2021 Employment Update
How long unemployed workers are staying jobless: the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ monthly report.
Numbers in Thousands
As of Dec. 31, 2021. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
For the month of December, a total of 5,964,000 people were unemployed. This comprises jobs lost and people who completed temporary jobs; those on temporary layoffs; those with permanent job loss; those who completed temporary jobs; those who left their employers and reentrants and new entrants to the job market.
Of the total, 31.6 percent were unemployed for less than five weeks, 24.4 percent for five to 14 weeks, 12.1 percent for 15 to 26 weeks and 31.9 percent for 27 weeks or longer.
When it came to permanent job loss, the total was 1,622,000 people, of which 20.2 percent was for less than five weeks. For those who decided to leave their job, 18.9 percent stayed unemployed for more than 27 weeks.
There were 395,000 new entrants to the job market, of which 38.6 percent were unemployed for only less than five weeks, showing improvement when it comes to the opportunity for people to find jobs.
—Posted on Jan. 31, 2022
Numbers in Thousands
As of Nov. 30, 2021. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
For the month of November, a total of 6,302,000 people were unemployed. This comprises jobs lost and people who completed temporary jobs; those on temporary layoffs; those with permanent job loss; those who completed temporary jobs; those who left their employers and reentrants and new entrants to the job market.
Of the total, 28.4 percent were unemployed for less than five weeks, 25.0 percent for five to 14 weeks, 12.8 percent for 15 to 26 weeks and 33.8 percent for 27 weeks or longer.
When it came to permanent job loss, the total was 1,839,000 people, of which 18.1 percent was for less than five weeks. For those who decided to leave their job, 18.5 percent stayed unemployed for more than 27 weeks.
There were 385,000 new entrants to the job market, of which 29.1 percent were unemployed for only less than five weeks, showing improvement when it comes to the opportunity for people to find jobs.
—Posted on Dec. 21, 2021
Numbers in Thousands
As of Oct. 31, 2021. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
For the month of October, a total of 6,896,000 people were unemployed. This comprises jobs lost and people who completed temporary jobs; those on temporary layoffs; those with permanent job loss; those who completed temporary jobs; those who left their employers and reentrants and new entrants to the job market.
Of the total, 27.3 percent were unemployed for less than five weeks, 25.5 percent for five to 14 weeks, 13.3 percent for 15 to 26 weeks and 33.8 percent for 27 weeks or longer.
When it came to permanent job loss, the total was 2,082,000 people, of which 16.4 percent was for less than five weeks. For those who decided to leave their job, 21.7 percent stayed unemployed for more than 27 weeks.
There were 536,000 new entrants to the job market, of which 31.4 percent were unemployed for only less than five weeks, showing improvement when it comes to the opportunity for people to find jobs.
—Posted on Nov. 22, 2021
Numbers in Thousands
As of Sep. 30, 2021. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
For the month of September, a total of 7,366,000 people were unemployed. This comprises jobs lost and people who completed temporary jobs; those on temporary layoffs; those with permanent job loss; those who completed temporary jobs; those who left their employers and reentrants and new entrants to the job market.
Of the total, 30.0 percent were unemployed for less than five weeks, 21.2 percent for five to 14 weeks, 12.1 percent for 15 to 26 weeks and 36.7 percent for 27 weeks or longer.
When it came to permanent job loss, the total was 2,270,000 people, of which 16.5 percent was for less than five weeks. For those who decided to leave their job, 24.9 percent stayed unemployed for more than 27 weeks.
There were 486,000 new entrants to the job market, of which 36.7 percent were unemployed for only less than five weeks, showing improvement when it comes to the opportunity for people to find jobs.
—Posted on Oct. 26, 2021
Numbers in Thousands
As of Aug. 31, 2021. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
For the month of August, a total of 8,556,000 people were unemployed. This comprises jobs lost and people who completed temporary jobs; those on temporary layoffs; those with permanent job loss; those who completed temporary jobs; those who left their employers and reentrants and new entrants to the job market.
Of the total, 24 percent were unemployed for less than five weeks, 26.5 percent for five to 14 weeks, 12.2 percent for 15 to 26 weeks and 37.3 percent for 27 weeks or longer.
When it came to permanent job loss, the total was 2,545,000 people, of which 13.1 percent was for less than five weeks. For those who decided to leave their job, 20.8 percent stayed unemployed for more than 27 weeks.
There were 590,000 new entrants to the job market, of which 25.2 percent were unemployed for only less than five weeks, showing improvement when it comes to the opportunity for people to find jobs.
—Posted on Sep. 29, 2021
Numbers in Thousands
As of Jul. 26, 2021. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
For the month of July, a total of 9,221,000 people were unemployed. This comprises jobs lost and people who completed temporary jobs; those on temporary layoffs; those with permanent job loss; those who completed temporary jobs; those who left their employers and reentrants and new entrants to the job market.
Of the total, 27.5 percent were unemployed for less than five weeks, 23.5 percent for five to 14 weeks, 11.1 percent for 15 to 26 weeks and 38 percent for 27 weeks or longer.
When it came to permanent job loss, the total was 2,927,000 people, of which 18.4 percent was for less than five weeks. For those who decided to leave their job, 20.4 percent stayed unemployed for more than 27 weeks.
There were 672,000 new entrants to the job market, of which 45.5 percent were unemployed for only less than five weeks, showing improvement when it comes to the opportunity for people to find jobs.
—Posted on Aug. 30, 2021
Numbers in Thousands
As of Jun. 21, 2021. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
For the month of June, a total of 9,883,000 people were unemployed. This comprises jobs lost and people who completed temporary jobs; those on temporary layoffs; those with permanent job loss; those who completed temporary jobs; those who left their employers and reentrants and new entrants to the job market.
Of the total, 27.4 percent were unemployed for less than five weeks, 20 percent for five to 14 weeks, 12.9 percent for 15 to 26 weeks and 39.6 percent for 27 weeks or longer.
When it came to permanent job loss, the total was 3,159,000 people, of which 11.9 percent was for less than five weeks. For those who decided to leave their job, 21.3 percent stayed unemployed for more than 27 weeks.
There were 760,000 new entrants to the job market, of which 54.1 percent were unemployed for only less than five weeks, showing improvement when it comes to the opportunity for people to find jobs.
—Posted on Jul. 27, 2021
