2023 Employment Update
How long are unemployed workers staying jobless? The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ monthly report.
For the month December, a total of 5,907,000 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, 35.6 percent were unemployed for less than five weeks, 27.4 percent for five to 14 weeks, 16.9 percent for 15 to 26 weeks and 20.1 percent for 27 weeks and over.
When it came to permanent job loss, the total was 1,466,000 people, of which 29.7 percent was for less than five weeks, 30.5 percent for five to 14 weeks, 18.1 percent for 15 to 26 weeks and 21.7 percent stayed unemployed for more than 27 weeks. There were 512,000 new entrants to the job market, of which 22.5 percent were unemployed for less than five weeks.
—Posted on January 5, 2024
For the month of November, a total of 5.827,000 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, 32.1 percent were unemployed for less than five weeks, 33.3 percent for five to 14 weeks, 15.4 percent for 15 to 26 weeks and 19.2 percent for 27 weeks or longer.
When it came to permanent job loss, the total was 1,536,000 people, of which 22.8 percent was for less than five weeks. For those who decided to leave their job, 17.2 percent stayed unemployed for more than 27 weeks.
There were 541,000 new entrants to the job market, of which 30.5 percent were unemployed for less than five weeks.
—Posted on December 28, 2023
For the month of October, a total of 6,098,000 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, 34.5 percent were unemployed for less than five weeks, 28.3 percent for five to 14 weeks, 16 percent for 15 to 26 weeks and 21.2 percent for 27 weeks or longer.
When it came to permanent job loss, the total was 1,617,000 people, of which 28.3 percent was for less than five weeks. For those who decided to leave their job, 17.8 percent stayed unemployed for more than 27 weeks.
There were 636,000 new entrants to the job market, of which 29.9 percent were unemployed for less than five weeks.
—Posted on November 29, 2023
For the month of September, a total of 6,049,000 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, 33.4 percent were unemployed for less than five weeks, 30.8 percent for five to 14 weeks, 15.3 percent for 15 to 26 weeks and 20.4 percent for 27 weeks or longer.
When it came to permanent job loss, the total was 1,409,000 people, of which 27.1 percent was for less than five weeks. For those who decided to leave their job, 14.7 percent stayed unemployed for more than 27 weeks.
There were 553,000 new entrants to the job market, of which 24.2 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, 2023
For the month of August, a total of 6,623,000 people were unemployed. This includes 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, 32.8 percent were unemployed for less than five weeks, 34.4 percent for five to 14 weeks, 12 percent for 15 to 26 weeks and 20.7 percent for 27 weeks or longer.
When it came to permanent job loss, the total was 1,600,000 people, of which 31.4 percent was for less than five weeks. For those who decided to leave their job, 17 percent stayed unemployed for more than 27 weeks.
There were 680,000 new entrants to the job market, of which 30.1 percent were unemployed for less than five weeks.
—Posted on September 29, 2023
For the month of July, a total of 6,372,000 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, 35.8 percent were unemployed for less than five weeks, 32.1 percent for five to 14 weeks, 12.9 percent for 15 to 26 weeks and 19.2 percent for 27 weeks or longer.
When it came to permanent job loss, the total was 1,381,000 people, of which 25.2 percent was for less than five weeks. For those who decided to leave their job, 18.1 percent stayed unemployed for more than 27 weeks.
There were 691,000 new entrants to the job market, of which 40.3 percent were unemployed for less than five weeks.
—Posted on August 31, 2023
For the month of June, a total of 6,351,000 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, 43.9 percent were unemployed for less than five weeks, 26.2 percent for five to 14 weeks, 13.3 percent for 15 to 26 weeks and 16.6 percent for 27 weeks or longer.
When it came to permanent job loss, the total was 1,439,000 people, of which 25.5 percent was for less than five weeks. For those who decided to leave their job, 12.6 percent stayed unemployed for more than 27 weeks.
There were 828,000 new entrants to the job market, of which 52.6 percent were unemployed for less than five weeks.
—Posted on July 31, 2023
For the month of May, a total of 5,700,000 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, 27 percent for five to 14 weeks, 17.4 percent for 15 to 26 weeks and 19.8 percent for 27 weeks or longer.
When it came to permanent job loss, the total was 1,567,000 people, of which 38.2 percent was for less than five weeks. For those who decided to leave their job, 15.2 percent stayed unemployed for more than 27 weeks.
There were 495,000 new entrants to the job market, of which 37.2 percent were unemployed for less than five weeks.
—Posted on June 30, 2023
For the month of April, a total of 5,146,000 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 May 31, 2023
For the month of March, 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 April 28, 2023
For the month of February, a total of 6,465,000 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, 32.9 percent were unemployed for less than five weeks, 34.7 percent for five to 14 weeks, 14.8 percent for 15 to 26 weeks and 17.5 percent for 27 weeks or longer.
When it came to permanent job loss, the total was 1,482,000 people, of which 32.6 percent was for less than five weeks. For those who decided to leave their job, 15.2 percent stayed unemployed for more than 27 weeks.
There were 462,000 new entrants to the job market, of which 26 percent were unemployed for less than five weeks.
—Posted on Mar. 31, 2023
For the month of January, a total of 6,378,000 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 percent were unemployed for less than five weeks, 30.8 percent for five to 14 weeks, 30.8 percent for 15 to 26 weeks and 17.7 percent for 27 weeks or longer.
When it came to permanent job loss, the total was 1,330,000 people, of which 31.8 percent was for less than five weeks. For those who decided to leave their job, 15 percent stayed unemployed for more than 27 weeks.
There were 465,000 new entrants to the job market, of which 23.1 percent were unemployed for less than five weeks, showing improvement when it comes to the opportunity for people to find jobs.
—Posted on Feb. 28, 2023
