US Labor Market Conditions Index
US labor market conditions index, tracking activity and momentum in the United States.
| Indicator | 08-2026 | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | 11-2025 | 10-2025 | 09-2025 | 08-2025 | 07-2025 | 06-2025 | 05-2025 | 04-2025 | 03-2025 | 02-2025 | 01-2025 | 12-2024 | 11-2024 | 10-2024 | 09-2024 | 08-2024 | 07-2024 | 06-2024 | 05-2024 | 04-2024 | 03-2024 | 02-2024 | 01-2024 | 12-2023 | 11-2023 | 10-2023 | 09-2023 | 08-2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Activity Level | 0.31 | 0.2 | 0.14 | 0.15 | 0.17 | 0.27 | 0.11 | 0.31 | 0.32 | 0.28 | 0.24 | 0.24 | 0.25 | 0.31 | 0.44 | 0.29 | 0.33 | 0.52 | 0.48 | 0.62 | 0.58 | 0.4 | 0.46 | 0.52 | 0.53 | 0.55 | 0.51 | 0.64 | 0.6 | 0.64 | 0.62 | 0.75 | 0.78 | 0.89 | 0.79 | 0.94 | 0.86 | |
| Momentum | 0.25 | 0.39 | 0.15 | -0 | -0.09 | 0.06 | 0.1 | -0.01 | -0.09 | -0.21 | -0.52 | -0.12 | -0.23 | -0.2 | -0.22 | -0.32 | -0.31 | -0.95 | -0.43 | 0.03 | 0.12 | 0.19 | -0.08 | -0.24 | -0.2 | -0.07 | 0.02 | -0.1 | 0.02 | -0.08 | -0.19 | -0.29 | -0.11 | -0.16 | 0.01 | 0.01 | -0.09 |
Latest reading
Activity Level stood at 0.31 Standard deviations in Aug 2026. That is +0.1 Standard deviations from Jul 2026 and +0.06 Standard deviations from a year earlier. The series on this page is monthly and runs from Jan 1992 to Aug 2026. Source: KC FED (Labor Market Conditions Indicators).
- Latest
- 0.31 Standard deviations
- Aug 2026
- vs previous period
- +0.1 Standard deviations
- Jul 2026
- vs a year earlier
- +0.06 Standard deviations
About this data
US labor market conditions index, tracking activity and momentum in the United States. Published monthly by the Kansas City Fed since 1992, it aggregates dozens of labor variables into two distinct dimensions. The series covers employment, unemployment, and wages to help analysts evaluate whether the labor market is tightening or loosening.
Frequently asked questions
- What does the US Labor Market Conditions Index measure?
- The US Labor Market Conditions Index measures overall labor market health in the United States across two dimensions: an activity level and a momentum indicator. It aggregates numerous official labor statistics and surveys into a single framework.
- How often is the index published and how far back does it go?
- The index is published monthly by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City for the United States, with historical data extending back to 1992.
- What are the primary components included in the index?
- The index includes two main reported series for the United States: the activity level, which shows if the labor market is tight or loose, and momentum, which shows if conditions are improving or deteriorating.
- How do activity and momentum differ in this index?
- Activity measures the current tightness of the United States labor market relative to historical norms, whereas momentum measures the monthly rate of change in those conditions.
