2022 Employment Update
How long are unemployed workers staying jobless? The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ monthly report.
For the month of September, a total of 5,460,000 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, 39 percent were unemployed for less than five weeks, 27 percent for five to 14 weeks, 13.7 percent for 15 to 26 weeks and 20.3 percent for 27 weeks or longer.
When it came to permanent job loss, the total was 1,161,000 people, of which 27.5 percent was for less than five weeks. For those who decided to leave their job, 11.6 percent stayed unemployed for more than 27 weeks.
There were 441,000 new entrants to the job market, of which 46.7 percent were unemployed for less than five weeks, showing improvement when it comes to the opportunity for people to find jobs.
—Posted on October 31, 2022
For the month of July, a total of 6,255,000 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, 37.9 percent were unemployed for less than five weeks, 34.8 percent for five to 14 weeks, 8.9 percent for 15 to 26 weeks and 18.3 percent for 27 weeks or longer.
When it came to permanent job loss, the total was 1,185,000 people, of which 28.9 percent was for less than five weeks. For those who decided to leave their job, 11.4 percent stayed unemployed for more than 27 weeks.
There were 661,000 new entrants to the job market, of which 43.2 percent were unemployed for only less than five weeks, showing improvement when it comes to the opportunity for people to find jobs.
—Posted on August 25, 2022
Numbers in Thousands

As of Jun 30, 2022. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
For the month of June, a total of 6,334,000 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, 46.8 percent were unemployed for less than five weeks, 21.9 percent for five to 14 weeks, 11 percent for 15 to 26 weeks and 20.3 percent for 27 weeks or longer.
When it came to permanent job loss, the total was 1,278,000 people, of which 29.9 percent was for less than five weeks. For those who decided to leave their job, 10.1 percent stayed unemployed for more than 27 weeks.
There were 721,000 new entrants to the job market, of which 65.2 percent were unemployed for only less than five weeks, showing improvement when it comes to the opportunity for people to find jobs.
—Posted on July 29, 2022
Numbers in Thousands
For the month of May, a total of 5,558,000 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, 35.9 percent were unemployed for less than five weeks, 26.1 percent for five to 14 weeks, 14.9 percent for 15 to 26 weeks and 23.1 percent for 27 weeks or longer.
When it came to permanent job loss, the total was 1,304,000 people, of which 25.6 percent was for less than five weeks. For those who decided to leave their job, 11.6 percent stayed unemployed for more than 27 weeks.
There were 516,000 new entrants to the job market, of which 38.3 percent were unemployed for only less than five weeks, showing improvement when it comes to the opportunity for people to find jobs.
—Posted on June 21, 2022
Numbers in Thousands
For the month of April, a total of 5,458,000 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, 34.7 percent were unemployed for less than five weeks, 24.6 percent for five to 14 weeks, 14.9 percent for 15 to 26 weeks and 25.7 percent for 27 weeks or longer.
When it came to permanent job loss, the total was 1,373,000 people, of which 24.3 percent was for less than five weeks. For those who decided to leave their job, 11.8 percent stayed unemployed for more than 27 weeks.
There were 402,000 new entrants to the job market, of which 28.2 percent were unemployed for only less than five weeks, showing improvement when it comes to the opportunity for people to find jobs.
—Posted on May 23, 2022
Numbers in Thousands
For the month of March, a total of 6,168,000 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, 32.5 percent were unemployed for less than five weeks, 30.0 percent for five to 14 weeks, 13.4 percent for 15 to 26 weeks and 24.1 percent for 27 weeks or longer.
When it came to permanent job loss, the total was 1,425,000 people, of which 21.6 percent was for less than five weeks. For those who decided to leave their job, 9.6 percent stayed unemployed for more than 27 weeks.
There were 370,000 new entrants to the job market, of which 26.9 percent were unemployed for only less than five weeks, showing improvement when it comes to the opportunity for people to find jobs.
—Posted on Apr. 27, 2022
Numbers in Thousands
For the month of February, a total of 6,782,000 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, 29.2 percent were unemployed for less than five weeks, 31.8 percent for five to 14 weeks, 13 percent for 15 to 26 weeks and 26 percent for 27 weeks or longer.
When it came to permanent job loss, the total was 1,641,000 people, of which 19.7 percent was for less than five weeks. For those who decided to leave their job, 15.3 percent stayed unemployed for more than 27 weeks.
There were 374,000 new entrants to the job market, of which 26.4 percent were unemployed for only less than five weeks, showing improvement when it comes to the opportunity for people to find jobs.
—Posted on Mar. 25, 2022
Numbers in Thousands
For the month of January, a total of 7,207,000 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, 40.1 percent were unemployed for less than five weeks, 24.5 percent for five to 14 weeks, 11.9 percent for 15 to 26 weeks and 23.6 percent for 27 weeks or longer.
When it came to permanent job loss, the total was 1,707,000 people, of which 23.5 percent was for less than five weeks. For those who decided to leave their job, 11.4 percent stayed unemployed for more than 27 weeks.
There were 362,000 new entrants to the job market, of which 33.3 percent were unemployed for only less than five weeks, showing improvement when it comes to the opportunity for people to find jobs.
—Posted on Feb. 28, 2022