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Total unemployment rate drops to 14.7 percent

The total unemployment rate includes both the traditional unemployment rate as well as marginally attached workers. The traditional unemployment rate also decreased in August, down to 8.1 percent.

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This chart compares the total unemployment rate (U6) with traditional unemployment rate (U3) since 2000. Both measures of unemployment saw a decline in August.

Today’s Employment Situation report showed that in August “total unemployment” including all marginally attached workers declined to 14.7% while the traditionally reported unemployment rate declined to 8.1%.

The traditional unemployment rate is calculated from the monthly household survey results using a fairly explicit definition of “unemployed” (essentially unemployed and currently looking for full time employment) leaving many workers to be considered effectively “on the margin” either employed in part time work when full time is preferred or simply unemployed and no longer looking for work.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics considers “marginally attached” workers (including discouraged workers) and persons who have settled for part time employment to be “underutilized” labor.

The broadest view of unemployment would include both traditionally unemployed workers and all other underutilized workers.

To calculate the “total” rate of unemployment we would simply use this larger group rather than the smaller and more restrictive “unemployed” group used in the traditional unemployment rate calculation.

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