The Labor Force Participation Rate measures the percentage of the working-age population that is either employed or actively seeking employment. It is a critical metric for understanding the size of the active workforce and the impact of demographic shifts. A rising participation rate can signal economic optimism as discouraged workers return to the labor market. It helps contextualize changes in the headline unemployment rate.
The rate is calculated by dividing the number of people in the labor force (employed and unemployed) by the total civilian non-institutional population aged 16 and older.
| Date | Actual | Forecast | Surprise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 20, 2026 | 66.90 | 66.90 | 0.00 |
| Jul 23, 2026 | 67.00 | 66.70 | +0.30 |
| Jun 25, 2026 | 66.70 | 66.70 | 0.00 |
| May 21, 2026 | 66.60 | 66.80 | -0.20 |
| Apr 16, 2026 | 66.80 | 66.90 | -0.10 |
| Mar 19, 2026 | 66.90 | 66.70 | +0.20 |
| Feb 19, 2026 | 66.70 | 66.80 | -0.10 |
| Jan 22, 2026 | 66.70 | 66.80 | -0.10 |
| Dec 11, 2025 | 66.70 | 67.00 | -0.30 |
| Nov 13, 2025 | 67.00 | 67.00 | 0.00 |
| Oct 16, 2025 | 67.00 | 66.80 | +0.20 |
| Sep 18, 2025 | 66.80 | 67.00 | -0.20 |
| Aug 14, 2025 | 67.00 | 67.10 | -0.10 |
| Jul 17, 2025 | 67.10 | 67.00 | +0.10 |
| Jun 19, 2025 | 67.00 | 67.10 | -0.10 |
| May 15, 2025 | 67.10 | 66.80 | +0.30 |
| Apr 17, 2025 | 66.80 | 67.00 | -0.20 |
| Mar 20, 2025 | 66.80 | 67.30 | -0.50 |
| Feb 20, 2025 | 67.30 | 67.10 | +0.20 |
| Jan 16, 2025 | 67.10 | 67.00 | +0.10 |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 67.00 | 67.10 | -0.10 |
| Nov 14, 2024 | 67.10 | 67.20 | -0.10 |
| Oct 17, 2024 | 67.20 | 67.10 | +0.10 |
| Sep 19, 2024 | 67.10 | 67.10 | 0.00 |
| Aug 15, 2024 | 67.10 | 66.90 | +0.20 |
| Jul 18, 2024 | 66.90 | 66.80 | +0.10 |
| Jun 13, 2024 | 66.80 | 66.70 | +0.10 |
| May 16, 2024 | 66.70 | 66.60 | +0.10 |
| Apr 18, 2024 | 66.60 | 66.50 | +0.10 |
| Mar 21, 2024 | 66.70 | 66.80 | -0.10 |
| Feb 15, 2024 | 66.80 | 66.90 | -0.10 |
| Jan 18, 2024 | 66.80 | 67.10 | -0.30 |
| Dec 14, 2023 | 67.20 | 66.90 | +0.30 |
| Nov 16, 2023 | 67.00 | 66.70 | +0.30 |
| Oct 19, 2023 | 66.70 | 67.00 | -0.30 |
| Sep 14, 2023 | 67.00 | 66.70 | +0.30 |
| Aug 17, 2023 | 66.70 | 66.80 | -0.10 |
| Jul 20, 2023 | 66.80 | 66.90 | -0.10 |
| Jun 15, 2023 | 66.90 | 66.70 | +0.20 |
| May 18, 2023 | 66.70 | 66.70 | 0.00 |
| Apr 13, 2023 | 66.70 | 66.60 | +0.10 |
| Mar 16, 2023 | 66.60 | 66.60 | 0.00 |
| Feb 16, 2023 | 66.50 | 66.60 | -0.10 |
| Jan 19, 2023 | 66.60 | 66.80 | -0.20 |
| Dec 15, 2022 | 66.80 | 66.60 | +0.20 |
| Nov 17, 2022 | 66.50 | 66.60 | -0.10 |
| Oct 20, 2022 | 66.60 | 66.60 | 0.00 |
| Sep 15, 2022 | 66.60 | 66.60 | 0.00 |
| Aug 18, 2022 | 66.40 | 66.80 | -0.40 |
| Jul 14, 2022 | 66.80 | 66.70 | +0.10 |
| Date | First print | Current | Revision |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2026 | 66.7 | 66.6 | -0.10 ↓ |
