2023 Employment Update

How long are unemployed workers staying jobless? The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ monthly report.

As of Feb. 28, 2023. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

As of Feb. 28, 2023. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

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


As of Jan. 31, 2023. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

As of Jan. 31, 2023. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

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

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