Work statistics
Unemployment Statistics 2026
This page collects current unemployment figures by country, age, race, education and length of joblessness, plus youth and recent graduate unemployment, each linked to the statistical office or institution that published it. It covers the US, the UK, the EU and its member states, Canada, Australia, China and the world as a whole, with data from 2025 and 2026. Most rates follow the ILO definition (people without work who are available and have looked for work recently), but survey timing, age ranges and seasonal adjustment differ between countries.
By the Mojolin research desk · Updated November 6, 2026 · Next review by December 21, 2026
- Figures
- 47
- Primary sources
- 14
- Official or research
- 81%
- Charts
- 4
Key takeaways
- 4.1%The US unemployment rate was 4.1% in October 2026, and it has stayed between 4.1% and 4.3% since March 2026.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- 7.9%The broadest US measure of labor underutilization, U-6, which adds discouraged and marginally attached workers and involuntary part-timers, was 7.9% in October 2026 (seasonally adjusted).U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- 6.6%The US unemployment rate for Black workers was 6.6% in October 2026, compared with 3.7% for White, 2.8% for Asian and 4.7% for Hispanic workers.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- 27.6%2.0 million Americans had been unemployed for 27 weeks or more in October 2026, 27.6% of all unemployed people.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- 4.9%The International Labour Organization projects the global unemployment rate at 4.9% in 2026.International Labour Organization
- 6.5%The euro area unemployment rate was 6.5% in September 2026, up from 6.3% a year earlier (seasonally adjusted).Eurostat
- 15.5%The EU youth unemployment rate (under 25) was 15.5% in September 2026, more than double the overall rate.Eurostat
- 42.5%42.5% of recent US college graduates were underemployed, working in jobs that typically do not require a degree, in the third quarter of 2026.Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Research overview
What the numbers say
Unemployment in most rich economies is low by historical standards but drifting up. The Bureau of Labor Statistics put the US rate at 4.1% in October 2026, inside the 4.1% to 4.3% range it has held since March, and Federal Reserve policymakers expect about the same at year end. Eurostat reports small year-over-year increases in both the EU (6.0% to 6.2%) and the euro area (6.3% to 6.5%), and Statistics Canada recorded a second consecutive monthly rise to 6.7%.
The headline rate understates slack. The BLS U-6 measure, which adds discouraged workers and involuntary part-timers, was 7.9% in October 2026, and the Australian Bureau of Statistics counts 6.3% of workers as underemployed on top of 4.7% unemployed. Duration data point to slow hiring rather than heavy layoffs: 27.6% of unemployed Americans and 23.7% of unemployed Canadians had been searching for at least 27 weeks, and Statistics Canada found that fewer than one in five jobseekers found work within a month.
Gaps between groups remain wide. In the US, the BLS reports a 6.6% rate for Black workers against 2.8% for Asian workers, and 5.8% for adults without a high school diploma against 2.6% for college graduates. Across Europe, Eurostat shows national rates from 2.8% in Czechia to 10.5% in Finland, and Spain's own survey from INE puts its rate at 10.18%.
Young people carry the heaviest load. The ILO puts global youth unemployment at 12.4%, Eurostat measures 15.5% for under 25s in the EU and 22.8% in Spain, and the ONS counts 981,000 young people in the UK who are not in education, employment or training. Graduates do better than their peers without degrees, but the New York Fed reports that recent US graduates face 5.2% unemployment and that 42.5% work in jobs that do not need a degree.
01
US unemployment rate and outlook
- 14.1%4.1%
The US unemployment rate was 4.1% in October 2026, and it has stayed between 4.1% and 4.3% since March 2026.
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsThe Employment Situation, October 2026Nov 2026
- 27.1 million7.1 million
About 7.1 million people in the US were unemployed in October 2026.
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsThe Employment Situation, October 2026Nov 2026
- 37.9%7.9%
The broadest US measure of labor underutilization, U-6, which adds discouraged and marginally attached workers and involuntary part-timers, was 7.9% in October 2026 (seasonally adjusted).
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsThe Employment Situation, October 2026Nov 2026
- 44.1%4.1%
Federal Reserve policymakers' median projection, made in September 2026, puts the US unemployment rate at 4.1% in the fourth quarter of 2026 and 4.2% in the longer run.
OfficialFederal Reserve BoardSummary of Economic Projections, September 16, 2026Sep 2026
What these figures suggest
The official US unemployment rate (U-3) stood at 4.1% in October 2026, with 7.1 million people out of work and actively looking. It has moved within a narrow 4.1% to 4.3% band since March, so the labor market is soft but not deteriorating quickly. The broader U-6 measure, which also counts people who have given up searching and part-timers who want full-time hours, is nearly twice as high at 7.9%. Federal Reserve policymakers expect the rate to hold near 4.1% through the end of 2026. Note that BLS did not collect household survey data for October 2025 because of the federal government shutdown, so some year-over-year comparisons are missing.
02
US unemployment by race, education and age
Chart
US unemployment rate by group, October 2026
Seasonally adjusted, Current Population Survey, October 2026.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Employment Situation, October 2026
View data table
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Teenagers (16 to 19) | 13.9% |
| Black | 6.6% |
| Hispanic | 4.7% |
| White | 3.7% |
| Adult men | 3.9% |
| Adult women | 3.6% |
| Asian | 2.8% |
- 56.6%6.6%
The US unemployment rate for Black workers was 6.6% in October 2026, compared with 3.7% for White, 2.8% for Asian and 4.7% for Hispanic workers.
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsThe Employment Situation, October 2026Nov 2026
- 613.9%13.9%
US teenagers aged 16 to 19 had an unemployment rate of 13.9% in October 2026, more than three times the rate for adults.
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsThe Employment Situation, October 2026Nov 2026
- 72.6%2.6%
US workers aged 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher had an unemployment rate of 2.6% in October 2026 (seasonally adjusted).
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsThe Employment Situation, October 2026Nov 2026
- 85.8%5.8%
US workers aged 25 and over without a high school diploma had an unemployment rate of 5.8% in October 2026 (seasonally adjusted), more than double the rate for college graduates.
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsThe Employment Situation, October 2026Nov 2026
- 99.1%9.1%
The unemployment rate for US youth aged 16 to 24 was 9.1% in July 2026, down from 10.8% in July 2025 (not seasonally adjusted).
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsEmployment and Unemployment Among Youth, Summer 2026Aug 2026
- 1012.0%12.0%
Black youth in the US had an unemployment rate of 12.0% in July 2026, against 8.3% for White youth.
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsEmployment and Unemployment Among Youth, Summer 2026Aug 2026
What these figures suggest
Group averages hide wide gaps. In October 2026 Black workers had an unemployment rate of 6.6%, more than double the 2.8% rate for Asian workers, a gap that has persisted for decades of BLS data. Education is the clearest dividing line: adults without a high school diploma were unemployed at 5.8%, more than twice the 2.6% rate for those with at least a bachelor's degree. Age matters too, with teenagers at 13.9% and 16 to 24 year olds at 9.1% in July. Monthly rates for small groups such as teenagers and adults without a diploma are volatile, so look at several months before drawing conclusions.
03
How long unemployment lasts
Chart
US unemployed people by length of job search, October 2026
Share of all unemployed people, seasonally adjusted (BLS table A-12).
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Employment Situation, October 2026
View data table
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Less than 5 weeks | 30.5% |
| 5 to 14 weeks | 24.4% |
| 15 to 26 weeks | 17.5% |
| 27 weeks and over | 27.6% |
- 1127.6%27.6%
2.0 million Americans had been unemployed for 27 weeks or more in October 2026, 27.6% of all unemployed people.
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsThe Employment Situation, October 2026Nov 2026
- 1211.9 weeks11.9 weeks
The median spell of unemployment in the US was 11.9 weeks in October 2026, and the mean was 27.1 weeks (seasonally adjusted).
OfficialU.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsThe Employment Situation, October 2026Nov 2026
- 1323.7%23.7%
In Canada, 23.7% of the 1.5 million unemployed people in October 2026 had been looking for work for 27 weeks or more, up from 21.5% a year earlier.
OfficialStatistics CanadaLabour Force Survey, October 2026Nov 2026
- 1432.7%32.7%
Among unemployed Canadians aged 55 and older, 32.7% were long-term unemployed in October 2026, up from 27.9% a year earlier.
OfficialStatistics CanadaLabour Force Survey, October 2026Nov 2026
- 1518.9%18.9%
Only 18.9% of Canadians who were unemployed in September 2026 had found work by October, below the 2017 to 2019 average of 24.6%.
OfficialStatistics CanadaLabour Force Survey, October 2026Nov 2026
What these figures suggest
Duration shows how hard it is to get back into work once a job is lost. In the US, 27.6% of unemployed people had been searching for 27 weeks or more in October 2026, and the median spell was about 12 weeks; the mean of 27.1 weeks is pulled up by a long tail of very long spells. Canada shows a similar pattern: almost one in four unemployed people were long-term unemployed, and older jobseekers were the most likely to be stuck. Fewer than one in five unemployed Canadians found work within a month, well below the pre-pandemic norm, which points to slower hiring rather than a wave of layoffs.
04
Unemployment rates worldwide and across Europe
Chart
Unemployment rate in selected EU countries, September 2026
Seasonally adjusted harmonised unemployment rates, people aged 15 to 74, September 2026.
Source Eurostat, Euro area unemployment at 6.5% (September 2026)
View data table
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Spain | 10.3% |
| France | 8.5% |
| Estonia | 8% |
| Greece | 7.6% |
| Italy | 6.3% |
| Ireland | 5% |
| Croatia | 4.3% |
| Germany | 4.1% |
- 164.9%4.9%
The International Labour Organization projects the global unemployment rate at 4.9% in 2026.
OfficialInternational Labour OrganizationGlobal job quality stagnates despite resilient growth (Employment and Social Trends 2026)Jan 2026
- 17186 million186 million
About 186 million people worldwide are projected to be unemployed in 2026, according to the ILO.
OfficialInternational Labour OrganizationGlobal job quality stagnates despite resilient growth (Employment and Social Trends 2026)Jan 2026
- 186.5%6.5%
The euro area unemployment rate was 6.5% in September 2026, up from 6.3% a year earlier (seasonally adjusted).
OfficialEurostatEuro area unemployment at 6.5% (September 2026)Oct 2026
- 196.2%6.2%
The EU-wide unemployment rate was 6.2% in September 2026, up from 6.0% in September 2025.
OfficialEurostatEuro area unemployment at 6.5% (September 2026)Oct 2026
- 2013.773 million13.773 million
13.773 million people were unemployed across the EU in September 2026, 471,000 more than a year earlier.
OfficialEurostatEuro area unemployment at 6.5% (September 2026)Oct 2026
- 2110.5%10.5%
Finland had the highest unemployment rate in the EU in September 2026 at 10.5%, just above Spain at 10.3%.
OfficialEurostatEuro area unemployment at 6.5% (September 2026)Oct 2026
- 222.8%2.8%
Czechia had the lowest unemployment rate in the EU in September 2026 at 2.8%.
OfficialEurostatEuro area unemployment at 6.5% (September 2026)Oct 2026
- 236.4%6.4%
Women in the EU had an unemployment rate of 6.4% in September 2026, compared with 6.0% for men.
OfficialEurostatEuro area unemployment at 6.5% (September 2026)Oct 2026
- 2410.18%10.18%
Spain's unemployment rate was 10.18% in the third quarter of 2026, with 2,591,200 people unemployed (Labour Force Survey, not seasonally adjusted).
IndustryInstituto Nacional de Estadística (INE)Economically Active Population Survey (EAPS), Third Quarter 2026Oct 2026
- 2511.28%11.28%
Spanish women had an unemployment rate of 11.28% in the third quarter of 2026.
IndustryInstituto Nacional de Estadística (INE)Economically Active Population Survey (EAPS), Third Quarter 2026Oct 2026
- 26786,100786,100
786,100 Spanish households had every economically active member unemployed in the third quarter of 2026.
IndustryInstituto Nacional de Estadística (INE)Economically Active Population Survey (EAPS), Third Quarter 2026Oct 2026
- 276.3%6.3%
Italy's unemployment rate was 6.3% in September 2026.
IndustryIstatEmployment and unemployment (provisional data), September 2026Oct 2026
- 284.8%4.8%
Ireland's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.8% in October 2026, up from 4.7% a year earlier.
IndustryCentral Statistics Office IrelandMonthly Unemployment October 2026Nov 2026
What these figures suggest
The ILO estimates global unemployment at 4.9% in 2026, about 186 million people, but national rates vary far more than that average suggests. Within the EU, rates in September 2026 ranged from 2.8% in Czechia to 10.5% in Finland, with Spain close behind; on Spain's own quarterly survey the rate was 10.18% in the third quarter. Unemployment in the euro area has crept up by about 0.2 percentage points over the past year. Eurostat's monthly figures are harmonised to the ILO definition, while national releases such as Spain's quarterly survey and Ireland's monthly estimates can differ slightly in timing and seasonal adjustment.
05
UK, Canada, Australia and China
- 294.7%4.7%
The UK unemployment rate for people aged 16 and over was 4.7% in June to August 2026, down 0.1 percentage points on the year.
OfficialOffice for National StatisticsLabour market overview, UK: October 2026Oct 2026
- 301.701 million1.701 million
The UK Claimant Count, which tracks people claiming unemployment-related benefits, rose to 1.701 million in September 2026.
OfficialOffice for National StatisticsLabour market overview, UK: October 2026Oct 2026
- 316.7%6.7%
Canada's unemployment rate rose to 6.7% in October 2026, its second monthly increase, as more people searched for work.
OfficialStatistics CanadaLabour Force Survey, October 2026Nov 2026
- 324.7%4.7%
Australia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.7% in September 2026, with 732,000 people unemployed.
OfficialAustralian Bureau of StatisticsLabour Force, Australia, September 2026Oct 2026
- 336.3%6.3%
Australia's underemployment rate was 6.3% in September 2026 and its broader underutilisation rate was 11.0%.
OfficialAustralian Bureau of StatisticsLabour Force, Australia, September 2026Oct 2026
- 345.2%5.2%
China's urban surveyed unemployment rate was 5.2% in September 2026, and it averaged 5.2% over the first three quarters of the year.
OfficialNational Bureau of Statistics of ChinaNational Economy was Generally Stable with New Achievement Made in High-Quality Development in the First Three QuartersOct 2026
What these figures suggest
Among large English-speaking economies, Canada has the highest unemployment rate at 6.7% in October 2026, while the UK and Australia both sit at 4.7%. The UK figure comes from the Labour Force Survey, which the ONS still flags as more volatile than before 2024; the Claimant Count is an administrative measure of benefit claims and is not the same as unemployment. Australia's underemployment rate of 6.3% shows that a low headline rate can coexist with many workers wanting more hours. China's urban surveyed rate of 5.2% covers cities only and excludes much of the rural workforce.
06
Youth and graduate unemployment
Chart
Youth unemployment rate (under 25) in selected EU countries, September 2026
Seasonally adjusted, people under 25, September 2026.
Source Eurostat, Euro area unemployment at 6.5% (September 2026)
View data table
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Estonia | 23.9% |
| Spain | 22.8% |
| France | 21.9% |
| Italy | 19.9% |
| Greece | 17.3% |
| Croatia | 16.1% |
| Ireland | 12.5% |
| Germany | 7.5% |
- 3512.4%12.4%
Global youth unemployment climbed to 12.4% in 2025, and around 260 million young people were not in education, employment or training.
OfficialInternational Labour OrganizationGlobal job quality stagnates despite resilient growth (Employment and Social Trends 2026)Jan 2026
- 3627.9%27.9%
In low-income countries, 27.9% of young people are not in education, employment or training, according to the ILO's 2026 trends report.
OfficialInternational Labour OrganizationGlobal job quality stagnates despite resilient growth (Employment and Social Trends 2026)Jan 2026
- 3715.5%15.5%
The EU youth unemployment rate (under 25) was 15.5% in September 2026, more than double the overall rate.
OfficialEurostatEuro area unemployment at 6.5% (September 2026)Oct 2026
- 383.022 million3.022 million
3.022 million people under 25 were unemployed in the EU in September 2026.
OfficialEurostatEuro area unemployment at 6.5% (September 2026)Oct 2026
- 3922.8%22.8%
Spain's youth unemployment rate was 22.8% in September 2026, compared with 7.5% in Germany.
OfficialEurostatEuro area unemployment at 6.5% (September 2026)Oct 2026
- 4019.9%19.9%
Italy's youth unemployment rate fell to 19.9% in September 2026.
IndustryIstatEmployment and unemployment (provisional data), September 2026Oct 2026
- 4111.5%11.5%
Ireland's youth unemployment rate for people aged 15 to 24 was 11.5% in October 2026.
IndustryCentral Statistics Office IrelandMonthly Unemployment October 2026Nov 2026
- 42981,000981,000
981,000 young people aged 16 to 24 in the UK were not in education, employment or training in April to June 2026.
OfficialOffice for National StatisticsYoung people not in education, employment or training (NEET), UK: August 2026Aug 2026
- 4313.0%13.0%
13.0% of all UK 16 to 24 year olds were NEET in April to June 2026, up 0.2 percentage points on the year.
OfficialOffice for National StatisticsYoung people not in education, employment or training (NEET), UK: August 2026Aug 2026
- 4413.7%13.7%
Canada's youth unemployment rate (ages 15 to 24) rose to 13.7% in October 2026.
OfficialStatistics CanadaLabour Force Survey, October 2026Nov 2026
- 4511.1%11.1%
Australia's youth unemployment rate was 11.1% in September 2026.
OfficialAustralian Bureau of StatisticsLabour Force, Australia, September 2026Oct 2026
- 465.2%5.2%
Recent US college graduates (ages 22 to 27) had an unemployment rate of 5.2% in the third quarter of 2026, the lowest in more than a year.
IndustryFederal Reserve Bank of New YorkThe Labor Market for Recent College GraduatesNov 2026
- 4742.5%42.5%
42.5% of recent US college graduates were underemployed, working in jobs that typically do not require a degree, in the third quarter of 2026.
IndustryFederal Reserve Bank of New YorkThe Labor Market for Recent College GraduatesNov 2026
What these figures suggest
Young people are unemployed at roughly two to three times the adult rate in almost every country. Youth rates in autumn 2026 ranged from 11.1% in Australia and 11.5% in Ireland to 13.7% in Canada, 15.5% across the EU, 19.9% in Italy and 22.8% in Spain. The ILO puts global youth unemployment at 12.4%, and NEET counts add young people who are not looking for work at all, such as 981,000 in the UK. A degree still helps, but the New York Fed finds that recent US graduates face a 5.2% unemployment rate and that 42.5% work in jobs that do not require a degree. Youth rates are measured over different age ranges (15 to 24, 16 to 24 or under 25), so compare countries with care.
About these figures
Figures come from national statistical offices (BLS, ONS, Eurostat, Statistics Canada, the Australian Bureau of Statistics, INE Spain, Istat, the Central Statistics Office Ireland and the National Bureau of Statistics of China), the International Labour Organization, the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. We used the latest release available on November 6, 2026, and prefer seasonally adjusted figures where published. Rates are not perfectly comparable: survey periods differ (monthly, three-month averages, quarters), youth is defined as 15 to 24, 16 to 24 or under 25 depending on the source, China's rate covers urban areas only, and the UK Labour Force Survey remains more volatile than before 2024. BLS household survey data for October 2025 were not collected because of the federal government shutdown. Each figure links to its source and quotes the sentence or table row containing the number.
Every figure was taken from the publisher's own page, together with the sentence it appears in, and that sentence is re-checked against the source before each update. Where a survey covers a specific group, the figure says so. Read the methodology. Spotted a problem? Email editorial@mojolin.com.
Frequently asked questions
+What is the current US unemployment rate?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a US unemployment rate of 4.1% for October 2026, with 7.1 million people unemployed. The broader U-6 rate, which includes discouraged workers and involuntary part-timers, was 7.9%.
+Which country has the highest unemployment rate in Europe?
In September 2026, Eurostat data put Finland highest in the EU at 10.5%, followed closely by Spain at 10.3%. Czechia had the lowest rate at 2.8%, against an EU average of 6.2%.
+What is the global unemployment rate?
The International Labour Organization projects global unemployment at 4.9% in 2026, equivalent to about 186 million people. Global youth unemployment was 12.4% in 2025.
+How high is youth unemployment?
Youth unemployment is usually two to three times the overall rate. In autumn 2026 it was 9.1% for US 16 to 24 year olds in July (BLS), 13.7% in Canada, 15.5% in the EU and 22.8% in Spain (Eurostat).
+What is the unemployment rate for recent college graduates?
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reports a 5.2% unemployment rate for recent US college graduates aged 22 to 27 in the third quarter of 2026, while 42.5% were underemployed in jobs that typically do not require a degree. Across all US adults with a bachelor's degree or higher, the BLS rate was 2.6% in October 2026.
+How long does unemployment usually last?
In October 2026 the median unemployed American had been looking for work for 11.9 weeks, and 27.6% had been unemployed for 27 weeks or more, according to the BLS. In Canada 23.7% of unemployed people were long-term unemployed.
Sources
14 primary sources, by publisher
- 01Official Australian Bureau of Statistics. Labour Force, Australia, September 2026 (Oct 2026)
- 02Industry Central Statistics Office Ireland. Monthly Unemployment October 2026 (Nov 2026)
- 03Official Eurostat. Euro area unemployment at 6.5% (September 2026) (Oct 2026)
- 04Industry Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The Labor Market for Recent College Graduates (Nov 2026)
- 05Official Federal Reserve Board. Summary of Economic Projections, September 16, 2026 (Sep 2026)
- 06Industry Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE). Economically Active Population Survey (EAPS), Third Quarter 2026 (Oct 2026)
- 07Official International Labour Organization. Global job quality stagnates despite resilient growth (Employment and Social Trends 2026) (Jan 2026)
- 08Industry Istat. Employment and unemployment (provisional data), September 2026 (Oct 2026)
- 09Official National Bureau of Statistics of China. National Economy was Generally Stable with New Achievement Made in High-Quality Development in the First Three Quarters (Oct 2026)
- 10Official Office for National Statistics. Labour market overview, UK: October 2026 (Oct 2026)
- 11Official Office for National Statistics. Young people not in education, employment or training (NEET), UK: August 2026 (Aug 2026)
- 12Official Statistics Canada. Labour Force Survey, October 2026 (Nov 2026)
- 13Official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment and Unemployment Among Youth, Summer 2026 (Aug 2026)
- 14Official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Employment Situation, October 2026 (Nov 2026)