US Unemployment rate aged 25 and over
US Unemployment rate aged 25 and over stood at 3.3% in Sep 2026, according to FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis). It is one of the indicators in the Unemployment table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Jan 1948 to Sep 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Unemployment table
| Indicator | 09-2026 | 08-2026 | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 years and over2 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.5 | |
| 25-54 years (prime age) | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.7 | |
| 55 years and over | 2.6 | 3 | 3.1 | 2.8 | 3 | 3 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 3 |
Understanding US Unemployment rate aged 25 and over
All individuals aged twenty-five and over who participate in the labour force of the United States are included in this scope, as published by FRED. The rate represents the share of jobless persons actively seeking and available for work relative to the total number of employed or unemployed individuals within the cohort; retirees, family caregivers, and those who have ceased searching are excluded from the denominator if they are no longer in the labour force. This series omits the early adult twenty to twenty-four cohort, yet is broader than the prime-age category as it continues to encompass older adults.
Because this is a broad age aggregate, the overall level can shift when the relative shares of prime-age workers and older individuals within the labour force change. Month-on-month comparisons are suited for tracking market momentum if the data is seasonally adjusted; year-on-year comparisons help guard against conclusions drawn from short-term volatility. Retirees entering or returning to the job search can alter the denominator and cause the rate to move in ways that do not purely reflect employment counts. Consistency regarding seasonally adjusted data is essential, alongside allowances for potential revisions to the latest period.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this group include older adults who continue to work?
- Yes, the scope has no upper age limit for those still participating in the labour force.
- Are retirees who look for work counted again?
- Yes, if they actively search for work and are available, they re-enter the labour force.
- Why is it necessary to look at the prime-age group as well?
- A narrower group helps isolate the impact of retirement and age structure changes from core employment developments.