2026 Employment Update
The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest monthly report on how long unemployed workers are staying jobless.
During the month of April, a total of 6,768,000 people were without employment. This consists of jobs lost and people who completed temporary jobs; those on temporary layoffs; those who permanently lost their jobs; those who completed temporary jobs; those who left their employers, alongside reentrants as well as new entrants to the job market.
Of the total, 31.3 percent worked less than five weeks, 23.1 percent held jobs for five to 14 weeks, 18.2 percent were employed for 15 to 26 weeks, while the remaining 27.4 percent worked for a period of more than 27 weeks.
Within this period, 1,900,000 people permanently lost their jobs. 2229 percent of this cohort worked for less than five weeks, 26.4 percent were without work from periods of five to 14 weeks, 22.2 percent were unemployed for 15 to 26 weeks and the final 29.2 percent were jobless for more than 27 weeks. There were 668,000 new entrants to the job market, 20.3 percent of which were without work for more than 27 weeks.
—Posted on May 18, 2026
During the month of March, a total of 7,337,000 people were without employment. This consists of jobs lost and people who completed temporary jobs; those on temporary layoffs; those who permanently lost their jobs; those who completed temporary jobs; those who left their employers, alongside reentrants as well as new entrants to the job market.
Of the total, 25.1 percent worked less than five weeks, 29.4 percent held jobs for five to 14 weeks, 19.4 percent were employed for 15 to 26 weeks, while the remaining 26.2 percent worked for a period of more than 27 weeks.
Within this period, 1,936,000 people permanently lost their jobs. 17.9 percent of this cohort worked for less than five weeks, 30.7 percent were without work from periods of five to 14 weeks, 23.6 percent were unemployed for 15 to 26 weeks and the final 27.8 percent were jobless for more than 27 weeks. There were 610,000 new entrants to the job market, 32.5 percent of which were without work for more than 27 weeks.
—Posted on April 20, 2026
During the month of February, a total of 8,025,000 people were without employment. This consists of jobs lost and people who completed temporary jobs; those on temporary layoffs; those who permanently lost their jobs; those who completed temporary jobs; those who left their employers, alongside reentrants as well as new entrants to the job market.
Of the total, 27.3 percent worked less than five weeks, 31.5 percent held jobs for five to 14 weeks, 16.7 percent were employed for 15 to 26 weeks, while the remaining 24.5 percent worked for a period of more than 27 weeks.
Within this period, 2,110,000 people permanently lost their jobs. 27.4 percent of this cohort worked for less than five weeks, 33.7 percent were without work from periods of five to 14 weeks, 14.8 percent were unemployed for 15 to 26 weeks and the final 24.1 percent were jobless for more than 27 weeks. There were 729,000 new entrants to the job market, 29.5 percent of which were without work for more than 27 weeks.
—Posted on March 23, 2026
During the month of January, a total of 7,941,000 people were without employment. This consists of jobs lost and people who completed temporary jobs; those on temporary layoffs; those who permanently lost their jobs; those who completed temporary jobs; those who left their employers, alongside reentrants as well as new entrants to the job market.
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Of the total, 32.2 percent worked less than five weeks, 29.1 percent held jobs for five to 14 weeks, 15.1 percent were employed for 15 to 26 weeks, while the remaining 23.5 percent worked for a period of more than 27 weeks.
Within this period, 2,043,000 people permanently lost their jobs. 27.2 percent of this cohort worked for less than five weeks, 28.7 percent were without work from periods of five to 14 weeks, 17.1 percent were unemployed for 15 to 26 weeks and the final 27.1 percent were jobless for more than 27 weeks. There were 659,000 new entrants to the job market, 29.2 percent of which were without work for more than 27 weeks.
—Posted on February 23, 2026
