Short-term and long-term unemployment rates, 1979–2014
| Date | Short-term unemployment rate | Long-term unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1979/01/01 | 5.3% | 0.5% |
| 1979/02/01 | 5.4% | 0.5% |
| 1979/03/01 | 5.3% | 0.6% |
| 1979/04/01 | 5.3% | 0.5% |
| 1979/05/01 | 5.2% | 0.5% |
| 1979/06/01 | 5.2% | 0.5% |
| 1979/07/01 | 5.3% | 0.4% |
| 1979/08/01 | 5.5% | 0.5% |
| 1979/09/01 | 5.3% | 0.5% |
| 1979/10/01 | 5.4% | 0.5% |
| 1979/11/01 | 5.3% | 0.5% |
| 1979/12/01 | 5.4% | 0.5% |
| 1980/01/01 | 5.7% | 0.5% |
| 1980/02/01 | 5.8% | 0.5% |
| 1980/03/01 | 5.8% | 0.6% |
| 1980/04/01 | 6.3% | 0.6% |
| 1980/05/01 | 6.9% | 0.7% |
| 1980/06/01 | 6.8% | 0.7% |
| 1980/07/01 | 6.9% | 0.8% |
| 1980/08/01 | 6.8% | 0.9% |
| 1980/09/01 | 6.6% | 0.9% |
| 1980/10/01 | 6.5% | 1.0% |
| 1980/11/01 | 6.4% | 1.1% |
| 1980/12/01 | 6.1% | 1.1% |
| 1981/01/01 | 6.3% | 1.2% |
| 1981/02/01 | 6.3% | 1.2% |
| 1981/03/01 | 6.3% | 1.1% |
| 1981/04/01 | 6.2% | 1.0% |
| 1981/05/01 | 6.5% | 1.1% |
| 1981/06/01 | 6.3% | 1.0% |
| 1981/07/01 | 6.3% | 1.0% |
| 1981/08/01 | 6.3% | 1.1% |
| 1981/09/01 | 6.6% | 1.0% |
| 1981/10/01 | 6.9% | 1.0% |
| 1981/11/01 | 7.2% | 1.0% |
| 1981/12/01 | 7.5% | 1.1% |
| 1982/01/01 | 7.5% | 1.1% |
| 1982/02/01 | 7.7% | 1.2% |
| 1982/03/01 | 7.9% | 1.2% |
| 1982/04/01 | 8.0% | 1.4% |
| 1982/05/01 | 8.0% | 1.5% |
| 1982/06/01 | 7.9% | 1.6% |
| 1982/07/01 | 8.1% | 1.6% |
| 1982/08/01 | 8.2% | 1.7% |
| 1982/09/01 | 8.4% | 1.8% |
| 1982/10/01 | 8.4% | 2.0% |
| 1982/11/01 | 8.7% | 2.1% |
| 1982/12/01 | 8.5% | 2.3% |
| 1983/01/01 | 8.1% | 2.4% |
| 1983/02/01 | 8.0% | 2.5% |
| 1983/03/01 | 7.7% | 2.5% |
| 1983/04/01 | 7.5% | 2.5% |
| 1983/05/01 | 7.5% | 2.5% |
| 1983/06/01 | 7.3% | 2.6% |
| 1983/07/01 | 7.2% | 2.3% |
| 1983/08/01 | 7.3% | 2.3% |
| 1983/09/01 | 7.1% | 2.2% |
| 1983/10/01 | 6.8% | 2.0% |
| 1983/11/01 | 6.6% | 1.9% |
| 1983/12/01 | 6.5% | 1.8% |
| 1984/01/01 | 6.3% | 1.8% |
| 1984/02/01 | 6.2% | 1.6% |
| 1984/03/01 | 6.2% | 1.6% |
| 1984/04/01 | 6.1% | 1.6% |
| 1984/05/01 | 5.9% | 1.5% |
| 1984/06/01 | 5.8% | 1.4% |
| 1984/07/01 | 6.1% | 1.4% |
| 1984/08/01 | 6.2% | 1.3% |
| 1984/09/01 | 6.1% | 1.3% |
| 1984/10/01 | 6.1% | 1.3% |
| 1984/11/01 | 5.9% | 1.2% |
| 1984/12/01 | 6.1% | 1.2% |
| 1985/01/01 | 6.2% | 1.1% |
| 1985/02/01 | 6.1% | 1.2% |
| 1985/03/01 | 6.1% | 1.2% |
| 1985/04/01 | 6.1% | 1.2% |
| 1985/05/01 | 6.2% | 1.1% |
| 1985/06/01 | 6.2% | 1.1% |
| 1985/07/01 | 6.2% | 1.1% |
| 1985/08/01 | 6.1% | 1.1% |
| 1985/09/01 | 6.1% | 1.1% |
| 1985/10/01 | 6.1% | 1.0% |
| 1985/11/01 | 5.9% | 1.1% |
| 1985/12/01 | 6.0% | 1.0% |
| 1986/01/01 | 5.8% | 0.9% |
| 1986/02/01 | 6.2% | 1.0% |
| 1986/03/01 | 6.2% | 1.0% |
| 1986/04/01 | 6.2% | 1.0% |
| 1986/05/01 | 6.2% | 1.0% |
| 1986/06/01 | 6.1% | 1.1% |
| 1986/07/01 | 6.0% | 1.0% |
| 1986/08/01 | 5.9% | 1.0% |
| 1986/09/01 | 6.0% | 1.0% |
| 1986/10/01 | 5.9% | 1.0% |
| 1986/11/01 | 5.9% | 1.0% |
| 1986/12/01 | 5.7% | 1.0% |
| 1987/01/01 | 5.7% | 1.0% |
| 1987/02/01 | 5.7% | 0.9% |
| 1987/03/01 | 5.6% | 0.9% |
| 1987/04/01 | 5.4% | 0.9% |
| 1987/05/01 | 5.3% | 0.9% |
| 1987/06/01 | 5.3% | 0.9% |
| 1987/07/01 | 5.3% | 0.8% |
| 1987/08/01 | 5.1% | 0.9% |
| 1987/09/01 | 5.1% | 0.8% |
| 1987/10/01 | 5.2% | 0.8% |
| 1987/11/01 | 5.1% | 0.8% |
| 1987/12/01 | 5.0% | 0.7% |
| 1988/01/01 | 5.0% | 0.7% |
| 1988/02/01 | 5.0% | 0.7% |
| 1988/03/01 | 5.0% | 0.7% |
| 1988/04/01 | 4.8% | 0.7% |
| 1988/05/01 | 4.9% | 0.7% |
| 1988/06/01 | 4.7% | 0.7% |
| 1988/07/01 | 4.8% | 0.7% |
| 1988/08/01 | 4.9% | 0.7% |
| 1988/09/01 | 4.7% | 0.7% |
| 1988/10/01 | 4.7% | 0.6% |
| 1988/11/01 | 4.8% | 0.6% |
| 1988/12/01 | 4.7% | 0.6% |
| 1989/01/01 | 4.8% | 0.6% |
| 1989/02/01 | 4.7% | 0.5% |
| 1989/03/01 | 4.5% | 0.5% |
| 1989/04/01 | 4.7% | 0.6% |
| 1989/05/01 | 4.7% | 0.5% |
| 1989/06/01 | 4.8% | 0.5% |
| 1989/07/01 | 4.8% | 0.5% |
| 1989/08/01 | 4.7% | 0.5% |
| 1989/09/01 | 4.8% | 0.5% |
| 1989/10/01 | 4.8% | 0.5% |
| 1989/11/01 | 4.9% | 0.5% |
| 1989/12/01 | 4.8% | 0.5% |
| 1990/01/01 | 4.8% | 0.5% |
| 1990/02/01 | 4.8% | 0.5% |
| 1990/03/01 | 4.8% | 0.5% |
| 1990/04/01 | 4.9% | 0.5% |
| 1990/05/01 | 4.9% | 0.5% |
| 1990/06/01 | 4.8% | 0.5% |
| 1990/07/01 | 5.0% | 0.5% |
| 1990/08/01 | 5.1% | 0.6% |
| 1990/09/01 | 5.2% | 0.6% |
| 1990/10/01 | 5.3% | 0.6% |
| 1990/11/01 | 5.5% | 0.7% |
| 1990/12/01 | 5.6% | 0.7% |
| 1991/01/01 | 5.6% | 0.7% |
| 1991/02/01 | 5.8% | 0.7% |
| 1991/03/01 | 6.1% | 0.8% |
| 1991/04/01 | 5.9% | 0.8% |
| 1991/05/01 | 6.1% | 0.8% |
| 1991/06/01 | 6.1% | 0.9% |
| 1991/07/01 | 5.9% | 0.9% |
| 1991/08/01 | 5.9% | 0.9% |
| 1991/09/01 | 5.9% | 0.9% |
| 1991/10/01 | 6.0% | 1.0% |
| 1991/11/01 | 6.0% | 1.1% |
| 1991/12/01 | 6.1% | 1.2% |
| 1992/01/01 | 6.0% | 1.3% |
| 1992/02/01 | 6.1% | 1.3% |
| 1992/03/01 | 6.0% | 1.4% |
| 1992/04/01 | 5.9% | 1.4% |
| 1992/05/01 | 6.0% | 1.5% |
| 1992/06/01 | 6.2% | 1.7% |
| 1992/07/01 | 6.0% | 1.7% |
| 1992/08/01 | 6.0% | 1.6% |
| 1992/09/01 | 6.0% | 1.6% |
| 1992/10/01 | 5.7% | 1.7% |
| 1992/11/01 | 5.9% | 1.6% |
| 1992/12/01 | 5.9% | 1.6% |
| 1993/01/01 | 5.7% | 1.5% |
| 1993/02/01 | 5.7% | 1.5% |
| 1993/03/01 | 5.6% | 1.4% |
| 1993/04/01 | 5.7% | 1.3% |
| 1993/05/01 | 5.7% | 1.4% |
| 1993/06/01 | 5.7% | 1.4% |
| 1993/07/01 | 5.5% | 1.4% |
| 1993/08/01 | 5.4% | 1.4% |
| 1993/09/01 | 5.4% | 1.4% |
| 1993/10/01 | 5.5% | 1.4% |
| 1993/11/01 | 5.2% | 1.4% |
| 1993/12/01 | 5.2% | 1.4% |
| 1994/01/01 | 5.3% | 1.3% |
| 1994/02/01 | 5.2% | 1.3% |
| 1994/03/01 | 5.1% | 1.4% |
| 1994/04/01 | 4.9% | 1.3% |
| 1994/05/01 | 4.8% | 1.3% |
| 1994/06/01 | 4.9% | 1.2% |
| 1994/07/01 | 4.9% | 1.2% |
| 1994/08/01 | 4.9% | 1.2% |
| 1994/09/01 | 4.7% | 1.2% |
| 1994/10/01 | 4.6% | 1.2% |
| 1994/11/01 | 4.5% | 1.1% |
| 1994/12/01 | 4.4% | 1.0% |
| 1995/01/01 | 4.5% | 1.0% |
| 1995/02/01 | 4.5% | 0.9% |
| 1995/03/01 | 4.4% | 1.0% |
| 1995/04/01 | 4.6% | 1.1% |
| 1995/05/01 | 4.7% | 1.0% |
| 1995/06/01 | 4.6% | 0.9% |
| 1995/07/01 | 4.7% | 0.9% |
| 1995/08/01 | 4.8% | 0.9% |
| 1995/09/01 | 4.7% | 1.0% |
| 1995/10/01 | 4.6% | 0.9% |
| 1995/11/01 | 4.7% | 0.9% |
| 1995/12/01 | 4.7% | 0.9% |
| 1996/01/01 | 4.7% | 0.9% |
| 1996/02/01 | 4.6% | 0.9% |
| 1996/03/01 | 4.5% | 1.0% |
| 1996/04/01 | 4.5% | 1.0% |
| 1996/05/01 | 4.6% | 1.0% |
| 1996/06/01 | 4.3% | 1.0% |
| 1996/07/01 | 4.4% | 1.0% |
| 1996/08/01 | 4.2% | 0.9% |
| 1996/09/01 | 4.3% | 0.9% |
| 1996/10/01 | 4.4% | 0.9% |
| 1996/11/01 | 4.5% | 0.8% |
| 1996/12/01 | 4.4% | 0.9% |
| 1997/01/01 | 4.4% | 0.8% |
| 1997/02/01 | 4.4% | 0.8% |
| 1997/03/01 | 4.4% | 0.8% |
| 1997/04/01 | 4.2% | 0.8% |
| 1997/05/01 | 4.2% | 0.8% |
| 1997/06/01 | 4.2% | 0.8% |
| 1997/07/01 | 4.1% | 0.8% |
| 1997/08/01 | 4.1% | 0.8% |
| 1997/09/01 | 4.1% | 0.8% |
| 1997/10/01 | 4.0% | 0.8% |
| 1997/11/01 | 3.9% | 0.7% |
| 1997/12/01 | 3.9% | 0.7% |
| 1998/01/01 | 3.9% | 0.7% |
| 1998/02/01 | 3.9% | 0.7% |
| 1998/03/01 | 4.1% | 0.7% |
| 1998/04/01 | 3.7% | 0.6% |
| 1998/05/01 | 3.8% | 0.6% |
| 1998/06/01 | 4.0% | 0.6% |
| 1998/07/01 | 3.9% | 0.6% |
| 1998/08/01 | 3.9% | 0.6% |
| 1998/09/01 | 3.9% | 0.7% |
| 1998/10/01 | 3.9% | 0.6% |
| 1998/11/01 | 3.8% | 0.6% |
| 1998/12/01 | 3.7% | 0.6% |
| 1999/01/01 | 3.8% | 0.5% |
| 1999/02/01 | 3.8% | 0.6% |
| 1999/03/01 | 3.7% | 0.5% |
| 1999/04/01 | 3.9% | 0.5% |
| 1999/05/01 | 3.7% | 0.5% |
| 1999/06/01 | 3.7% | 0.6% |
| 1999/07/01 | 3.7% | 0.5% |
| 1999/08/01 | 3.7% | 0.5% |
| 1999/09/01 | 3.7% | 0.5% |
| 1999/10/01 | 3.6% | 0.5% |
| 1999/11/01 | 3.6% | 0.5% |
| 1999/12/01 | 3.5% | 0.5% |
| 2000/01/01 | 3.5% | 0.5% |
| 2000/02/01 | 3.6% | 0.4% |
| 2000/03/01 | 3.7% | 0.5% |
| 2000/04/01 | 3.5% | 0.4% |
| 2000/05/01 | 3.6% | 0.5% |
| 2000/06/01 | 3.5% | 0.4% |
| 2000/07/01 | 3.5% | 0.5% |
| 2000/08/01 | 3.6% | 0.5% |
| 2000/09/01 | 3.5% | 0.5% |
| 2000/10/01 | 3.5% | 0.4% |
| 2000/11/01 | 3.5% | 0.4% |
| 2000/12/01 | 3.5% | 0.4% |
| 2001/01/01 | 3.7% | 0.5% |
| 2001/02/01 | 3.8% | 0.5% |
| 2001/03/01 | 3.9% | 0.5% |
| 2001/04/01 | 4.0% | 0.5% |
| 2001/05/01 | 3.9% | 0.4% |
| 2001/06/01 | 3.9% | 0.5% |
| 2001/07/01 | 4.0% | 0.5% |
| 2001/08/01 | 4.3% | 0.6% |
| 2001/09/01 | 4.4% | 0.6% |
| 2001/10/01 | 4.7% | 0.6% |
| 2001/11/01 | 4.8% | 0.8% |
| 2001/12/01 | 5.0% | 0.8% |
| 2002/01/01 | 4.9% | 0.8% |
| 2002/02/01 | 4.8% | 0.8% |
| 2002/03/01 | 4.9% | 0.9% |
| 2002/04/01 | 5.0% | 1.0% |
| 2002/05/01 | 4.7% | 1.1% |
| 2002/06/01 | 4.7% | 1.1% |
| 2002/07/01 | 4.7% | 1.1% |
| 2002/08/01 | 4.7% | 1.1% |
| 2002/09/01 | 4.6% | 1.1% |
| 2002/10/01 | 4.6% | 1.1% |
| 2002/11/01 | 4.7% | 1.2% |
| 2002/12/01 | 4.7% | 1.3% |
| 2003/01/01 | 4.7% | 1.2% |
| 2003/02/01 | 4.6% | 1.3% |
| 2003/03/01 | 4.6% | 1.2% |
| 2003/04/01 | 4.7% | 1.3% |
| 2003/05/01 | 4.8% | 1.3% |
| 2003/06/01 | 4.8% | 1.4% |
| 2003/07/01 | 4.8% | 1.3% |
| 2003/08/01 | 4.8% | 1.4% |
| 2003/09/01 | 4.7% | 1.4% |
| 2003/10/01 | 4.6% | 1.3% |
| 2003/11/01 | 4.5% | 1.4% |
| 2003/12/01 | 4.4% | 1.3% |
| 2004/01/01 | 4.4% | 1.3% |
| 2004/02/01 | 4.3% | 1.3% |
| 2004/03/01 | 4.4% | 1.4% |
| 2004/04/01 | 4.3% | 1.2% |
| 2004/05/01 | 4.4% | 1.2% |
| 2004/06/01 | 4.3% | 1.3% |
| 2004/07/01 | 4.4% | 1.1% |
| 2004/08/01 | 4.4% | 1.1% |
| 2004/09/01 | 4.2% | 1.2% |
| 2004/10/01 | 4.3% | 1.2% |
| 2004/11/01 | 4.2% | 1.1% |
| 2004/12/01 | 4.3% | 1.1% |
| 2005/01/01 | 4.1% | 1.1% |
| 2005/02/01 | 4.3% | 1.1% |
| 2005/03/01 | 4.0% | 1.1% |
| 2005/04/01 | 4.1% | 1.1% |
| 2005/05/01 | 4.1% | 1.0% |
| 2005/06/01 | 4.1% | 0.9% |
| 2005/07/01 | 4.0% | 0.9% |
| 2005/08/01 | 4.0% | 0.9% |
| 2005/09/01 | 4.1% | 1.0% |
| 2005/10/01 | 4.1% | 0.9% |
| 2005/11/01 | 4.1% | 0.9% |
| 2005/12/01 | 3.9% | 0.9% |
| 2006/01/01 | 3.9% | 0.8% |
| 2006/02/01 | 3.9% | 0.9% |
| 2006/03/01 | 3.8% | 0.9% |
| 2006/04/01 | 3.9% | 0.9% |
| 2006/05/01 | 3.8% | 0.9% |
| 2006/06/01 | 3.8% | 0.8% |
| 2006/07/01 | 3.9% | 0.9% |
| 2006/08/01 | 3.8% | 0.9% |
| 2006/09/01 | 3.7% | 0.8% |
| 2006/10/01 | 3.7% | 0.7% |
| 2006/11/01 | 3.8% | 0.7% |
| 2006/12/01 | 3.7% | 0.7% |
| 2007/01/01 | 3.8% | 0.7% |
| 2007/02/01 | 3.7% | 0.8% |
| 2007/03/01 | 3.6% | 0.8% |
| 2007/04/01 | 3.7% | 0.8% |
| 2007/05/01 | 3.8% | 0.7% |
| 2007/06/01 | 3.8% | 0.7% |
| 2007/07/01 | 3.8% | 0.8% |
| 2007/08/01 | 3.8% | 0.8% |
| 2007/09/01 | 3.9% | 0.8% |
| 2007/10/01 | 3.9% | 0.8% |
| 2007/11/01 | 3.8% | 0.9% |
| 2007/12/01 | 4.1% | 0.9% |
| 2008/01/01 | 4.0% | 0.9% |
| 2008/02/01 | 4.0% | 0.9% |
| 2008/03/01 | 4.2% | 0.9% |
| 2008/04/01 | 4.1% | 0.9% |
| 2008/05/01 | 4.5% | 1.0% |
| 2008/06/01 | 4.6% | 1.0% |
| 2008/07/01 | 4.6% | 1.1% |
| 2008/08/01 | 4.9% | 1.2% |
| 2008/09/01 | 4.8% | 1.3% |
| 2008/10/01 | 5.1% | 1.5% |
| 2008/11/01 | 5.4% | 1.4% |
| 2008/12/01 | 5.6% | 1.7% |
| 2009/01/01 | 6.0% | 1.8% |
| 2009/02/01 | 6.4% | 1.9% |
| 2009/03/01 | 6.6% | 2.1% |
| 2009/04/01 | 6.5% | 2.4% |
| 2009/05/01 | 6.9% | 2.6% |
| 2009/06/01 | 6.9% | 2.8% |
| 2009/07/01 | 6.2% | 3.2% |
| 2009/08/01 | 6.3% | 3.3% |
| 2009/09/01 | 6.2% | 3.6% |
| 2009/10/01 | 6.4% | 3.7% |
| 2009/11/01 | 5.9% | 3.8% |
| 2009/12/01 | 5.9% | 4.0% |
| 2010/01/01 | 5.8% | 4.1% |
| 2010/02/01 | 5.8% | 4.0% |
| 2010/03/01 | 5.6% | 4.3% |
| 2010/04/01 | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| 2010/05/01 | 5.3% | 4.3% |
| 2010/06/01 | 5.3% | 4.3% |
| 2010/07/01 | 5.2% | 4.2% |
| 2010/08/01 | 5.4% | 4.0% |
| 2010/09/01 | 5.5% | 4.0% |
| 2010/10/01 | 5.5% | 4.1% |
| 2010/11/01 | 5.6% | 4.1% |
| 2010/12/01 | 5.2% | 4.2% |
| 2011/01/01 | 5.2% | 4.1% |
| 2011/02/01 | 5.1% | 3.9% |
| 2011/03/01 | 4.9% | 4.0% |
| 2011/04/01 | 5.1% | 3.8% |
| 2011/05/01 | 5.0% | 4.0% |
| 2011/06/01 | 5.1% | 4.0% |
| 2011/07/01 | 5.0% | 4.0% |
| 2011/08/01 | 5.1% | 3.9% |
| 2011/09/01 | 5.0% | 4.1% |
| 2011/10/01 | 5.1% | 3.8% |
| 2011/11/01 | 4.9% | 3.7% |
| 2011/12/01 | 4.9% | 3.6% |
| 2012/01/01 | 4.7% | 3.6% |
| 2012/02/01 | 4.8% | 3.5% |
| 2012/03/01 | 4.8% | 3.4% |
| 2012/04/01 | 4.8% | 3.3% |
| 2012/05/01 | 4.7% | 3.5% |
| 2012/06/01 | 4.8% | 3.4% |
| 2012/07/01 | 4.9% | 3.3% |
| 2012/08/01 | 4.9% | 3.2% |
| 2012/09/01 | 4.6% | 3.1% |
| 2012/10/01 | 4.7% | 3.2% |
| 2012/11/01 | 4.6% | 3.1% |
| 2012/12/01 | 4.8% | 3.1% |
| 2013/01/01 | 4.9% | 3.0% |
| 2013/02/01 | 4.6% | 3.1% |
| 2013/03/01 | 4.6% | 3.0% |
| 2013/04/01 | 4.7% | 2.8% |
| 2013/05/01 | 4.7% | 2.8% |
| 2013/06/01 | 4.8% | 2.8% |
| 2013/07/01 | 4.6% | 2.7% |
| 2013/08/01 | 4.5% | 2.7% |
| 2013/09/01 | 4.5% | 2.7% |
| 2013/10/01 | 4.7% | 2.6% |
| 2013/11/01 | 4.4% | 2.6% |
| 2013/12/01 | 4.1% | 2.5% |
| 2014/01/01 | 4.2% | 2.3% |
| 2014/02/01 | 4.2% | 2.5% |
| 2014/03/01 | 4.3% | 2.4% |
| 2014/04/01 | 4.1% | 2.2% |
| 2014/05/01 | 4.1% | 2.2% |
| 2014/06/01 | 4.0% | 2.0% |
Note: Shaded areas denote recessions.
Source: Authors' analysis of the Current Population Survey public data series from the Bureau of Labor Statistics