Charting the labor market:
Data from the Current
Population Survey (CPS)
June 2, 2017
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Table of contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
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Civilian labor force
Civilian labor force participation rate
Civilian employment
Employment-population ratio
Nonagricultural wage and salary employment
Nonagricultural self-employed, unincorporated
Part-time workers as a percent of total employed
Employed part time for economic reasons
Civilian unemployment
Civilian unemployment rate
Duration of unemployment
Long-term unemployed as a percent of total unemployed
Reasons for unemployment
Job losers by layoff status
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Table of contents—Continued
15. Unemployment rates for adult men, adult women, and teenagers
16. Unemployment rates by race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity
17. Unemployment rates for persons 25 years and older by educational
attainment
18. Persons not in the labor force who want a job
19. Persons not in the labor force, selected indicators
20. Alternative measures of labor underutilization
Additional information available in The Employment Situation news release:
www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf
Browse labor force concepts and data by subject:
www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaz.htm
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Chart 1. Civilian labor force
Seasonally adjusted, 1990–2017
Numbers in thousands
165,000
165,000
160,000
160,000
155,000
155,000
150,000
150,000
145,000
145,000
140,000
140,000
135,000
135,000
130,000
130,000
125,000
125,000
120,000
120,000
115,000
1990
115,000
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Data online at
https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS11000000.
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Chart 2. Civilian labor force participation rate
Seasonally adjusted, 1990–2017
Percent
68.0
68.0
67.0
67.0
66.0
66.0
65.0
65.0
May 2017
62.7 percent
64.0
64.0
63.0
63.0
62.0
62.0
61.0
1990
61.0
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Data online at
https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS11300000.
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2016
Chart 3. Civilian employment
Seasonally adjusted, 1990–2017
Numbers in thousands
155,000
155,000
150,000
150,000
145,000
145,000
140,000
140,000
135,000
135,000
130,000
130,000
125,000
125,000
120,000
120,000
115,000
1990
115,000
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Data online at
https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS12000000.
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Chart 4. Employment-population ratio
Seasonally adjusted, 1990–2017
Percent
65.0
65.0
64.0
64.0
63.0
63.0
62.0
62.0
61.0
61.0
May 2017
60.0 percent
60.0
60.0
59.0
59.0
58.0
58.0
57.0
1990
57.0
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Data online at
https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS12300000.
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2016
Chart 5. Nonagricultural wage and salary employment
Seasonally adjusted, 1990–2017
Numbers in thousands
145,000
145,000
140,000
140,000
135,000
135,000
130,000
130,000
125,000
125,000
120,000
120,000
115,000
115,000
110,000
110,000
105,000
105,000
100,000
1990
100,000
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Data online at
https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS12032187.
.
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Chart 6. Nonagricultural self-employed, unincorporated
Seasonally adjusted, 1990–2017
Numbers in thousands
10,500
10,500
10,000
10,000
9,500
9,500
9,000
9,000
8,500
8,500
8,000
8,000
7,500
1990
7,500
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Data online at
https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS12032192.
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Chart 7. Part-time workers as a percent of total
employed
Seasonally adjusted, 1990–2017
Percent
21.0
21.0
20.0
20.0
19.0
19.0
18.0
18.0
17.0
17.0
16.0
16.0
15.0
1990
15.0
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Beginning in
1994, data reflect the introduction of a major redesign of the Current Population Survey. Data online at
https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS12692153.
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LABOR STATISTICS • bls.gov/cps
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2016
Chart 8. Employed part time for economic reasons
Seasonally adjusted, 1990–2017
Numbers in thousands
10,000
10,000
9,000
9,000
8,000
8,000
7,000
7,000
6,000
6,000
5,000
5,000
4,000
4,000
3,000
3,000
2,000
2,000
1,000
1,000
0
1990
0
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Beginning in
1994, data reflect the introduction of a major redesign of the Current Population Survey. Data online at
https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS12032194.
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LABOR STATISTICS • bls.gov/cps
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Chart 9. Civilian unemployment
Seasonally adjusted, 1990–2017
Numbers in thousands
16,000
16,000
14,000
14,000
12,000
12,000
10,000
10,000
8,000
8,000
6,000
6,000
4,000
4,000
2,000
2,000
0
1990
0
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Data online at
https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS13000000.
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LABOR STATISTICS • bls.gov/cps
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Chart 10. Civilian unemployment rate
Seasonally adjusted, 1990–2017
Percent
11.0
11.0
10.0
10.0
May 2017
4.3 percent
9.0
9.0
8.0
8.0
7.0
7.0
6.0
6.0
5.0
5.0
4.0
4.0
3.0
1990
3.0
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Data online at
https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS14000000.
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LABOR STATISTICS • bls.gov/cps
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2016
Chart 11. Duration of unemployment
Seasonally adjusted, 1990–2017
Numbers in thousands
7,000
7,000
6,000
6,000
27 weeks and over
5,000
5,000
4,000
4,000
Less than 5 weeks
3,000
3,000
2,000
2,000
5 to 14 weeks
1,000
1,000
15 to 26 weeks
0
1990
0
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Data online at
https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS13008396&series_id=LNS13008756&series_id=LNS13008876&series_id=LNS13008636.
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LABOR STATISTICS • bls.gov/cps
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Chart 12. Long-term unemployed as a percent of total
unemployed
Seasonally adjusted, 1990–2017
Percent
50.0
50.0
45.0
45.0
40.0
40.0
35.0
35.0
Percent unemployed 27 weeks and over
30.0
30.0
25.0
25.0
20.0
20.0
15.0
15.0
10.0
10.0
5.0
5.0
0.0
1990
0.0
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Data online at
https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS13025703.
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LABOR STATISTICS • bls.gov/cps
bls.gov
2016
Chart 13. Reasons for unemployment
Seasonally adjusted, 1990–2017
Numbers in thousands
11,000
11,000
10,000
10,000
9,000
9,000
Job losers
8,000
8,000
7,000
7,000
6,000
6,000
5,000
5,000
Reentrants
4,000
4,000
3,000
3,000
2,000
2,000
New entrants
1,000
0
1990
1,000
Job leavers
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
0
2016
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Data online at
https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS13023621&series_id=LNS13023705&series_id=LNS13023557&series_id=LNS13023569.
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LABOR STATISTICS • bls.gov/cps
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Chart 14. Job losers by layoff status
Seasonally adjusted, 1990–2017
Numbers in thousands
9,000
9,000
8,000
8,000
7,000
7,000
6,000
6,000
5,000
5,000
Not on temporary layoff
4,000
4,000
3,000
3,000
On temporary layoff
2,000
1,000
0
1990
1,000
0
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Data online at
https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS13025699&series_id=LNS13023653.
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2,000
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Chart 15. Unemployment rates for adult men, adult
women, and teenagers
Seasonally adjusted, 1990–2017
Percent
30.0
30.0
25.0
25.0
Teenagers (16 to 19 years)
20.0
20.0
15.0
15.0
Adult men
(20 years and over)
10.0
5.0
0.0
1990
5.0
Adult women
(20 years and over)
0.0
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Data online at
https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS14000025&series_id=LNS14000026&series_id=LNS14000012.
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10.0
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LABOR STATISTICS • bls.gov/cps
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2016
Chart 16. Unemployment rates by race and Hispanic or
Latino ethnicity
Seasonally adjusted, 1990–2017
Percent
18.0
18.0
16.0
16.0
14.0
14.0
Blacks or African
Americans
12.0
12.0
10.0
8.0
10.0
Hispanics
or Latinos
8.0
6.0
4.0
6.0
Whites
4.0
Asians
2.0
0.0
1990
2.0
0.0
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Persons of
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity could be of any race. Seasonally adjusted data for Asians are not available before 2003. Data online
at https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS14000003&series_id=LNS14000006&series_id=LNS14032183&series_id=LNS14000009.
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Chart 17. Unemployment rates for persons 25 years and
older by educational attainment
Seasonally adjusted, 1992–2017
Percent
16.0
16.0
14.0
14.0
12.0
12.0
Less than a high
school diploma
10.0
10.0
8.0
6.0
8.0
High school
graduates,
no college
Some college
or associate
degree
4.0
2.0
0.0
1992
6.0
4.0
2.0
Bachelor’s degree and higher
0.0
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Data online at
https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS14027659&series_id=LNS14027660&series_id=LNS14027689&series_id=LNS14027662.
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Chart 18. Persons not in the labor force who want a job
Seasonally adjusted, 1994–2017
Numbers in thousands
8,000
8,000
7,000
7,000
6,000
6,000
5,000
5,000
4,000
4,000
3,000
3,000
2,000
2,000
1,000
1,000
0
1994
0
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Data online at
https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS15026639.
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LABOR STATISTICS • bls.gov/cps
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Chart 19. Persons not in the labor force, selected indicators
Not seasonally adjusted, 1994–2017
Numbers in thousands
3,000
3,000
2,500
2,500
2,000
Marginally attached
2,000
1,500
1,500
1,000
1,000
500
0
1994
Discouraged
500
0
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Data online at
https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNU05026642&series_id=LNU05026645.
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Chart 20. Alternative measures of labor underutilization
Seasonally adjusted, 1994–2017
Percent
18.0
18.0
16.0
16.0
U-6
14.0
14.0
12.0
12.0
U-6
U-5
10.0
8.0
U-5
8.0
U-4
U-4
U-3
6.0
4.0
10.0
6.0
U-3
Unemployment rate
U-2
U-2
2.0
2.0
U-1
U-1
0.0
1994
4.0
0.0
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Data online at
https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS13025670&series_id=LNS14023621&series_id=LNS14000000&series_id=LNS13327707 and
at https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS13327708&series_id=LNS13327709.
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