Reading the latest movement
For August 2026, this snapshot reports 4.10 percent in the published level view. The difference from the preceding available period is 0.00 percentage points. This comparison uses the prior value contained in the same acquired file. A difference between periods describes economic change; it is separate from a later revision of either observation.
Put the latest level in context
These comparisons use published levels in this snapshot, with matching reference periods. Rate differences use percentage points; growth of a rate is not a percentage-point difference. The chart above may use a different transformation.
| Earlier period | Earlier level | Latest level | Absolute difference | Relative change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 2025 | 4.300 | 4.100 | -0.200 pp | -4.65% |
| August 2021 | 5.100 | 4.100 | -1.000 pp | -19.61% |
| August 2016 | 4.900 | 4.100 | -0.800 pp | -16.33% |
How have prices, jobs and output changed since 2019? · Research questions and worked comparisons.
Definition and limitations
The denominator is employed plus unemployed people in the civilian noninstitutional population. People without a job who are not actively seeking work generally are outside the labor force.
Percentage growth is calculated from matching series levels. Both endpoints retain the same adjustment basis. Growth computed from rounded source inputs can differ from the agency’s published headline rounding.
Which measure fits your question? Compare definitions and complementary measures before drawing a conclusion.
Transformations and related measures
Published level retains the source unit. Year-over-year change compares with the same reference period one year earlier. Weekly series compare with 52 weeks earlier (364 days) to retain the weekday. Previous-period percentage change measures the relative change; absolute change subtracts the preceding level. For a rate already expressed in percent, absolute change is in percentage points. Invalid or missing denominators produce an unavailable result. No frequency conversion or hidden rescaling is applied.
U-3 includes people without a job who are available and have actively looked for work in the previous four weeks, plus people on temporary layoff under the survey rules. The labor force is employed plus unemployed people. The employment-population ratio uses a different denominator; participation asks how many people are in the labor force. Payroll employment counts jobs in establishments. These measures cannot be forced to agree.
Source and methodology
Producer documentation · Acquisition endpoint / file · Producer release information
Revisions and archived snapshots
Two site acquisitions are archived. Matching unchanged series identities can be compared between versions; this is not a complete agency vintage history. Previous-period readings above come from the same acquired snapshot. The revision comparison separates changes to matching historical observations from new coverage and corrected series identities. Earlier agency vintages remain outside this archive. Read the revision policy and download this frozen snapshot.