United States / Work & livelihoods
U.S. Labor-Force Participation.
Who is working or actively looking for work?
The historical record
Source snapshotSep 2026
Latest observation in this snapshot—not a real-time reading. +0.2 pp vs Aug 2026.
Fitted vertical axis · missing periods are not interpolated · monthly
What the number means
Share of the civilian noninstitutional population age 16+ working or actively looking.
Participation can change with retirement, education, caregiving, health, and economic conditions. A national movement does not identify which explanation matters most; investigate age groups before claiming a policy caused it.
Seasonally adjusted. Aging, education, caregiving, and retirement affect the rate.
A better question to ask
Look for the specific barriers a proposed intervention addresses, and pair participation with employment outcomes.
This is a prompt for investigation, not evidence that a particular policy works. A trend alone cannot establish a cause.
Read the related practical guide ↗Exact observations
320 available observations since 2000. Annual and quarterly dates represent the start of the reporting period; fiscal years are labeled explicitly. Display values are rounded to the precision shown; downloads retain the source values.
Open the complete data table
| Reporting period | Period start | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 2026-09-01 | 61.8% |
| Aug 2026 | 2026-08-01 | 61.6% |
| Jul 2026 | 2026-07-01 | 61.4% |
| Jun 2026 | 2026-06-01 | 61.5% |
| May 2026 | 2026-05-01 | 61.8% |
| Apr 2026 | 2026-04-01 | 61.8% |
| Mar 2026 | 2026-03-01 | 61.9% |
| Feb 2026 | 2026-02-01 | 62.0% |
| Jan 2026 | 2026-01-01 | 62.1% |
| Dec 2025 | 2025-12-01 | 62.4% |
| Nov 2025 | 2025-11-01 | 62.5% |
| Sep 2025 | 2025-09-01 | 62.5% |
| Aug 2025 | 2025-08-01 | 62.3% |
| Jul 2025 | 2025-07-01 | 62.2% |
| Jun 2025 | 2025-06-01 | 62.3% |
| May 2025 | 2025-05-01 | 62.4% |
| Apr 2025 | 2025-04-01 | 62.6% |
| Mar 2025 | 2025-03-01 | 62.5% |
| Feb 2025 | 2025-02-01 | 62.5% |
| Jan 2025 | 2025-01-01 | 62.6% |
| Dec 2024 | 2024-12-01 | 62.5% |
| Nov 2024 | 2024-11-01 | 62.4% |
| Oct 2024 | 2024-10-01 | 62.5% |
| Sep 2024 | 2024-09-01 | 62.7% |
| Aug 2024 | 2024-08-01 | 62.7% |
| Jul 2024 | 2024-07-01 | 62.7% |
| Jun 2024 | 2024-06-01 | 62.6% |
| May 2024 | 2024-05-01 | 62.6% |
| Apr 2024 | 2024-04-01 | 62.6% |
| Mar 2024 | 2024-03-01 | 62.7% |
| Feb 2024 | 2024-02-01 | 62.6% |
| Jan 2024 | 2024-01-01 | 62.5% |
| Dec 2023 | 2023-12-01 | 62.5% |
| Nov 2023 | 2023-11-01 | 62.8% |
| Oct 2023 | 2023-10-01 | 62.6% |
| Sep 2023 | 2023-09-01 | 62.7% |
| Aug 2023 | 2023-08-01 | 62.8% |
| Jul 2023 | 2023-07-01 | 62.6% |
| Jun 2023 | 2023-06-01 | 62.6% |
| May 2023 | 2023-05-01 | 62.6% |
| Apr 2023 | 2023-04-01 | 62.6% |
| Mar 2023 | 2023-03-01 | 62.6% |
| Feb 2023 | 2023-02-01 | 62.5% |
| Jan 2023 | 2023-01-01 | 62.4% |
| Dec 2022 | 2022-12-01 | 62.3% |
| Nov 2022 | 2022-11-01 | 62.1% |
| Oct 2022 | 2022-10-01 | 62.2% |
| Sep 2022 | 2022-09-01 | 62.2% |
| Aug 2022 | 2022-08-01 | 62.3% |
| Jul 2022 | 2022-07-01 | 62.1% |
| Jun 2022 | 2022-06-01 | 62.2% |
| May 2022 | 2022-05-01 | 62.3% |
| Apr 2022 | 2022-04-01 | 62.2% |
| Mar 2022 | 2022-03-01 | 62.4% |
| Feb 2022 | 2022-02-01 | 62.3% |
| Jan 2022 | 2022-01-01 | 62.2% |
| Dec 2021 | 2021-12-01 | 62.0% |
| Nov 2021 | 2021-11-01 | 61.9% |
| Oct 2021 | 2021-10-01 | 61.8% |
| Sep 2021 | 2021-09-01 | 61.7% |
| Aug 2021 | 2021-08-01 | 61.7% |
| Jul 2021 | 2021-07-01 | 61.8% |
| Jun 2021 | 2021-06-01 | 61.7% |
| May 2021 | 2021-05-01 | 61.6% |
| Apr 2021 | 2021-04-01 | 61.6% |
| Mar 2021 | 2021-03-01 | 61.5% |
| Feb 2021 | 2021-02-01 | 61.4% |
| Jan 2021 | 2021-01-01 | 61.4% |
| Dec 2020 | 2020-12-01 | 61.5% |
| Nov 2020 | 2020-11-01 | 61.5% |
| Oct 2020 | 2020-10-01 | 61.7% |
| Sep 2020 | 2020-09-01 | 61.4% |
| Aug 2020 | 2020-08-01 | 61.7% |
| Jul 2020 | 2020-07-01 | 61.5% |
| Jun 2020 | 2020-06-01 | 61.5% |
| May 2020 | 2020-05-01 | 60.8% |
| Apr 2020 | 2020-04-01 | 60.1% |
| Mar 2020 | 2020-03-01 | 62.6% |
| Feb 2020 | 2020-02-01 | 63.3% |
| Jan 2020 | 2020-01-01 | 63.3% |
| Dec 2019 | 2019-12-01 | 63.3% |
| Nov 2019 | 2019-11-01 | 63.3% |
| Oct 2019 | 2019-10-01 | 63.3% |
| Sep 2019 | 2019-09-01 | 63.2% |
| Aug 2019 | 2019-08-01 | 63.1% |
| Jul 2019 | 2019-07-01 | 63.1% |
| Jun 2019 | 2019-06-01 | 63.0% |
| May 2019 | 2019-05-01 | 62.9% |
| Apr 2019 | 2019-04-01 | 62.8% |
| Mar 2019 | 2019-03-01 | 63.0% |
| Feb 2019 | 2019-02-01 | 63.1% |
| Jan 2019 | 2019-01-01 | 63.1% |
| Dec 2018 | 2018-12-01 | 63.0% |
| Nov 2018 | 2018-11-01 | 62.9% |
| Oct 2018 | 2018-10-01 | 62.9% |
| Sep 2018 | 2018-09-01 | 62.8% |
| Aug 2018 | 2018-08-01 | 62.6% |
| Jul 2018 | 2018-07-01 | 63.0% |
| Jun 2018 | 2018-06-01 | 63.0% |
| May 2018 | 2018-05-01 | 62.9% |
| Apr 2018 | 2018-04-01 | 62.9% |
| Mar 2018 | 2018-03-01 | 62.9% |
| Feb 2018 | 2018-02-01 | 63.0% |
| Jan 2018 | 2018-01-01 | 62.7% |
| Dec 2017 | 2017-12-01 | 62.7% |
| Nov 2017 | 2017-11-01 | 62.7% |
| Oct 2017 | 2017-10-01 | 62.7% |
| Sep 2017 | 2017-09-01 | 63.1% |
| Aug 2017 | 2017-08-01 | 62.9% |
| Jul 2017 | 2017-07-01 | 62.9% |
| Jun 2017 | 2017-06-01 | 62.8% |
| May 2017 | 2017-05-01 | 62.8% |
| Apr 2017 | 2017-04-01 | 63.0% |
| Mar 2017 | 2017-03-01 | 62.9% |
| Feb 2017 | 2017-02-01 | 62.9% |
| Jan 2017 | 2017-01-01 | 62.8% |
| Dec 2016 | 2016-12-01 | 62.7% |
| Nov 2016 | 2016-11-01 | 62.7% |
| Oct 2016 | 2016-10-01 | 62.8% |
| Sep 2016 | 2016-09-01 | 62.9% |
| Aug 2016 | 2016-08-01 | 62.9% |
| Jul 2016 | 2016-07-01 | 62.8% |
| Jun 2016 | 2016-06-01 | 62.7% |
| May 2016 | 2016-05-01 | 62.7% |
| Apr 2016 | 2016-04-01 | 62.9% |
| Mar 2016 | 2016-03-01 | 63.0% |
| Feb 2016 | 2016-02-01 | 62.8% |
| Jan 2016 | 2016-01-01 | 62.7% |
| Dec 2015 | 2015-12-01 | 62.7% |
| Nov 2015 | 2015-11-01 | 62.5% |
| Oct 2015 | 2015-10-01 | 62.5% |
| Sep 2015 | 2015-09-01 | 62.4% |
| Aug 2015 | 2015-08-01 | 62.6% |
| Jul 2015 | 2015-07-01 | 62.6% |
| Jun 2015 | 2015-06-01 | 62.7% |
| May 2015 | 2015-05-01 | 62.9% |
| Apr 2015 | 2015-04-01 | 62.8% |
| Mar 2015 | 2015-03-01 | 62.6% |
| Feb 2015 | 2015-02-01 | 62.7% |
| Jan 2015 | 2015-01-01 | 62.9% |
| Dec 2014 | 2014-12-01 | 62.8% |
| Nov 2014 | 2014-11-01 | 62.9% |
| Oct 2014 | 2014-10-01 | 62.9% |
| Sep 2014 | 2014-09-01 | 62.8% |
| Aug 2014 | 2014-08-01 | 62.9% |
| Jul 2014 | 2014-07-01 | 62.9% |
| Jun 2014 | 2014-06-01 | 62.8% |
| May 2014 | 2014-05-01 | 62.9% |
| Apr 2014 | 2014-04-01 | 62.8% |
| Mar 2014 | 2014-03-01 | 63.1% |
| Feb 2014 | 2014-02-01 | 62.9% |
| Jan 2014 | 2014-01-01 | 62.9% |
| Dec 2013 | 2013-12-01 | 62.9% |
| Nov 2013 | 2013-11-01 | 63.0% |
| Oct 2013 | 2013-10-01 | 62.8% |
| Sep 2013 | 2013-09-01 | 63.2% |
| Aug 2013 | 2013-08-01 | 63.3% |
| Jul 2013 | 2013-07-01 | 63.3% |
| Jun 2013 | 2013-06-01 | 63.4% |
| May 2013 | 2013-05-01 | 63.4% |
| Apr 2013 | 2013-04-01 | 63.4% |
| Mar 2013 | 2013-03-01 | 63.3% |
| Feb 2013 | 2013-02-01 | 63.4% |
| Jan 2013 | 2013-01-01 | 63.7% |
| Dec 2012 | 2012-12-01 | 63.7% |
| Nov 2012 | 2012-11-01 | 63.6% |
| Oct 2012 | 2012-10-01 | 63.8% |
| Sep 2012 | 2012-09-01 | 63.6% |
| Aug 2012 | 2012-08-01 | 63.5% |
| Jul 2012 | 2012-07-01 | 63.7% |
| Jun 2012 | 2012-06-01 | 63.8% |
| May 2012 | 2012-05-01 | 63.7% |
| Apr 2012 | 2012-04-01 | 63.7% |
| Mar 2012 | 2012-03-01 | 63.8% |
| Feb 2012 | 2012-02-01 | 63.8% |
| Jan 2012 | 2012-01-01 | 63.7% |
| Dec 2011 | 2011-12-01 | 64.0% |
| Nov 2011 | 2011-11-01 | 64.1% |
| Oct 2011 | 2011-10-01 | 64.1% |
| Sep 2011 | 2011-09-01 | 64.2% |
| Aug 2011 | 2011-08-01 | 64.1% |
| Jul 2011 | 2011-07-01 | 64.0% |
| Jun 2011 | 2011-06-01 | 64.0% |
| May 2011 | 2011-05-01 | 64.1% |
| Apr 2011 | 2011-04-01 | 64.2% |
| Mar 2011 | 2011-03-01 | 64.2% |
| Feb 2011 | 2011-02-01 | 64.1% |
| Jan 2011 | 2011-01-01 | 64.2% |
| Dec 2010 | 2010-12-01 | 64.3% |
| Nov 2010 | 2010-11-01 | 64.6% |
| Oct 2010 | 2010-10-01 | 64.4% |
| Sep 2010 | 2010-09-01 | 64.6% |
| Aug 2010 | 2010-08-01 | 64.7% |
| Jul 2010 | 2010-07-01 | 64.6% |
| Jun 2010 | 2010-06-01 | 64.6% |
| May 2010 | 2010-05-01 | 64.9% |
| Apr 2010 | 2010-04-01 | 65.2% |
| Mar 2010 | 2010-03-01 | 64.9% |
| Feb 2010 | 2010-02-01 | 64.9% |
| Jan 2010 | 2010-01-01 | 64.8% |
| Dec 2009 | 2009-12-01 | 64.6% |
| Nov 2009 | 2009-11-01 | 65.0% |
| Oct 2009 | 2009-10-01 | 65.0% |
| Sep 2009 | 2009-09-01 | 65.1% |
| Aug 2009 | 2009-08-01 | 65.4% |
| Jul 2009 | 2009-07-01 | 65.5% |
| Jun 2009 | 2009-06-01 | 65.7% |
| May 2009 | 2009-05-01 | 65.7% |
| Apr 2009 | 2009-04-01 | 65.7% |
| Mar 2009 | 2009-03-01 | 65.6% |
| Feb 2009 | 2009-02-01 | 65.8% |
| Jan 2009 | 2009-01-01 | 65.7% |
| Dec 2008 | 2008-12-01 | 65.8% |
| Nov 2008 | 2008-11-01 | 65.9% |
| Oct 2008 | 2008-10-01 | 66.0% |
| Sep 2008 | 2008-09-01 | 66.0% |
| Aug 2008 | 2008-08-01 | 66.1% |
| Jul 2008 | 2008-07-01 | 66.1% |
| Jun 2008 | 2008-06-01 | 66.1% |
| May 2008 | 2008-05-01 | 66.1% |
| Apr 2008 | 2008-04-01 | 65.9% |
| Mar 2008 | 2008-03-01 | 66.1% |
| Feb 2008 | 2008-02-01 | 66.0% |
| Jan 2008 | 2008-01-01 | 66.2% |
| Dec 2007 | 2007-12-01 | 66.0% |
| Nov 2007 | 2007-11-01 | 66.0% |
| Oct 2007 | 2007-10-01 | 65.8% |
| Sep 2007 | 2007-09-01 | 66.0% |
| Aug 2007 | 2007-08-01 | 65.8% |
| Jul 2007 | 2007-07-01 | 66.0% |
| Jun 2007 | 2007-06-01 | 66.0% |
| May 2007 | 2007-05-01 | 66.0% |
| Apr 2007 | 2007-04-01 | 65.9% |
| Mar 2007 | 2007-03-01 | 66.2% |
| Feb 2007 | 2007-02-01 | 66.3% |
| Jan 2007 | 2007-01-01 | 66.4% |
| Dec 2006 | 2006-12-01 | 66.4% |
| Nov 2006 | 2006-11-01 | 66.3% |
| Oct 2006 | 2006-10-01 | 66.2% |
| Sep 2006 | 2006-09-01 | 66.1% |
| Aug 2006 | 2006-08-01 | 66.2% |
| Jul 2006 | 2006-07-01 | 66.1% |
| Jun 2006 | 2006-06-01 | 66.2% |
| May 2006 | 2006-05-01 | 66.1% |
| Apr 2006 | 2006-04-01 | 66.1% |
| Mar 2006 | 2006-03-01 | 66.2% |
| Feb 2006 | 2006-02-01 | 66.1% |
| Jan 2006 | 2006-01-01 | 66.0% |
| Dec 2005 | 2005-12-01 | 66.0% |
| Nov 2005 | 2005-11-01 | 66.0% |
| Oct 2005 | 2005-10-01 | 66.1% |
| Sep 2005 | 2005-09-01 | 66.1% |
| Aug 2005 | 2005-08-01 | 66.2% |
| Jul 2005 | 2005-07-01 | 66.1% |
| Jun 2005 | 2005-06-01 | 66.1% |
| May 2005 | 2005-05-01 | 66.1% |
| Apr 2005 | 2005-04-01 | 66.1% |
| Mar 2005 | 2005-03-01 | 65.9% |
| Feb 2005 | 2005-02-01 | 65.9% |
| Jan 2005 | 2005-01-01 | 65.8% |
| Dec 2004 | 2004-12-01 | 65.9% |
| Nov 2004 | 2004-11-01 | 66.0% |
| Oct 2004 | 2004-10-01 | 65.9% |
| Sep 2004 | 2004-09-01 | 65.8% |
| Aug 2004 | 2004-08-01 | 66.0% |
| Jul 2004 | 2004-07-01 | 66.1% |
| Jun 2004 | 2004-06-01 | 66.1% |
| May 2004 | 2004-05-01 | 66.0% |
| Apr 2004 | 2004-04-01 | 65.9% |
| Mar 2004 | 2004-03-01 | 66.0% |
| Feb 2004 | 2004-02-01 | 66.0% |
| Jan 2004 | 2004-01-01 | 66.1% |
| Dec 2003 | 2003-12-01 | 65.9% |
| Nov 2003 | 2003-11-01 | 66.1% |
| Oct 2003 | 2003-10-01 | 66.1% |
| Sep 2003 | 2003-09-01 | 66.1% |
| Aug 2003 | 2003-08-01 | 66.1% |
| Jul 2003 | 2003-07-01 | 66.2% |
| Jun 2003 | 2003-06-01 | 66.5% |
| May 2003 | 2003-05-01 | 66.4% |
| Apr 2003 | 2003-04-01 | 66.4% |
| Mar 2003 | 2003-03-01 | 66.3% |
| Feb 2003 | 2003-02-01 | 66.4% |
| Jan 2003 | 2003-01-01 | 66.4% |
| Dec 2002 | 2002-12-01 | 66.3% |
| Nov 2002 | 2002-11-01 | 66.4% |
| Oct 2002 | 2002-10-01 | 66.6% |
| Sep 2002 | 2002-09-01 | 66.7% |
| Aug 2002 | 2002-08-01 | 66.6% |
| Jul 2002 | 2002-07-01 | 66.5% |
| Jun 2002 | 2002-06-01 | 66.6% |
| May 2002 | 2002-05-01 | 66.7% |
| Apr 2002 | 2002-04-01 | 66.7% |
| Mar 2002 | 2002-03-01 | 66.6% |
| Feb 2002 | 2002-02-01 | 66.8% |
| Jan 2002 | 2002-01-01 | 66.5% |
| Dec 2001 | 2001-12-01 | 66.7% |
| Nov 2001 | 2001-11-01 | 66.7% |
| Oct 2001 | 2001-10-01 | 66.7% |
| Sep 2001 | 2001-09-01 | 66.8% |
| Aug 2001 | 2001-08-01 | 66.5% |
| Jul 2001 | 2001-07-01 | 66.8% |
| Jun 2001 | 2001-06-01 | 66.7% |
| May 2001 | 2001-05-01 | 66.7% |
| Apr 2001 | 2001-04-01 | 66.9% |
| Mar 2001 | 2001-03-01 | 67.2% |
| Feb 2001 | 2001-02-01 | 67.1% |
| Jan 2001 | 2001-01-01 | 67.2% |
| Dec 2000 | 2000-12-01 | 67.0% |
| Nov 2000 | 2000-11-01 | 66.9% |
| Oct 2000 | 2000-10-01 | 66.8% |
| Sep 2000 | 2000-09-01 | 66.9% |
| Aug 2000 | 2000-08-01 | 66.9% |
| Jul 2000 | 2000-07-01 | 66.9% |
| Jun 2000 | 2000-06-01 | 67.1% |
| May 2000 | 2000-05-01 | 67.1% |
| Apr 2000 | 2000-04-01 | 67.3% |
| Mar 2000 | 2000-03-01 | 67.3% |
| Feb 2000 | 2000-02-01 | 67.3% |
| Jan 2000 | 2000-01-01 | 67.3% |
Follow this series home
- Series identifier
- CIVPART
- Provider
- FRED / original statistical source
- Original source attribution
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Frequency
- Monthly
- Source units
- Percent , Seasonally Adjusted
- Displayed units
- %
- Retrieval time
- 2026-10-04T09:04:46.416Z
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