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ECONOMY & WORK

12 indicators · 1930–2026 · every value from its primary publisher
┊ dashed lines mark 1979 Oil shock & inflation peak · 1987 Black Monday crash · 1991 Gulf War recession · 2001 Dot-com bust & 9/11 · 2008 Global financial crisis · 2020 COVID-19 pandemic
Unemployment Ratepercent, annual average · FRED UNRATE
4.3%2026 thru Jul
−3.4 pts since 1976
7.7% then
Oil shock & inflation peak (1979)’79Black Monday crash (1987)’87Gulf War recession (1991)’91Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
Underemployment (U-6)percent, annual average · 1994–2026 · FRED U6RATE
8.0%2026 thru Jul
−2.9 pts since 1994
10.9% then
Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
Labor Force Participationpercent, annual average · FRED CIVPART
61.8%2026 thru Jul
+0.2 pts since 1976
61.6% then
Oil shock & inflation peak (1979)’79Black Monday crash (1987)’87Gulf War recession (1991)’91Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
Prime-Age Employment Ratepercent of 25–54-year-olds employed, annual average · BLS Current Population Survey via FRED (LNS12300060)
80.6%2026 YTD
+10 pts since 1976
70.6% then
Oil shock & inflation peak (1979)’79Black Monday crash (1987)’87Gulf War recession (1991)’91Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
50.0%2026 thru Jul
+11 pts since 1976
38.9% then
Oil shock & inflation peak (1979)’79Black Monday crash (1987)’87Gulf War recession (1991)’91Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
2.1%2025
−3.3 pts since 1976
5.4% then
Oil shock & inflation peak (1979)’79Black Monday crash (1987)’87Gulf War recession (1991)’91Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
Labor Productivityindex, 2017 = 100 · FRED OPHNFB
119.82026 thru Apr
+149% since 1976
48.1 then
Oil shock & inflation peak (1979)’79Black Monday crash (1987)’87Gulf War recession (1991)’91Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
CPI Inflationpercent per year · FRED CPIAUCSL
3.3%2026 thru Jul
−2.5 pts since 1976
5.8% then
Oil shock & inflation peak (1979)’79Black Monday crash (1987)’87Gulf War recession (1991)’91Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
Real Median Household Income2024 dollars · 1984–2024 · FRED MEHOINUSA672N
$83,7302024
+39% since 1984
$60,420 then
Black Monday crash (1987)’87Gulf War recession (1991)’91Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
Manufacturing Jobsemployees, annual average · FRED MANEMP
12.60M2026 thru Jul
−28% since 1976
17.54M then
Oil shock & inflation peak (1979)’79Black Monday crash (1987)’87Gulf War recession (1991)’91Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
Union Membershippercent of employed wage and salary workers who are union members · 1983–2025 · BLS Current Population Survey (series LUU0204899600)
10.0%2025
−10 pts since 1983
20.1% then
Black Monday crash (1987)’87Gulf War recession (1991)’91Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
New Business Applicationsapplications per year · 2005–2025 · FRED BABATOTALSAUS
5.64M2025
+125% since 2005
2.50M then
Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
Deep dive
New Businesses →
Data

Complete year-by-year values, raw numbers in the unit in each column header. Machine-readable: stats.json · stats.csv.

YearUnemployment Ratepercent, annual average · 1948–2026 (2026 thru Jul)Underemployment (U-6)percent, annual average · 1994–2026 (2026 thru Jul)Labor Force Participationpercent, annual average · 1948–2026 (2026 thru Jul)Prime-Age Employment Ratepercent of 25–54-year-olds employed, annual average · 1948–2026 (2026 YTD)Women's Share of Payroll Jobspercent of all nonfarm payroll jobs held by women · 1964–2026 (2026 thru Jul)Men's Share of Payroll Jobspercent of all nonfarm payroll jobs held by men · 1964–2026 (2026 thru Jul)Real GDP Growthpercent per year · 1930–2025Labor Productivityindex, 2017 = 100 · 1947–2026 (2026 thru Apr)CPI Inflationpercent per year · 1948–2026 (2026 thru Jul)Real Median Household Income2024 dollars · 1984–2024Manufacturing Jobsemployees, annual average · 1939–2026 (2026 thru Jul)Union Membershippercent of employed wage and salary workers who are union members · 1983–2025New Business Applicationsapplications per year · 2005–2025
1930-8.5
1931-6.4
1932-12.9
1933-1.2
193410.8
19358.9
193612.9
19375.1
1938-3.3
193989450300
19408.810101600
194117.712127100
194218.914040200
19431716163300
19447.915909800
1945-114253800
1946-11.613504400
1947-1.122.514276700
19483.858.8634.123.17.714316500
194965962.1-0.623.8-113279400
19505.259.262.88.725.41.114014100
19513.359.364.4826.17.915070100
1952359.1654.126.62.315289800
19532.958.965.34.727.20.816128700
19545.658.863.9-0.627.80.414999200
19554.459.265.27.128.9-0.315521300
19564.16065.92.128.81.515855900
19574.359.6662.129.53.415797000
19586.859.564.6-0.730.22.714656300
19595.559.365.66.931.30.915325700
19605.559.465.82.631.61.515437300
19616.759.365.32.632.71.115009800
19625.658.8666.134.11.215497100
19635.658.766.44.435.31.315631900
19645.258.76731.8468.165.836.21.315888700
19654.558.867.632.2167.796.537.41.616618200
19663.859.268.533.0866.926.638.8317680800
19673.859.66933.8666.142.739.52.817897200
19683.659.669.534.5165.494.940.84.218210800
19693.560.17035.0564.953.140.95.418572300
1970560.469.635.664.40.241.55.917847100
1971660.26935.9264.083.343.14.217171000
19725.660.469.536.1963.815.344.63.317664100
19734.960.870.536.6763.335.6466.318584200
19745.661.370.837.4862.52-0.545.21118512300
19758.561.269.338.2261.78-0.246.49.116912600
19767.761.670.638.9361.075.448.15.817537500
19777.162.271.939.6360.374.648.96.518173800
19786.163.173.640.1859.825.549.67.618935700
19795.963.774.640.7959.213.249.511.319427600
19807.263.874.341.7858.22-0.349.513.518732400
19817.663.974.742.4157.592.550.210.418634000
19829.76473.543.2256.78-1.849.86.217363600
19839.66473.743.856.24.651.83.21704920020.1
19847.564.475.844.1855.827.2534.4604201792070018.8
19857.264.876.744.7355.274.253.93.5615701781850018
1986765.277.345.554.53.555.51.9638501755190017.5
19876.265.678.446.0553.953.555.83.6646501760850017
19885.565.979.246.4253.584.256.74.1651301790530016.8
19895.366.479.946.7853.223.757.24.8662401798400016.4
19905.666.579.747.1352.871.958.25.4654401769470016
19916.866.278.647.7152.29-0.159.14.2635301706830016
19927.566.478.347.9752.033.561.83630101680030015.7
19936.966.378.547.9952.012.761.83627001677600015.7
19946.110.966.679.247.9452.06462.32.6633701702380015.5
19955.610.166.679.747.9552.052.762.92.8653801724450014.9
19965.49.766.880.247.9952.013.864.32.9663401723680014.5
19974.98.967.180.948.0351.974.465.52.3677201741810014.1
19984.5867.181.147.9452.064.567.71.5702001756010013.9
19994.27.467.181.447.9752.034.870.32.2719801732270013.9
20004767.181.548.0351.974.172.53.4717901726500013.4
20014.78.266.880.548.3751.63174.32.8706101644070013.3
20025.89.666.679.348.6851.321.777.51.6700401525700013.3
2003610.166.278.848.7251.282.880.42.3700801450840012.9
20045.59.6667948.5951.413.882.72.7699701431490012.5
20055.18.96679.348.551.53.584.63.4710601422400012.52504996
20064.68.266.279.848.2551.752.885.43.27185014152400122621411
20074.68.36679.948.6551.35286.82.9730101387140012.12652392
20085.810.56679.149.1650.840.187.93.8705201339460012.42521737
20099.316.365.475.849.9850.02-2.691.5-0.3700701183630012.32428403
20109.616.764.775.149.9450.062.794.41.6684201151430011.92497405
20118.915.964.175.149.6150.391.694.33.1674101171040011.82573236
20128.114.763.775.749.4850.522.395.22.1674001190770011.32574634
20137.413.863.375.949.4550.552.195.81.5699501199680011.32610142
20146.21262.976.749.3550.652.596.81.6690601216000011.12666367
20155.310.562.777.249.3450.662.9980.1727901230780011.12822714
20164.99.662.877.949.5550.451.898.61.3753801232350010.72975857
20174.48.562.978.649.5450.462.5100.12.1767101240640010.73197455
20183.97.762.979.449.6650.343101.52.4777001265290010.53498607
20193.77.263.179.949.950.12.6103.61.8832601277880010.33517607
20208.113.761.775.649.750.3-2.1109.11.3815801212500010.84379813
20215.49.461.777.649.7650.246.2111.44.7812701231150010.35408801
20223.76.962.279.949.7750.232.5109.88795001276850010.15083802
20233.66.962.680.749.8450.162.9112.14.18269012873300105489174
202447.562.680.749.9150.092.8115.4383730127893009.95246630
20254.3862.473.949.9650.042.11182.812632300105636988
20264.3861.880.650.0449.96119.83.312596000
Sources