Figure 1
Alternative measures of labor underutilization, 2000–2016
| Date | U-3 | U-5 | U-6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan-2000 | 4.0% | 4.8% | 7.1% |
| Feb-2000 | 4.1% | 5.0% | 7.2% |
| Mar-2000 | 4.0% | 4.8% | 7.1% |
| Apr-2000 | 3.8% | 4.7% | 6.9% |
| May-2000 | 4.0% | 4.8% | 7.1% |
| Jun-2000 | 4.0% | 4.7% | 7.0% |
| Jul-2000 | 4.0% | 4.8% | 7.0% |
| Aug-2000 | 4.1% | 4.8% | 7.1% |
| Sep-2000 | 3.9% | 4.7% | 7.0% |
| Oct-2000 | 3.9% | 4.6% | 6.8% |
| Nov-2000 | 3.9% | 4.7% | 7.1% |
| Dec-2000 | 3.9% | 4.7% | 6.9% |
| Jan-2001 | 4.2% | 5.0% | 7.3% |
| Feb-2001 | 4.2% | 5.1% | 7.4% |
| Mar-2001 | 4.3% | 5.0% | 7.3% |
| Apr-2001 | 4.4% | 5.1% | 7.4% |
| May-2001 | 4.3% | 5.1% | 7.5% |
| Jun-2001 | 4.5% | 5.3% | 7.9% |
| Jul-2001 | 4.6% | 5.4% | 7.8% |
| Aug-2001 | 4.9% | 5.8% | 8.1% |
| Sep-2001 | 5.0% | 5.8% | 8.7% |
| Oct-2001 | 5.3% | 6.2% | 9.3% |
| Nov-2001 | 5.5% | 6.4% | 9.4% |
| Dec-2001 | 5.7% | 6.6% | 9.6% |
| Jan-2002 | 5.7% | 6.7% | 9.5% |
| Feb-2002 | 5.7% | 6.6% | 9.5% |
| Mar-2002 | 5.7% | 6.6% | 9.4% |
| Apr-2002 | 5.9% | 6.8% | 9.7% |
| May-2002 | 5.8% | 6.7% | 9.5% |
| Jun-2002 | 5.8% | 6.7% | 9.5% |
| Jul-2002 | 5.8% | 6.8% | 9.6% |
| Aug-2002 | 5.7% | 6.7% | 9.6% |
| Sep-2002 | 5.7% | 6.6% | 9.6% |
| Oct-2002 | 5.7% | 6.6% | 9.6% |
| Nov-2002 | 5.9% | 6.8% | 9.7% |
| Dec-2002 | 6.0% | 6.9% | 9.8% |
| Jan-2003 | 5.8% | 6.9% | 10.0% |
| Feb-2003 | 5.9% | 6.9% | 10.2% |
| Mar-2003 | 5.9% | 6.9% | 10.0% |
| Apr-2003 | 6.0% | 6.9% | 10.2% |
| May-2003 | 6.1% | 7.0% | 10.1% |
| Jun-2003 | 6.3% | 7.2% | 10.3% |
| Jul-2003 | 6.2% | 7.1% | 10.3% |
| Aug-2003 | 6.1% | 7.1% | 10.1% |
| Sep-2003 | 6.1% | 7.1% | 10.4% |
| Oct-2003 | 6.0% | 7.0% | 10.2% |
| Nov-2003 | 5.8% | 6.8% | 10.0% |
| Dec-2003 | 5.7% | 6.6% | 9.8% |
| Jan-2004 | 5.7% | 6.8% | 9.9% |
| Feb-2004 | 5.6% | 6.6% | 9.7% |
| Mar-2004 | 5.8% | 6.8% | 10.0% |
| Apr-2004 | 5.6% | 6.5% | 9.6% |
| May-2004 | 5.6% | 6.6% | 9.6% |
| Jun-2004 | 5.6% | 6.6% | 9.5% |
| Jul-2004 | 5.5% | 6.5% | 9.5% |
| Aug-2004 | 5.4% | 6.4% | 9.4% |
| Sep-2004 | 5.4% | 6.4% | 9.4% |
| Oct-2004 | 5.5% | 6.5% | 9.7% |
| Nov-2004 | 5.4% | 6.3% | 9.4% |
| Dec-2004 | 5.4% | 6.3% | 9.2% |
| Jan-2005 | 5.3% | 6.4% | 9.3% |
| Feb-2005 | 5.4% | 6.4% | 9.3% |
| Mar-2005 | 5.2% | 6.2% | 9.1% |
| Apr-2005 | 5.2% | 6.1% | 8.9% |
| May-2005 | 5.1% | 6.0% | 8.9% |
| Jun-2005 | 5.0% | 6.0% | 9.0% |
| Jul-2005 | 5.0% | 5.9% | 8.8% |
| Aug-2005 | 4.9% | 5.9% | 8.9% |
| Sep-2005 | 5.0% | 5.9% | 9.0% |
| Oct-2005 | 5.0% | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Nov-2005 | 5.0% | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Dec-2005 | 4.9% | 5.8% | 8.6% |
| Jan-2006 | 4.7% | 5.7% | 8.4% |
| Feb-2006 | 4.8% | 5.7% | 8.4% |
| Mar-2006 | 4.7% | 5.6% | 8.2% |
| Apr-2006 | 4.7% | 5.5% | 8.1% |
| May-2006 | 4.6% | 5.5% | 8.2% |
| Jun-2006 | 4.6% | 5.6% | 8.4% |
| Jul-2006 | 4.7% | 5.7% | 8.5% |
| Aug-2006 | 4.7% | 5.7% | 8.4% |
| Sep-2006 | 4.5% | 5.3% | 8.0% |
| Oct-2006 | 4.4% | 5.3% | 8.2% |
| Nov-2006 | 4.5% | 5.4% | 8.1% |
| Dec-2006 | 4.4% | 5.2% | 7.9% |
| Jan-2007 | 4.6% | 5.6% | 8.4% |
| Feb-2007 | 4.5% | 5.4% | 8.2% |
| Mar-2007 | 4.4% | 5.3% | 8.0% |
| Apr-2007 | 4.5% | 5.4% | 8.2% |
| May-2007 | 4.4% | 5.3% | 8.2% |
| Jun-2007 | 4.6% | 5.5% | 8.3% |
| Jul-2007 | 4.7% | 5.5% | 8.4% |
| Aug-2007 | 4.6% | 5.5% | 8.4% |
| Sep-2007 | 4.7% | 5.5% | 8.4% |
| Oct-2007 | 4.7% | 5.6% | 8.4% |
| Nov-2007 | 4.7% | 5.5% | 8.4% |
| Dec-2007 | 5.0% | 5.8% | 8.8% |
| Jan-2008 | 5.0% | 6.0% | 9.2% |
| Feb-2008 | 4.9% | 5.9% | 9.0% |
| Mar-2008 | 5.1% | 5.9% | 9.1% |
| Apr-2008 | 5.0% | 5.8% | 9.2% |
| May-2008 | 5.4% | 6.3% | 9.7% |
| Jun-2008 | 5.6% | 6.5% | 10.1% |
| Jul-2008 | 5.8% | 6.7% | 10.5% |
| Aug-2008 | 6.1% | 7.1% | 10.8% |
| Sep-2008 | 6.1% | 7.1% | 11.0% |
| Oct-2008 | 6.5% | 7.5% | 11.8% |
| Nov-2008 | 6.8% | 8.0% | 12.6% |
| Dec-2008 | 7.3% | 8.4% | 13.6% |
| Jan-2009 | 7.8% | 9.1% | 14.2% |
| Feb-2009 | 8.3% | 9.5% | 15.2% |
| Mar-2009 | 8.7% | 9.9% | 15.8% |
| Apr-2009 | 9.0% | 10.2% | 15.9% |
| May-2009 | 9.4% | 10.6% | 16.5% |
| Jun-2009 | 9.5% | 10.8% | 16.5% |
| Jul-2009 | 9.5% | 10.8% | 16.4% |
| Aug-2009 | 9.6% | 10.9% | 16.7% |
| Sep-2009 | 9.8% | 11.0% | 16.7% |
| Oct-2009 | 10.0% | 11.4% | 17.1% |
| Nov-2009 | 9.9% | 11.2% | 17.1% |
| Dec-2009 | 9.9% | 11.3% | 17.1% |
| Jan-2010 | 9.8% | 11.3% | 16.7% |
| Feb-2010 | 9.8% | 11.3% | 17.0% |
| Mar-2010 | 9.9% | 11.2% | 17.1% |
| Apr-2010 | 9.9% | 11.3% | 17.1% |
| May-2010 | 9.6% | 10.9% | 16.6% |
| Jun-2010 | 9.4% | 10.9% | 16.4% |
| Jul-2010 | 9.4% | 11.0% | 16.4% |
| Aug-2010 | 9.5% | 10.9% | 16.5% |
| Sep-2010 | 9.5% | 10.9% | 16.8% |
| Oct-2010 | 9.4% | 11.0% | 16.6% |
| Nov-2010 | 9.8% | 11.2% | 16.9% |
| Dec-2010 | 9.3% | 10.9% | 16.6% |
| Jan-2011 | 9.1% | 10.8% | 16.2% |
| Feb-2011 | 9.0% | 10.6% | 16.0% |
| Mar-2011 | 9.0% | 10.4% | 15.9% |
| Apr-2011 | 9.1% | 10.5% | 16.1% |
| May-2011 | 9.0% | 10.3% | 15.8% |
| Jun-2011 | 9.1% | 10.7% | 16.1% |
| Jul-2011 | 9.0% | 10.6% | 15.9% |
| Aug-2011 | 9.0% | 10.5% | 16.1% |
| Sep-2011 | 9.0% | 10.5% | 16.4% |
| Oct-2011 | 8.8% | 10.3% | 15.8% |
| Nov-2011 | 8.6% | 10.1% | 15.5% |
| Dec-2011 | 8.5% | 10.0% | 15.2% |
| Jan-2012 | 8.3% | 9.9% | 15.2% |
| Feb-2012 | 8.3% | 9.8% | 15.0% |
| Mar-2012 | 8.2% | 9.6% | 14.5% |
| Apr-2012 | 8.2% | 9.6% | 14.6% |
| May-2012 | 8.2% | 9.6% | 14.7% |
| Jun-2012 | 8.2% | 9.6% | 14.8% |
| Jul-2012 | 8.2% | 9.6% | 14.8% |
| Aug-2012 | 8.1% | 9.6% | 14.6% |
| Sep-2012 | 7.8% | 9.3% | 14.8% |
| Oct-2012 | 7.8% | 9.2% | 14.4% |
| Nov-2012 | 7.7% | 9.2% | 14.4% |
| Dec-2012 | 7.9% | 9.4% | 14.4% |
| Jan-2013 | 8.0% | 9.4% | 14.5% |
| Feb-2013 | 7.7% | 9.2% | 14.4% |
| Mar-2013 | 7.5% | 8.9% | 13.8% |
| Apr-2013 | 7.6% | 8.9% | 14.0% |
| May-2013 | 7.5% | 8.8% | 13.8% |
| Jun-2013 | 7.5% | 9.0% | 14.2% |
| Jul-2013 | 7.3% | 8.7% | 13.8% |
| Aug-2013 | 7.3% | 8.6% | 13.6% |
| Sep-2013 | 7.2% | 8.6% | 13.7% |
| Oct-2013 | 7.2% | 8.5% | 13.6% |
| Nov-2013 | 6.9% | 8.2% | 13.1% |
| Dec-2013 | 6.7% | 8.1% | 13.1% |
| Jan-2014 | 6.6% | 8.1% | 12.7% |
| Feb-2014 | 6.7% | 8.0% | 12.6% |
| Mar-2014 | 6.7% | 7.9% | 12.6% |
| Apr-2014 | 6.2% | 7.5% | 12.3% |
| May-2014 | 6.3% | 7.5% | 12.1% |
| Jun-2014 | 6.1% | 7.3% | 12.0% |
| Jul-2014 | 6.2% | 7.5% | 12.2% |
| Aug-2014 | 6.2% | 7.4% | 12.0% |
| Sep-2014 | 5.9% | 7.3% | 11.8% |
| Oct-2014 | 5.7% | 7.0% | 11.5% |
| Nov-2014 | 5.8% | 7.0% | 11.4% |
| Dec-2014 | 5.6% | 6.9% | 11.2% |
| Jan-2015 | 5.7% | 7.0% | 11.3% |
| Feb-2015 | 5.5% | 6.8% | 11.0% |
| Mar-2015 | 5.4% | 6.7% | 10.9% |
| Apr-2015 | 5.4% | 6.7% | 10.8% |
| May-2015 | 5.5% | 6.6% | 10.7% |
| Jun-2015 | 5.3% | 6.4% | 10.5% |
| Jul-2015 | 5.2% | 6.4% | 10.3% |
| Aug-2015 | 5.1% | 6.2% | 10.2% |
| Sep-2015 | 5.0% | 6.2% | 10.0% |
| Oct-2015 | 5.0% | 6.2% | 9.8% |
| Nov-2015 | 5.0% | 6.1% | 9.9% |
| Dec-2015 | 5.0% | 6.1% | 9.9% |
| Jan-2016 | 4.9% | 6.2% | 9.9% |
| Feb-2016 | 4.9% | 6.0% | 9.8% |
| Mar-2016 | 5.0% | 6.0% | 9.8% |
| Apr-2016 | 5.0% | 6.0% | 9.7% |
| May-2016 | 4.7% | 5.7% | 9.7% |
| Jun-2016 | 4.9% | 6.0% | 9.6% |
| Jul-2016 | 4.9% | 6.0% | 9.7% |
| Aug-2016 | 4.9% | 5.9% | 9.7% |
| Sep-2016 | 4.9% | 6.0% | 9.7% |
| Oct-2016 | 4.8% | 5.9% | 9.5% |
| Nov-2016 | 4.6% | 5.8% | 9.3% |
| Dec-2016 | 4.7% | 5.7% | 9.2% |
Notes: The U-3 represents the total unemployed, as a percent of the civilian labor force (official unemployment rate). The U-5 represents the total unemployed, plus discouraged workers, plus all other persons marginally attached to the labor force, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force. The U-6 represents total unemployed, plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force.
Source: EPI analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics public data series
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