 9/24 | 10/24 | 11/24 | 12/24 |
| 4.3% | 4.2% | 4.1% | 4.0% | 4.3% | 4.2% | 4.6% | 4.0% | 4.0% | 4.0% | 4.6% | 4.3% |
| 1/25 | 2/25 | 3/25 | 4/25 | 5/25 | 6/25 | 7/25 | 8/25 | 9/25 | 10/25 | 11/25 | 12/25 |
| 4.5% | 4.2% | 4.1% | 4.0% | 4.5% | 4.0% | 4.4% | 4.3% | 4.2% | N/P | 4.4% | 4.0% |
| 1/26 | 2/26 | 3/26 | 4/26 | 5/26 | 6/26 | 7/26 | 8/26 | 9/26 | 10/26 | 11/26 | 12/26 |
| 4.5% | 4.8% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4,4% | 4.2% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
Some College; or AA/AS – Unemployment Rate
| 1/08 | 2/08 | 3/08 | 4/08 | 5/08 | 6/08 | 7/08 | 8/08 | 9/08 | 10/08 | 11/08 | 12/08 |
| 3.7% | 3.8% | 3.9% | 4.0% | 4.3% | 4.4% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 5.1% | 5.3% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 1/09 | 2/09 | 3/09 | 4/09 | 5/09 | 6/09 | 7/09 | 8/09 | 9/09 | 10/09 | 11/09 | 12/09 |
| 6.2% | 7.0% | 7.2% | 7.4% | 7.7% | 8.0% | 7.9% | 8.2% | 8.5% | 9.0% | 9.0% | 9.0% |
| 1/10 | 2/10 | 3/10 | 4/10 | 5/10 | 6/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 | 10/10 | 11/10 | 12/10 |
| 8.5% | 8.0% | 8.2% | 8.3% | 8.3% | 8.2% | 8.3% | 8.7% | 9.1% | 8.5% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 1/11 | 2/11 | 3/11 | 4/11 | 5/11 | 6/11 | 7/11 | 8/11 | 9/11 | 10/11 | 11/11 | 12/11 |
| 8.0% | 7.8% | 7.4% | 7.5% | 8.0% | 8.4% | 8.3% | 8.2% | 8.4% | 8.3% | 7.6% | 7.7% |
| 1/12 | 2/12 | 3/12 | 4/12 | 5/12 | 6/12 | 7/12 | 8/12 | 9/12 | 10/12 | 11/12 | 12/12 |
| 7.2% | 7.3% | 7.5% | 7.6% | 7.9% | 7.5% | 7.1% | 6.6% | 6.5% | 6.9% | 6.6% | 6.9% |
| 1/13 | 2/13 | 3/13 | 4/13 | 5/13 | 6/13 | 7/13 | 8/13 | 9/13 | 10/13 | 11/13 | 12/13 |
| 7.0% | 6.7% | 6.4% | 6.4% | 6.5% | 6.4% | 6.0% | 6.1% | 6.0% | 6.3% | 6.4% | 6.1% |
| 1/14 | 2/14 | 3/14 | 4/14 | 5/14 | 6/14 | 7/14 | 8/14 | 9/14 | 10/14 | 11/14 | 12/14 |
| 6.0% | 6.2% | 6.1% | 5.7% | 5.5% | 5.0% | 5.3% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 4.8% | 4.9% | 5.0% |
| 1/15 | 2/15 | 3/15 | 4/15 | 5/15 | 6/15 | 7/15 | 8/15 | 9/15 | 10/15 | 11/15 | 12/15 |
| 5.2% | 5.1% | 4.8% | 4.7% | 4.4% | 4.2% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.4% | 4.1% |
| 1/16 | 2/16 | 3/16 | 4/16 | 5/16 | 6/16 | 7/16 | 8/16 | 9/16 | 10/16 | 11/16 | 12/16 |
| 4.2% | 4.2% | 4.1% | 4.1% | 3.9% | 4.2% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 3.9% | 3.8% |
| 1/17 | 2/17 | 3/17 | 4/17 | 5/17 | 6/17 | 7/17 | 8/17 | 9/17 | 10/17 | 11/17 | 12/17 |
| 3.8% | 4.0% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 4.0% | 3.8% | 3.7% | 3.8% | 3.6% | 3.7% | 3.6% | 3.6% |
| 1/18 | 2/18 | 3/18 | 4/18 | 5/18 | 6/18 | 7/18 | 8/18 | 9/18 | 10/18 | 11/18 | 12/18 |
| 3.4% | 3.5% | 3.6% | 3.5% | 3.2% | 3.3% | 3.2% | 3.5% | 3.2% | 3.0% | 3.1% | 3.3% |
| 1/19 | 2/19 | 3/19 | 4/19 | 5/19 | 6/19 | 7/19 | 8/19 | 9/19 | 10/19 | 11/19 | 12/19 |
| 3.4% | 3.2% | 3.4% | 3.1% | 2.8% | 3.0% | 3.2% | 3.1% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.7% |
| 1/20 | 2/20 | 3/20 | 4/20 | 5/20 | 6/20 | 7/20 | 8/20 | 9/20 | 10/20 | 11/20 | 12/20 |
| 2.8% | 3.0% | 3.7% | 15.0% | 13.3% | 10.9% | 10.0% | 8.0% | 8.1% | 6.6% | 6.3% | 6.3% |
| 1/21 | 2/21 | 3/21 | 4/21 | 5/21 | 6/21 | 7/21 | 8/21 | 9/21 | 10/21 | 11/21 | 12/21 |
| 6.2% | 5.9% | 5.9% | 5.8% | 5.9% | 5.8% | 5.0% | 5.1% | 4.5% | 4.4% | 3,7% | 3.6% |
| 1/22 | 2/22 | 3/23 | 4/22 | 5/22 | 6/22 | 7/22 | 8/22 | 9/22 | 10/22 | 11/22 | 12/22 |
| 3.6% | 3.8% | 3.0% | 3.1% | 3.4% | 3.1% | 2.8% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 3.0% | 3.2% | 2.9% |
| 1/23 | 2/23 | 3/23 | 4/23 | 5/23 | 6/23 | 7/23 | 8/23 | 9/23 | 10/23 | 11/23 | 12/23 |
| 2.9% | 3.2% | 3.0% | 2.9% | 3.2% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.1% | 2.8% | 3.1% |
| 1/23 | 2/23 | 3/23 | 4/23 | 5/23 | 6/23 | 7/23 | 8/23 | 9/23 | 10/23 | 11/23 | 12/23 |
| 2.9% | 3.2% | 3.0% | 2.9% | 3.2% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.1% | 2.8% | 3.1% |
| 1/24 | 2/24 | 3/24 | 4/24 | 5/24 | 6/24 | 7/24 | 8/24 | 9/24 | 10/24 | 11/24 | 12/24 |
| 3.3% | 3.1% | 3.4% | 3.3% | 3.1% | 3.4% | 3.5% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 3.6% | 3.5% |
| 1/25 | 2/25 | 3/25 | 4/25 | 5/25 | 6/25 | 7/25 | 8/25 | 9/25 | 10/25 | 11/25 | 12/25 |
| 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.7% | 3.3% | 3.2% | 3.0% | 3.2% | 3.4% | N/P | 3.5% | 3.8% |
| 1/26 | 2/26 | 3/26 | 4/26 | 5/26 | 6/26 | 7/26 | 8/26 | 9/26 | 10/26 | 11/26 | 12/26 |
| 3.6% | 3.5% | 3.6% | 3.2% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.7% |
BS/BS + – Unemployment Rate
| 1/08 | 2/08 | 3/08 | 4/08 | 5/08 | 6/08 | 7/08 | 8/08 | 9/08 | 10/08 | 11/08 | 12/08 |
| 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.3% | 2.4% | 2.5% | 2.7% | 2.6% | 3.1% | 3.2% | 3.7% |
| 1/09 | 2/09 | 3/09 | 4/09 | 5/09 | 6/09 | 7/09 | 8/09 | 9/09 | 10/09 | 11/09 | 12/09 |
| 3.9% | 4.1% | 4.3% | 4.4% | 4.8% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.9% | 4.7% | 4.9% | 5.0% |
| 1/10 | 2/10 | 3/10 | 4/10 | 5/10 | 6/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 | 10/10 | 11/10 | 12/10 |
| 4.8% | 5.0% | 4.9% | 4.9% | 4.7% | 4.4% | 4.5% | 4.6% | 4.4% | 4.7% | 5.1% | 4.8% |
| 1/11 | 2/11 | 3/11 | 4/11 | 5/11 | 6/11 | 7/11 | 8/11 | 9/11 | 10/11 | 11/11 | 12/11 |
| 4.2% | 4.3% | 4.4% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 4.4% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.2% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 4.1% |
| 1/12 | 2/12 | 3/12 | 4/12 | 5/12 | 6/12 | 7/12 | 8/12 | 9/12 | 10/12 | 11/12 | 12/12 |
| 4.2% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 4.0% | 3.9% | 4.1% | 4.1% | 4.1% | 4.1% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.9% |
| 1/13 | 2/13 | 3/13 | 4/13 | 5/13 | 6/13 | 7/13 | 8/13 | 9/13 | 10/13 | 11/13 | 12/13 |
| 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.9% | 3.8% | 3.9% | 3.8% | 3.5% | 3.7% | 3.8% | 3.4% | 3.3% |
| 1/14 | 2/14 | 3/14 | 4/14 | 5/14 | 6/14 | 7/14 | 8/14 | 9/14 | 10/14 | 11/14 | 12/14 |
| 3.3% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 3.3% | 3.2% | 3.3% | 3.1% | 3.2% | 2.9% | 3.1% | 3.2% | 2.8% |
| 1/15 | 2/15 | 3/15 | 4/15 | 5/15 | 6/15 | 7/15 | 8/15 | 9/15 | 10/15 | 11/15 | 12/15 |
| 2.8% | 2.7% | 2.5% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.5% | 2.6% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% |
| 1/16 | 2/16 | 3/16 | 4/16 | 5/16 | 6/16 | 7/16 | 8/16 | 9/16 | 10/16 | 11/16 | 12/16 |
| 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.6% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.7% | 2.5% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 2.5% |
| 1/17 | 2/17 | 3/17 | 4/17 | 5/17 | 6/17 | 7/17 | 8/17 | 9/17 | 10/17 | 11/17 | 12/17 |
| 2.5% | 2.4% | 2.5% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 2.0% | 2.1% | 2.1% |
| 1/18 | 2/18 | 3/18 | 4/18 | 5/18 | 6/18 | 7/18 | 8/18 | 9/18 | 10/18 | 11/18 | 12/18 |
| 2.1% | 2.3% | 2.2% | 2.1% | 2.0% | 2.3% | 2.2% | 2.1% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.2% | 2.1% |
| 1/19 | 2/19 | 3/19 | 4/19 | 5/19 | 6/19 | 7/19 | 8/19 | 9/19 | 10/19 | 11/19 | 12/19 |
| 2.4% | 2.2% | 2.0% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.2% | 2.1% | 2.0% | 2.1% | 2.0% | 1.9% |
| 1/20 | 2/20 | 3/20 | 4/20 | 5/20 | 6/20 | 7/20 | 8/20 | 9/20 | 10/20 | 11/20 | 12/20 |
| 2.0% | 1.9% | 2.5% | 8.4% | 7.4% | 6.9% | 6.7% | 5.3% | 4.7% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 3.8% |
| 1/21 | 2/21 | 3/21 | 4/21 | 5/21 | 6/21 | 7/21 | 8/21 | 9/21 | 10/21 | 11/21 | 12/21 |
| 4.0% | 3.8% | 3.7% | 3.5% | 3.2% | 3.5% | 3.1% | 2.8% | 2.5% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 2.1% |
| 1/22 | 2/22 | 3/22 | 4/22 | 5/22 | 6/22 | 7/22 | 8/22 | 9/22 | 10/22 | 11/22 | 12/22 |
| 2.3% | 2.2% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.1% | 2.0% | 1.9% | 1.8% | 1.9% | 2.0% | 1.9% |
| 1/23 | 2/23 | 3/23 | 4/23 | 5/23 | 6/23 | 7/23 | 8/23 | 9/23 | 10/23 | 11/23 | 12/23 |
| 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 1.9% | 2.1% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.2% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% |
| 1/24 | 2/24 | 3/24 | 4/24 | 5/24 | 6/24 | 7/24 | 8/24 | 9/24 | 10/24 | 11/24 | 12/24 |
| 2.1% | 2.2% | 2.1% | 2.2% | 2.1% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.4% |
| 1/25 | 2/25 | 3/25 | 4/25 | 5/25 | 6/25 | 7/25 | 8/25 | 9/25 | 10/25 | 11/25 | 12/25 |
| 2.3% | 2.5% | 2.6% | 2.5% | 2.6% | 2.5% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.8% | N/P | 2.9% | 2.8% |
| 1/26 | 2/26 | 3/26 | 4/26 | 5/26 | 6/26 | 7/26 | 8/26 | 9/26 | 10/26 | 11/26 | 12/26 |
| 2.9% | 3.0% | 2.8% | 2.8% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.7% |
Management, Professional & Related – Unemployment Rate
| 1/08 | 2/08 | 3/08 | 4/08 | 5/08 | 6/08 | 7/08 | 8/08 | 9/08 | 10/08 | 11/08 | 12/08 |
| 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.1% | 2.0% | 2.6% | 2.7% | 2.9% | 3.3% | 2.8% | 3.0% | 3.2% | 3.3% |
| 1/09 | 2/09 | 3/09 | 4/09 | 5/09 | 6/09 | 7/09 | 8/09 | 9/09 | 10/09 | 11/09 | 12/09 |
| 4.1% | 3.9% | 4.2% | 4.0% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 5.5% | 5.4% | 5.2% | 4.7% | 4.6% | 4.6% |
| 1/10 | 2/10 | 3/10 | 4/10 | 5/10 | 6/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 | 10/10 | 11/10 | 12/10 |
| 5.0% | 4.8% | 4.7% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 4.9% | 5.0% | 5.1% | 4.4% | 4.5% | 4.7% | 4.6% |
| 1/11 | 2/11 | 3/11 | 4/11 | 5/11 | 6/11 | 7/11 | 8/11 | 9/11 | 10/11 | 11/11 | 12/11 |
| 4.7% | 4.4% | 4.3% | 4.0% | 4.4% | 4.7% | 5.0% | 4.9% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 4.2% | 4.2% |
| 1/12 | 2/12 | 3/12 | 4/12 | 5/12 | 6/12 | 7/12 | 8/12 | 9/12 | 10/12 | 11/12 | 12/12 |
| 4.3% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 3.7% | 4.0% | 4.4% | 4.8% | 4.5% | 3.9% | 3.8% | 3.6% | 3.9% |
| 1/13 | 2/13 | 3/13 | 4/13 | 5/13 | 6/13 | 7/13 | 8/13 | 9/13 | 10/13 | 11/13 | 12/13 |
| 3.9% | 3.8% | 3.6% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 4.2% | 4.1% | 3.8% | 3.5% | 3.4% | 3.1% | 2.9% |
| 1/14 | 2/14 | 3/14 | 4/14 | 5/14 | 6/14 | 7/14 | 8/14 | 9/14 | 10/14 | 11/14 | 12/14 |
| 3.1% | 3.2% | 3.3% | 2.9% | 3.1% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 2.7% | 2.8% | 2.7% |
| 1/15 | 2/15 | 3/15 | 4/15 | 5/15 | 6/15 | 7/15 | 8/15 | 9/15 | 10/15 | 11/15 | 12/15 |
| 2.9% | 2.7% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.9% | 3.1% | 2.9% | 2.4% | 2.2% | 2.1% | 2.0% |
| 1/16 | 2/16 | 3/16 | 4/16 | 5/16 | 6/16 | 7/16 | 8/16 | 9/16 | 10/16 | 11/16 | 12/16 |
| 2.3% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.8% | 3.0% | 3.1% | 2.7% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 2.2% |
| 1/17 | 2/17 | 3/17 | 4/17 | 5/17 | 6/17 | 7/17 | 8/17 | 9/17 | 10/17 | 11/17 | 12/17 |
| 2.3% | 2.1% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 1.9% | 2.3% | 2.7% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 2.1% | 2.0% | 2.0% |
| 1/18 | 2/18 | 3/18 | 4/18 | 5/18 | 6/18 | 7/18 | 8/18 | 9/18 | 10/18 | 11/18 | 12/18 |
| 2.2% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 1.8% | 1.7% | 2.5% | 2.4% | 2.5% | 2.0% | 1.9% | 2.1% | 2.1% |
| 1/19 | 2/19 | 3/19 | 4/19 | 5/19 | 6/19 | 7/19 | 8/19 | 9/19 | 10/19 | 11/19 | 12/19 |
| 2.5% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 1.6% | 1.7% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 1.9% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 1.8% |
| 1/20 | 2/20 | 3/20 | 4/20 | 5/20 | 6/20 | 7/20 | 8/20 | 9/20 | 10/20 | 11/20 | 12/20 |
| 2.2% | 1.8% | 2.5% | 7.7% | 6.6% | 6.5% | 6.6% | 5.5% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 3.4% |
| 1/21 | 2/21 | 3/21 | 4/21 | 5/21 | 6/21 | 7/21 | 8/21 | 9/21 | 10/21 | 11/21 | 12/21 |
| 3.7% | 3.2% | 3.1% | 3.0% | 2.8% | 3.5% | 3.3% | 3.2% | 2.4% | 2.2% | 1.9% | 1.7% |
| 1/22 | 2/22 | 3/22 | 4/22 | 5/22 | 6/22 | 7/22 | 8/22 | 9/22 | 10/22 | 11/22 | 12/22 |
| 2.3% | 2.2% | 1.5% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 2.2% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 1.8% | 2.0% | 1.8% | 1.7% |
| 1/23 | 2/23 | 3/23 | 4/23 | 5/23 | 6/23 | 7/23 | 8/23 | 9/23 | 10/23 | 11/23 | 12/23 |
| 2.1% | 2.0% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 1.8% | 2.2% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.0% | 1.9% | 1.8% | 1.8% |
| 1/24 | 2/24 | 3/24 | 4/24 | 5/24 | 6/24 | 7/24 | 8/24 | 9/24 | 10/24 | 11/24 | 12/24 |
| 2.1% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 1.9% | 2.0% | 2.6% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.2% | 2.1% |
| 1/25 | 2/25 | 3/25 | 4/25 | 5/25 | 6/25 | 7/25 | 8/25 | 9/25 | 10/25 | 11/25 | 12/25 |
| 2.2% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 2.2% | 2.4% | 2.8% | 3.0% | 2.7% | 2.5% | N/P | 2.5% | 2.4% |
| 1/26 | 2/26 | 3/26 | 4/26 | 5/26 | 6/26 | 7/26 | 8/26 | 9/26 | 10/26 | 11/26 | 12/26 |
| 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.5% | 2.2% | 2.5% | 2.8% | 2.9% | 2.9% |
Or employed… (,000)
| 1/08 | 2/08 | 3/08 | 4/08 | 5/08 | 6/08 | 7/08 | 8/08 | 9/08 | 10/08 | 11/08 | 12/08 |
| 52,165 | 52,498 | 52,681 | 52,819 | 52,544 | 52,735 | 52,655 | 52,626 | 53,104 | 53,485 | 53,274 | 52,548 |
| 1/09 | 2/09 | 3/09 | 4/09 | 5/09 | 6/09 | 7/09 | 8/09 | 9/09 | 10/09 | 11/09 | 12/09 |
| 52,358 | 52,196 | 52,345 | 52,597 | 52,256 | 51,776 | 51,810 | 51,724 | 52,186 | 52,981 | 52,263 | 52,131 |
| 1/10 | 2/10 | 3/10 | 4/10 | 5/10 | 6/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 | 10/10 | 11/10 | 12/10 |
| 52,159 | 52,324 | 52,163 | 52,355 | 51,839 | 51,414 | 50,974 | 50,879 | 51,757 | 51,818 | 52,263 | 51,704 |
| 1/11 | 2/11 | 3/11 | 4/11 | 5/11 | 6/11 | 7/11 | 8/11 | 9/11 | 10/11 | 11/11 | 12/11 |
| 51,866 | 52,557 | 53,243 | 53,216 | 52,778 | 52,120 | 51,662 | 51,997 | 52,665 | 52,864 | 52,787 | 52,808 |
| 1/12 | 2/12 | 3/12 | 4/12 | 5/12 | 6/12 | 7/12 | 8/12 | 9/12 | 10/12 | 11/12 | 12/12 |
| 53,152 | 53,208 | 53,771 | 54,055 | 54,156 | 53,846 | 53,165 | 53,696 | 54,655 | 55,223 | 54,951 | 54,635 |
| 1/13 | 2/13 | 3/13 | 4/13 | 5/13 | 6/13 | 7/13 | 8/13 | 9/13 | 10/13 | 11/13 | 12/13 |
| 54,214 | 54,563 | 54,721 | 54,767 | 54,740 | 54,323 | 54,064 | 54,515 | 55,013 | 55,155 | 55,583 | 54,880 |
| 1/14 | 2/14 | 3/14 | 4/14 | 5/14 | 6/14 | 7/14 | 8/14 | 9/14 | 10/14 | 11/14 | 12/14 |
| 55,096 | 55,501 | 56,036 | 55,896 | 56,202 | 55,714 | 55,381 | 55,646 | 56,365 | 56,759 | 57,110 | 56,888 |
| 1/15 | 2/15 | 3/15 | 4/15 | 5/15 | 6/15 | 7/15 | 8/15 | 9/15 | 10/15 | 11/15 | 12/15 |
| 57,367 | 57,596 | 57,805 | 57,953 | 58,155 | 57,710 | 57,392 | 57,288 | 58,105 | 58,456 | 58,667 | 59,030 |
| 1/16 | 2/16 | 3/16 | 4/16 | 5/16 | 6/16 | 7/16 | 8/16 | 9/16 | 10/16 | 11/16 | 12/16 |
| 59,014 | 59,583 | 60,080 | 59,690 | 59,613 | 59,181 | 58,434 | 58,526 | 59,599 | 59,766 | 59,707 | 60,069 |
| 1/17 | 2/17 | 3/17 | 4/17 | 5/17 | 6/17 | 7/17 | 8/17 | 9/17 | 10/17 | 11/17 | 12/17 |
| 59,921 | 61,064 | 61,156 | 61,317 | 61,174 | 60,705 | 59,923 | 59,559 | 60,990 | 61,062 | 61,818 | 62,121 |
| 1/18 | 2/18 | 3/18 | 4/18 | 5/18 | 6/18 | 7/18 | 8/18 | 9/18 | 10/18 | 11/18 | 12/18 |
| 62,123 | 62,908 | 63,067 | 62,561 | 62,360 | 61,349 | 61,433 | 61,593 | 62,181 | 62,929 | 63,084 | 63,642 |
| 1/19 | 2/19 | 3/19 | 4/19 | 5/19 | 6/19 | 7/19 | 8/19 | 9/19 | 10/19 | 11/19 | 12/19 |
| 63,818 | 64,281 | 64,299 | 63,560 | 63,594 | 63,418 | 63,394 | 63,679 | 64,343 | 64,997 | 65,548 | 65,682 |
| 1/20 | 2/20 | 3/20 | 4/20 | 5/20 | 6/20 | 7/20 | 8/20 | 9/20 | 10/20 | 11/20 | 12/20 |
| 65,533 | 66,091 | 65,881 | 61,152 | 62,330 | 63,290 | 62,451 | 63,095 | 62,759 | 63,277 | 63,387 | 64,007 |
| 1/21 | 2/21 | 3/21 | 4/21 | 5/21 | 6/21 | 7/21 | 8/21 | 9/21 | 10/21 | 11/21 | 12/21 |
| 63,886 | 64,471 | 64,503 | 64,264 | 64,268 | 64,316 | 64,179 | 64,122 | 65,163 | 65,335 | 66,060 | 66,366 |
| 1/22 | 2/22 | 3/22 | 4/22 | 5/22 | 6/22 | 7/22 | 8/22 | 9/22 | 10/22 | 11/22 | 12/22 |
| 66,740 | 67,754 | 67,823 | 67,319 | 67,652 | 67,224 | 67,874 | 68,377 | 69,056 | 68,918 | 69.156 | 69,297 |
| 1/23 | 2/23 | 3/23 | 4/23 | 5/23 | 6/23 | 7/23 | 8/23 | 9/23 | 10/23 | 11/23 | 12/23 |
| 69,249 | 69,986 | 70,651 | 70,403 | 70,388 | 69,956 | 69,662 | 69,280 | 70,417 | 71,387 | 71,350 | 70,572 |
| 1/24 | 2/24 | 3/24 | 4/24 | 5/24 | 6/24 | 7/24 | 8/24 | 9/24 | 10/24 | 11/24 | 12/24 |
| 70,650 | 70,217 | 70,786 | 70,548 | 70.897 | 71,002 | 70,167 | 69,892 | 70,916 | 71,553 | 71,258 | 71,042 |
| 1/25 | 2/25 | 3/25 | 4/25 | 5/25 | 6/25 | 7/25 | 8/25 | 9/25 | 10/25 | 11/25 | 12/25 |
| 71,547 | 71,477 | 72,019 | 72,168 | 70,912 | 70,250 | 69,809 | 70,866 | 71.646 | N/P | 72,090 | 71,918 |
| 1/26 | 2/26 | 3/26 | 4/26 | 5/26 | 6/26 | 7/26 | 8/26 | 9/26 | 10/26 | 11/26 | 12/26 |
| 71,992 | 71,884 | 71,995 | 71,339 | 71,111 | 70,366 | 69,913 | 71,768 |
And unemployed… (,000)
| 1/08 | 2/08 | 3/08 | 4/08 | 5/08 | 6/08 | 7/08 | 8/08 | 9/08 | 10/08 | 11/08 | 12/08 |
| 1,164 | 1,159 | 1,121 | 1,088 | 1,407 | 1,478 | 1,585 | 1,779 | 1,539 | 1,647 | 1,786 | 1,802 |
| 1/09 | 2/09 | 3/09 | 4/09 | 5/09 | 6/09 | 7/09 | 8/09 | 9/09 | 10/09 | 11/09 | 12/09 |
| 2,238 | 2,137 | 2,292 | 2,164 | 2,373 | 2,720 | 3,034 | 2,925 | 2,859 | 2,593 | 2,530 | 2,509 |
| 1/10 | 2/10 | 3/10 | 4/10 | 5/10 | 6/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 | 10/10 | 11/10 | 12/10 |
| 2,762 | 2,637 | 2,600 | 2,464 | 2,450 | 2,644 | 2,687 | 2,762 | 2,381 | 2,417 | 2,525 | 2,468 |
| 1/11 | 2/11 | 3/11 | 4/11 | 5/11 | 6/11 | 7/11 | 8/11 | 9/11 | 10/11 | 11/11 | 12/11 |
| 2,557 | 2,435 | 2,381 | 2,196 | 2,419 | 2,598 | 2,742 | 2,671 | 2,450 | 2,410 | 2,336 | 2,303 |
| 1/12 | 2/12 | 3/12 | 4/12 | 5/12 | 6/12 | 7/12 | 8/12 | 9/12 | 10/12 | 11/12 | 12/12 |
| 2,410 | 2,336 | 2,330 | 2,062 | 2,275 | 2,472 | 2,666 | 2,556 | 2,245 | 2,170 | 2,077 | 2,221 |
| 1/13 | 2/13 | 3/13 | 4/13 | 5/13 | 6/13 | 7/13 | 8/13 | 9/13 | 10/13 | 11/13 | 12/13 |
| 2,211 | 2,164 | 2,020 | 1,980 | 1,990 | 2,358 | 2,286 | 2,130 | 1,978 | 1,930 | 1,749 | 1,637 |
| 1/14 | 2/14 | 3/14 | 4/14 | 5/14 | 6/14 | 7/14 | 8/14 | 9/14 | 10/14 | 11/14 | 12/14 |
| 1,784 | 1,845 | 1,890 | 1,642 | 1,795 | 2,001 | 2,011 | 1,930 | 1,617 | 1,582 | 1,656 | 1,568 |
| 1/15 | 2/15 | 3/15 | 4/15 | 5/15 | 6/15 | 7/15 | 8/15 | 9/15 | 10/15 | 11/15 | 12/15 |
| 1,741 | 1,601 | 1,398 | 1,435 | 1,460 | 1,714 | 1,807 | 1,686 | 1,414 | 1,312 | 1,276 | 1,208 |
| 1/16 | 2/16 | 3/16 | 4/16 | 5/16 | 6/16 | 7/16 | 8/16 | 9/16 | 10/16 | 11/16 | 12/16 |
| 1,404 | 1,456 | 1,477 | 1,251 | 1,305 | 1,712 | 1,782 | 1,869 | 1,652 | 1,506 | 1,382 | 1,361 |
| 1/17 | 2/17 | 3/17 | 4/17 | 5/17 | 6/17 | 7/17 | 8/17 | 9/17 | 10/17 | 11/17 | 12/17 |
| 1,425 | 1,313 | 1,265 | 1,254 | 1,208 | 1,440 | 1,656 | 1,731 | 1,463 | 1,285 | 1,266 | 1,290 |
| 1/18 | 2/18 | 3/18 | 4/18 | 5/18 | 6/18 | 7/18 | 8/18 | 9/18 | 10/18 | 11/18 | 12/18 |
| 1,374 | 1,301 | 1,310 | 1,134 | 1,083 | 1,575 | 1,539 | 1,591 | 1,299 | 1,246 | 1,330 | 1,368 |
| 1/19 | 2/19 | 3/19 | 4/19 | 5/19 | 6/19 | 7/19 | 8/19 | 9/19 | 10/19 | 11/19 | 12/19 |
| 1,607 | 1,317 | 1,289 | 1,040 | 1,086 | 1,540 | 1,591 | 1,476 | 1,235 | 1,161 | 1,208 | 1,171 |
| 1/20 | 2/20 | 3/20 | 4/20 | 5/20 | 6/20 | 7/20 | 8/20 | 9/20 | 10/20 | 11/20 | 12/20 |
| 1,454 | 1,207 | 1,663 | 5,079 | 4,432 | 4,390 | 4,400 | 3,680 | 2,946 | 2,448 | 2,415 | 2,235 |
| 1/21 | 2/21 | 3/21 | 4/21 | 5/21 | 6/21 | 7/21 | 8/21 | 9/21 | 10/21 | 11/21 | 12/21 |
| 2,433 | 2,158 | 2,063 | 2,014 | 1,879 | 2,303 | 2,203 | 2,123 | 1,580 | 1,453 | 1,308 | 1,146 |
| 1/22 | 2/22 | 3/22 | 4/22 | 5/22 | 6/22 | 7/22 | 8/22 | 9/22 | 10/22 | 11/22 | 12/22 |
| 1,583 | 1,490 | 1,053 | 1,088 | 1,098 | 1,520 | 1,650 | 1,647 | 1,291 | 1,398 | 1,247 | 1,198 |
| 1/23 | 2/23 | 3/23 | 4/23 | 5/23 | 6/23 | 7/23 | 8/23 | 9/23 | 10/23 | 11/23 | 12/23 |
| 1,460 | 1,406 | 1,368 | 1,153 | 1,281 | 1,609 | 1,701 | 1,712 | 1,466 | 1,415 | 1,301 | 1,314 |
| 1/24 | 2/24 | 3/24 | 4/24 | 5/24 | 6/24 | 7/24 | 8/24 | 9/24 | 10/24 | 11/24 | 12/24 |
| 1,527 | 1,580 | 1,580 | 1,399 | 1,423 | 1,887 | 2,095 | 2,056 | 1,647 | 1,689 | 1,581 | 1,490 |
| 1/25 | 2/25 | 3/25 | 4/25 | 5/25 | 6/25 | 7/25 | 8/25 | 9/25 | 10/25 | 11/25 | 12/25 |
| 1,604 | 1,720 | 1,706 | 1,596 | 1,719 | 2,000 | 2,162 | 1,975 | 1,831 | N/P | 1,851 | 1,760 |
| 1/26 | 2/26 | 3/26 | 4/26 | 5/26 | 6/26 | 7/26 | 8/26 | 9/26 | 10/26 | 11/26 | 12/26 |
| 2,019 | 1,965 | 1,816 | 1,621 | 1,810 | 2,042 | 2,120 | 2,181 |
For a total Management, Professional & Related workforce of…(,000)
| 1/08 | 2/08 | 3/08 | 4/08 | 5/08 | 6/08 | 7/08 | 8/08 | 9/08 | 10/08 | 11/08 | 12/08 |
| 53,329 | 53,657 | 53,802 | 53,907 | 53,951 | 54,213 | 54,240 | 54,405 | 54,643 | 55,132 | 55,060 | 54,350 |
| 1/09 | 2/09 | 3/09 | 4/09 | 5/09 | 6/09 | 7/09 | 8/09 | 9/09 | 10/09 | 11/09 | 12/09 |
| 54,596 | 54,333 | 54,637 | 54,761 | 54,629 | 54,496 | 54,844 | 54,649 | 55,045 | 55,574 | 54,793 | 54,640 |
| 1/10 | 2/10 | 3/10 | 4/10 | 5/10 | 6/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 | 10/10 | 11/10 | 12/10 |
| 54,921 | 54,961 | 54,763 | 54,819 | 54,289 | 54,058 | 53,661 | 53,641 | 54,138 | 54,235 | 54,788 | 54,172 |
| 1/11 | 2/11 | 3/11 | 4/11 | 5/11 | 6/11 | 7/11 | 8/11 | 9/11 | 10/11 | 11/11 | 12/11 |
| 54,423 | 54,992 | 55,624 | 55,412 | 55,197 | 54,718 | 54,404 | 54,668 | 55,115 | 55,274 | 55,123 | 55,111 |
| 1/12 | 2/12 | 3/12 | 4/12 | 5/12 | 6/12 | 7/12 | 8/12 | 9/12 | 10/12 | 11/12 | 12/12 |
| 55,562 | 55,544 | 56,101 | 56,117 | 56,431 | 56,318 | 55,831 | 56,252 | 56,900 | 57,393 | 57,028 | 56,856 |
| 1/13 | 2/13 | 3/13 | 4/13 | 5/13 | 6/13 | 7/13 | 8/13 | 9/13 | 10/13 | 11/13 | 12/13 |
| 56,425 | 56,727 | 56,741 | 56,747 | 56,730 | 56,681 | 56,350 | 56,645 | 56,991 | 57,085 | 57,332 | 56,517 |
| 1/14 | 2/14 | 3/14 | 4/14 | 5/14 | 6/14 | 7/14 | 8/14 | 9/14 | 10/14 | 11/14 | 12/14 |
| 56,880 | 57,346 | 57,926 | 57,538 | 57,997 | 57,715 | 57,392 | 57,576 | 57,982 | 58,341 | 58,766 | 58,456 |
| 1/15 | 2/15 | 3/15 | 4/15 | 5/15 | 6/15 | 7/15 | 8/15 | 9/15 | 10/15 | 11/15 | 12/15 |
| 59,108 | 59,197 | 59,203 | 59,388 | 59,615 | 59,424 | 59,199 | 58,974 | 59,519 | 59,768 | 59,943 | 60,238 |
| 1/16 | 2/16 | 3/16 | 4/16 | 5/16 | 6/16 | 7/16 | 8/16 | 9/16 | 10/16 | 11/16 | 12/16 |
| 60,418 | 61,039 | 61,557 | 60,941 | 60,918 | 60,893 | 60,216 | 60,395 | 61,251 | 61,272 | 61,089 | 61,430 |
| 1/17 | 2/17 | 3/17 | 4/17 | 5/17 | 6/17 | 7/17 | 8/17 | 9/17 | 10/17 | 11/17 | 12/17 |
| 61,346 | 62,377 | 62,421 | 62,571 | 62,382 | 62,145 | 61,579 | 61,290 | 62,453 | 62,347 | 63,084 | 63,411 |
| 1/18 | 2/18 | 3/18 | 4/18 | 5/18 | 6/18 | 7/18 | 8/18 | 9/18 | 10/18 | 11/18 | 12/18 |
| 63,497 | 64,209 | 64,377 | 63,695 | 63,443 | 62,924 | 62,972 | 63,184 | 63,480 | 64,175 | 64,414 | 65,010 |
| 1/19 | 2/19 | 3/19 | 4/19 | 5/19 | 6/19 | 7/19 | 8/19 | 9/19 | 10/19 | 11/19 | 12/19 |
| 65,425 | 65,598 | 65,588 | 64,600 | 64,680 | 64,958 | 64,985 | 65,155 | 65,578 | 66,158 | 66,756 | 66,853 |
| 1/20 | 2/20 | 3/20 | 4/20 | 5/20 | 6/20 | 7/20 | 8/20 | 9/20 | 10/20 | 11/20 | 12/20 |
| 66,987 | 67,298 | 67,544 | 66,231 | 66,762 | 67,680 | 66,851 | 66,775 | 65,705 | 65,675 | 65,802 | 66,242 |
| 1/21 | 2/21 | 3/21 | 4/21 | 5/21 | 6/21 | 7/21 | 8/21 | 9/21 | 10/21 | 11/21 | 12/21 |
| 66,319 | 66,629 | 66,566 | 66,278 | 66,147 | 66,619 | 66,382 | 66,245 | 66,743 | 66,788 | 67,368 | 67,512 |
| 1/22 | 2/22 | 3/22 | 4/22 | 5/22 | 6/22 | 7/22 | 8/22 | 9/22 | 10/22 | 11/22 | 12/22 |
| 68,323 | 69,244 | 68,876 | 68,407 | 68,750 | 68,744 | 69,524 | 70,024 | 70,347 | 70,316 | 70.403 | 70,495 |
| 1/23 | 2/23 | 3/23 | 4/23 | 5/23 | 6/23 | 7/23 | 8/23 | 9/23 | 10/23 | 11/23 | 12/23 |
| 70,709 | 71,392 | 72,019 | 71,556 | 71,669 | 71,565 | 71,363 | 70,992 | 71,883 | 72,802 | 72,651 | 71,886 |
| 1/24 | 2/24 | 3/24 | 4/24 | 5/24 | 6/24 | 7/24 | 8/24 | 9/24 | 10/24 | 11/24 | 12/24 |
| 72,177 | 71,797 | 72,366 | 71,947 | 72,320 | 72,889 | 72,262 | 71,948 | 72,563 | 73,242 | 72,839 | 72,532 |
| 1/25 | 2/25 | 3/25 | 4/25 | 5/25 | 6/25 | 7/25 | 8/25 | 9/25 | 10/25 | 11/25 | 12/25 |
| 73,151 | 73,197 | 73,725 | 73,764 | 72,631 | 72,250 | 71,971 | 72,841 | 73,477 | N/P | 73,941 | 73,678 |
| 1/26 | 2/26 | 3/26 | 4/26 | 5/26 | 6/26 | 7/26 | 8/26 | 9/26 | 10/26 | 11/26 | 12/26 |
| 74,011 | 73,849 | 73,811 | 72,960 | 72,921 | 70,366 | 72,408 | 73,949 |
Management, Business and Financial Operations – Unemployment Rate
| 1/08 | 2/08 | 3/08 | 4/08 | 5/08 | 6/08 | 7/08 | 8/08 | 9/08 | 10/08 | 11/08 | 12/08 |
| 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.2% | 2.1% | 2.7% | 2.5% | 2.6% | 2.8% | 2.8% | 3.0% | 3.6% | 3.9% |
| 1/09 | 2/09 | 3/09 | 4/09 | 5/09 | 6/09 | 7/09 | 8/09 | 9/09 | 10/09 | 11/09 | 12/09 |
| 4.6% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 4.4% | 4.6% | 4.8% | 4.9% | 5.0% | 5.2% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 5.2% |
| 1/10 | 2/10 | 3/10 | 4/10 | 5/10 | 6/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 | 10/10 | 11/10 | 12/10 |
| 5.2% | 5.1% | 5.4% | 5.1% | 4.9% | 4.8% | 4.7% | 4.9% | 4.3% | 5.0% | 5.5% | 5.7% |
| 1/11 | 2/11 | 3/11 | 4/11 | 5/11 | 6/11 | 7/11 | 8/11 | 9/11 | 10/11 | 11/11 | 12/11 |
| 5.3% | 4.9% | 4.8% | 4.6% | 4.9% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 4.7% | 4.6% | 4.4% |
| 1/12 | 2/12 | 3/12 | 4/12 | 5/12 | 6/12 | 7/12 | 8/12 | 9/12 | 10/12 | 11/12 | 12/12 |
| 4.5% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 4.0% | 4.1% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.7% | 3.5% | 3.6% | 3.8% | 4.1% |
| 1/13 | 2/13 | 3/13 | 4/13 | 5/13 | 6/13 | 7/13 | 8/13 | 9/13 | 10/13 | 11/13 | 12/13 |
| 4.0% | 3.9% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.8% | 3.5% | 3.1% | 3.4% | 3.3% | 3.7% | 3.2% | 3.1% |
| 1/14 | 2/14 | 3/14 | 4/14 | 5/14 | 6/14 | 7/14 | 8/14 | 9/14 | 10/14 | 11/14 | 12/14 |
| 3.4% | 3.6% | 3.5% | 3.2% | 3.3% | 2.8% | 2.7% | 2.6% | 2.4% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.5% |
| 1/15 | 2/15 | 3/15 | 4/15 | 5/15 | 6/15 | 7/15 | 8/15 | 9/15 | 10/15 | 11/15 | 12/15 |
| 3.0% | 2.8% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.9% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 2.2% | 2.4% | 2.2% | 2.1% | 1.9% |
| 1/16 | 2/16 | 3/16 | 4/16 | 5/16 | 6/16 | 7/16 | 8/16 | 9/16 | 10/16 | 11/16 | 12/16 |
| 2.3% | 2.6% | 2.5% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.5% | 2.4% | 2.5% | 2.8% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 2.4% |
| 1/17 | 2/17 | 3/17 | 4/17 | 5/17 | 6/17 | 7/17 | 8/17 | 9/17 | 10/17 | 11/17 | 12/17 |
| 2.5% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.2% | 1.8% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 2.4% | 2.5% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 2.0% |
| 1/18 | 2/18 | 3/18 | 4/18 | 5/18 | 6/18 | 7/18 | 8/18 | 9/18 | 10/18 | 11/18 | 12/18 |
| 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 1.8% | 1.7% | 2.1% | 1.9% | 2.0% | 2.1% | 2.0% | 2.1% | 2.2% |
| 1/19 | 2/19 | 3/19 | 4/19 | 5/19 | 6/19 | 7/19 | 8/19 | 9/19 | 10/19 | 11/19 | 12/19 |
| 2.5% | 2.1% | 2.0% | 1.4% | 1.5% | 1.9% | 1.8% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 1.7% | 1.6% | 1.9% |
| 1/20 | 2/20 | 3/20 | 4/20 | 5/20 | 6/20 | 7/20 | 8/20 | 9/20 | 10/20 | 11/20 | 12/20 |
| 2.3% | 1.8% | 2.2% | 6.2% | 5.1% | 4.8% | 5.1% | 4.7% | 4.8% | 4.3% | 3.9% | 3.6% |
| 1/21 | 2/21 | 3/21 | 4/21 | 5/21 | 6/21 | 7/21 | 8/21 | 9/21 | 10/21 | 11/21 | 12/21 |
| 3.8% | 3.5% | 3.4% | 3.1% | 2.9% | 3.0% | 2.6% | 2.9% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.2% | 1.8% |
| 1/22 | 2/22 | 3/22 | 4/22 | 5/22 | 6/22 | 7/22 | 8/22 | 9/22 | 10/22 | 11/22 | 12/22 |
| 2.1% | 2.1% | 1.5% | 1.6% | 1.4% | 1.6% | 1.5% | 1.7% | 1.8% | 2.1% | 1.9% | 1.8% |
| 1/23 | 2/23 | 3/23 | 4/23 | 5/23 | 6/23 | 7/23 | 8/23 | 9/23 | 10/23 | 11/23 | 12/23 |
| 2.0% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1.8% | 2.0% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1.8% | 1.7% | 2.0% |
| 1/24 | 2/24 | 3/24 | 4/24 | 5/24 | 6/24 | 7/24 | 8/24 | 9/24 | 10/24 | 11/24 | 12/24 |
| 2.1% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 2.4% | 2.0% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 2.4% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 2.2% | 2.0% |
| 1/25 | 2/25 | 3/25 | 4/25 | 5/25 | 6/25 | 7/25 | 8/25 | 9/25 | 10/25 | 11/25 | 12/25 |
| 2.1% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.2% | 2.6% | 2.4% | 2.1% | 2.2% | 2.1% | N/P | 2.5% | 2.5% |
| 1/26 | 2/26 | 3/26 | 4/26 | 5/26 | 6/26 | 7/26 | 8/26 | 9/26 | 10/26 | 11/26 | 12/26 |
| 2.6% | 2.8% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.7% | 2.3% | 2.4% |
Professional & Related – Unemployment Rate
| 1/08 | 2/08 | 3/08 | 4/08 | 5/08 | 6/08 | 7/08 | 8/08 | 9/08 | 10/08 | 11/08 | 12/08 |
| 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.5% | 2.9% | 3.2% | 3.6% | 2.8% | 3.0% | 3.0% | 2.9% |
| 1/10 | 2/10 | 3/10 | 4/10 | 5/10 | 6/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 | 10/10 | 11/10 | 12/10 |
| 4.9% | 4.6% | 4.3% | 4.1% | 4.3% | 5.0% | 5.2% | 5.3% | 4.4% | 4.1% | 4.1% | 3.8% |
| 1/11 | 2/11 | 3/11 | 4/11 | 5/11 | 6/11 | 7/11 | 8/11 | 9/11 | 10/11 | 11/11 | 12/11 |
| 4.3% | 4.1% | 3.9% | 3.5% | 4.0% | 4.9% | 5.3% | 5.1% | 4.4% | 4.1% | 4.0% | 4.0% |
| 1/12 | 2/12 | 3/12 | 4/12 | 5/12 | 6/12 | 7/12 | 8/12 | 9/12 | 10/12 | 11/12 | 12/12 |
| 4.2% | 4.1% | 4.0% | 3.5% | 4.0% | 4.8% | 5.5% | 5.2% | 4.3% | 3.9% | 3.5% | 3.8% |
| 1/13 | 2/13 | 3/13 | 4/13 | 5/13 | 6/13 | 7/13 | 8/13 | 9/13 | 10/13 | 11/13 | 12/13 |
| 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.6% | 3.4% | 3.3% | 4.6% | 4.7% | 4.0% | 3.6% | 3.1% | 2.9% | 2.7% |
| 1/14 | 2/14 | 3/14 | 4/14 | 5/14 | 6/14 | 7/14 | 8/14 | 9/14 | 10/14 | 11/14 | 12/14 |
| 2.9% | 3.0% | 3.1% | 2.6% | 2.9% | 4.0% | 4.1% | 3.9% | 3.1% | 2.7% | 2.9% | 2.8% |
| 1/15 | 2/15 | 3/15 | 4/15 | 5/15 | 6/15 | 7/15 | 8/15 | 9/15 | 10/15 | 11/15 | 12/15 |
| 2.9% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 2.1% | 3.2% | 3.6% | 3.3% | 2.4% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.1% |
| 1/16 | 2/16 | 3/16 | 4/16 | 5/16 | 6/16 | 7/16 | 8/16 | 9/16 | 10/16 | 11/16 | 12/16 |
| 2.4% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.8% | 2.0% | 3.1% | 3.4% | 3.5% | 2.6% | 2.4% | 2.2% | 2.1% |
| 1/17 | 2/17 | 3/17 | 4/17 | 5/17 | 6/17 | 7/17 | 8/17 | 9/17 | 10/17 | 11/17 | 12/17 |
| 2.2% | 1.9% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 2.0% | 2.6% | 3.3% | 3.1% | 2.3% | 2.2% | 2.0% | 2.1% |
| 1/18 | 2/18 | 3/18 | 4/18 | 5/18 | 6/18 | 7/18 | 8/18 | 9/18 | 10/18 | 11/18 | 12/18 |
| 2.3% | 2.0% | 2.1% | 1.8% | 1.7% | 2.8% | 2.8% | 2.9% | 2.0% | 1.9% | 2.1% | 2.1% |
| 1/19 | 2/19 | 3/19 | 4/19 | 5/19 | 6/19 | 7/19 | 8/19 | 9/19 | 10/19 | 11/19 | 12/19 |
| 2.4% | 2.0% | 1.9% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 2.7% | 2.9% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 1.8% | 1.9% | 1.7% |
| 1/20 | 2/20 | 3/20 | 4/20 | 5/20 | 6/20 | 7/20 | 8/20 | 9/20 | 10/20 | 11/20 | 12/20 |
| 2.1% | 1.8% | 2.6% | 8.8% | 7.7% | 7.7% | 7.6% | 6.1% | 4.3% | 3.3% | 3.5% | 3.2% |
| 1/21 | 2/21 | 3/21 | 4/21 | 5/21 | 6/21 | 7/21 | 8/21 | 9/21 | 10/21 | 11/21 | 12/21 |
| 3.5% | 3.1% | 2.9% | 3.0% | 2.8% | 3.8% | 3.9% | 3.4% | 2.4% | 2.1% | 1.8% | 1.6% |
| 1/22 | 2/22 | 3/22 | 4/22 | 5/22 | 6/22 | 7/22 | 8/22 | 9/22 | 10/22 | 11/22 | 12/22 |
| 2.5% | 2.2% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1.7% | 2.6% | 3.0% | 2.8% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.7% | 1.6% |
| 1/23 | 2/23 | 3/23 | 4/23 | 5/23 | 6/23 | 7/23 | 8/23 | 9/23 | 10/23 | 11/23 | 12/23 |
| 2.1% | 1.9% | 1.8% | 1.4% | 1.7% | 2.5% | 2.8% | 2.7% | 2.0% | 2.1% | 1.9% | 1.7% |
| 1/24 | 2/24 | 3/24 | 4/24 | 5/24 | 6/24 | 7/24 | 8/24 | 9/24 | 10/24 | 11/24 | 12/24 |
| 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1.6% | 1.9% | 2.9% | 3.3% | 3.2% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 2.1% | 2.1% |
| 1/25 | 2/25 | 3/25 | 4/25 | 5/25 | 6/25 | 7/25 | 8/25 | 9/25 | 10/25 | 11/25 | 12/25 |
| 2.3% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.1% | 2.2% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 3.1% | 2.1% | N/P | 2.5% | 2.3% |
| 1/26 | 2/26 | 3/26 | 4/26 | 5/26 | 6/26 | 7/26 | 8/26 | 9/26 | 10/26 | 11/26 | 12/26 |
| 2.8% | 2.6% | 2.4% | 2.1% | 2.6% | 2.9% | 3.4% | 3.4% |
Sales & Related – Unemployment Rate
| 1/08 | 2/08 | 3/08 | 4/08 | 5/08 | 6/08 | 7/08 | 8/08 | 9/08 | 10/08 | 11/08 | 12/08 |
| 5.2% | 5.2% | 4.8% | 4.3% | 5.1% | 5.6% | 6.2% | 6.3% | 5.7% | 6.1% | 6.5% | 7.0% |
| 1/09 | 2/09 | 3/09 | 4/09 | 5/09 | 6/09 | 7/09 | 8/09 | 9/09 | 10/09 | 11/09 | 12/09 |
| 7.7% | 8.4% | 8.9% | 8.6% | 8.9% | 9.1% | 8.3% | 8.7% | 8.9% | 9.5% | 9.1% | 8.9% |
| 1/10 | 2/10 | 3/10 | 4/10 | 5/10 | 6/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 | 10/10 | 11/10 | 12/10 |
| 10.1% | 10.2% | 9.7% | 9.2% | 9.6% | 9.4% | 10.1% | 9.0% | 9.4% | 9.1% | 8.8% | 8.3% |
| 1/11 | 2/11 | 3/11 | 4/11 | 5/11 | 6/11 | 7/11 | 8/11 | 9/11 | 10/11 | 11/11 | 12/11 |
| 9.3% | 9.0% | 8.5% | 8.5% | 9.4% | 9.7% | 9.4% | 8.6% | 9.4% | 8.2% | 7.8% | 7.7% |
| 1/12 | 2/12 | 3/12 | 4/12 | 5/12 | 6/12 | 7/12 | 8/12 | 9/12 | 10/12 | 11/12 | 12/12 |
| 8.2% | 7.9% | 8.1% | 7.6% | 7.9% | 8.4% | 8.3% | 8.6% | 7.9% | 7.0% | 7.3% | 7.0% |
| 1/13 | 2/13 | 3/13 | 4/13 | 5/13 | 6/13 | 7/13 | 8/13 | 9/13 | 10/13 | 11/13 | 12/13 |
| 8.5% | 8.2% | 7.7% | 6.9% | 7.1% | 6.7% | 6.9% | 7.2% | 7.5% | 7.3% | 7.0% | 6.3% |
| 1/14 | 2/14 | 3/14 | 4/14 | 5/14 | 6/14 | 7/14 | 8/14 | 9/14 | 10/14 | 11/14 | 12/14 |
| 7.1% | 7.7% | 6.8% | 5.8% | 6.8% | 6.1% | 6.2% | 5.6% | 5.4% | 5.2% | 5.3% | 5.0% |
| 1/15 | 2/15 | 3/15 | 4/15 | 5/15 | 6/15 | 7/15 | 8/15 | 9/15 | 10/15 | 11/15 | 12/15 |
| 5.8% | 5.2% | 5.8% | 5.5% | 5.8% | 5.6% | 5.8% | 5.4% | 5.6% | 5.3% | 5.1% | 4.3% |
| 1/16 | 2/16 | 3/16 | 4/16 | 5/16 | 6/16 | 7/16 | 8/16 | 9/16 | 10/16 | 11/16 | 12/16 |
| 5.0% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 5.2% | 5.1% | 4.9% | 4.9% | 4.8% | 5.2% | 4.4% | 4.6% | 4.6% |
| 1/17 | 2/17 | 3/17 | 4/17 | 5/17 | 6/17 | 7/17 | 8/17 | 9/17 | 10/17 | 11/17 | 12/17 |
| 5.2% | 4.3% | 3.9% | 4.2% | 4.5% | 4.8% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 3.7% | 4.0% | 4.1% | 3.8% |
| 1/18 | 2/18 | 3/18 | 4/18 | 5/18 | 6/18 | 7/18 | 8/18 | 9/18 | 10/18 | 11/18 | 12/18 |
| 4.6% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 4.1% | 4.2% | 4.4% | 4.0% | 3.5% | 4.0% | 3.6% | 3.7% | 3.6% |
| 1/19 | 2/19 | 3/19 | 4/19 | 5/19 | 6/19 | 7/19 | 8/19 | 9/19 | 10/19 | 11/19 | 12/19 |
| 4.5% | 5.0% | 4.6% | 3.9% | 3.6% | 3.4% | 3.2% | 3.8% | 3.6% | 3.4% | 3.3% | 3.3% |
| 1/20 | 2/20 | 3/20 | 4/20 | 5/20 | 6/20 | 7/20 | 8/20 | 9/20 | 10/20 | 11/20 | 12/20 |
| 4.5% | 4.2% | 4.3% | 17.1% | 16.2% | 13.3% | 10.9% | 8.6% | 8.9% | 7.0% | 6.3% | 5.3% |
| 1/21 | 2/21 | 3/21 | 4/21 | 5/21 | 6/21 | 7/21 | 8/21 | 9/21 | 10/21 | 11/21 | 12/21 |
| 6.6% | 6.6% | 6.3% | 6.3% | 6.4% | 6.0% | 6.0% | 5.5% | 5.2% | 4.5% | 4.2% | 3.6% |
| 1/22 | 2/22 | 3/22 | 4/22 | 5/22 | 6/22 | 7/22 | 8/22 | 9/22 | 10/22 | 11/22 | 12/22 |
| 4.2% | 3.6% | 4.3% | 4.1% | 4.2% | 4.1% | 4.1% | 4.0% | 3.8% | 3.4% | 3.3% | 3.4% |
| 1/23 | 2/23 | 3/23 | 4/23 | 5/23 | 6/23 | 7/23 | 8/23 | 9/23 | 10/23 | 11/23 | 12/23 |
| 4.4% | 4.0% | 3.7% | 3.0% | 4.0% | 4.0% | 3.7% | 3.9% | 4.1% | 3.9% | 3.7% | 4.4% |
| 1/24 | 2/24 | 3/24 | 4/24 | 5/24 | 6/24 | 7/24 | 8/24 | 9/24 | 10/24 | 11/24 | 12/24 |
| 4.5% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 3.6% | 3.8% | 4.5% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 4.5% | 3.9% | 4.2% | 4.1% |
| 1/25 | 2/25 | 3/25 | 4/25 | 5/25 | 6/25 | 7/25 | 8/25 | 9/25 | 10/25 | 11/25 | 12/25 |
| 4.9% | 4.3% | 4.4% | 4.2% | 4.5% | 4.9% | 3.9% | 4.8% | 4.8% | N/P | 5/0% | 4.5% |
| 1/26 | 2/26 | 3/26 | 4/26 | 5/26 | 6/26 | 7/26 | 8/26 | 9/26 | 10/26 | 11/26 | 12/26 |
| 5.2% | 4.9% | 5.0% | 4.3% | 3.7% | 3.9% | 4.1% | 4.1% |