Overview
This lecture summarizes the key data from the May 2025 Employment Situation Summary Table A, focusing on U.S. labor force, employment, unemployment rates, and demographic breakdowns.
Labor Force Overview
- The civilian noninstitutional population increased by 188,000 to 273,385,000 from April to May 2025.
- The civilian labor force decreased by 625,000 to 170,510,000.
- Labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 to 62.4%.
- The number of employed persons dropped by 696,000 to 163,273,000.
- Employment-population ratio declined by 0.3 to 59.7%.
- The number of unemployed persons rose by 71,000 to 7,237,000.
- Unemployment rate remained steady at 4.2%.
- People not in the labor force increased by 813,000 to 102,875,000.
Unemployment Rate Details
- Unemployment rate for adult men was 3.9% (-0.1), adult women 3.9% (+0.2).
- Teen unemployment rate increased to 13.4% (+0.4).
- Unemployment rates: White 3.8%, Black or African American 6.0% (-0.3), Asian 3.6% (+0.6), Hispanic or Latino 5.1% (-0.1).
Unemployment by Education (25+)
- Total unemployment for 25+ years was 3.4% (no change).
- Less than high school diploma: 5.5% (-0.6).
- High school graduates, no college: 4.5% (+0.5).
- Some college/associate degree: 3.3% (-0.4).
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 2.6% (+0.1).
Unemployment Reason and Duration
- Job losers/completed temp jobs: 3,457,000 (+2,000).
- Job leavers: 704,000 (-151,000).
- Reentrants: 2,288,000 (+53,000).
- New entrants: 725,000 (+24,000).
- Unemployed <5 weeks: 2,451,000 (+264,000).
- 5-14 weeks: 2,208,000 (-61,000).
- 15-26 weeks: 1,039,000 (+52,000).
- 27+ weeks: 1,457,000 (-218,000).
Part-Time and Marginal Attachment
- Part-time for economic reasons: 4,624,000 (-66,000).
- Slack work/business conditions: 3,007,000 (-141,000).
- Only part-time available: 1,385,000 (+125,000).
- Part-time for noneconomic reasons: 22,588,000 (-135,000).
- Marginally attached: 1,556,000 (-61,000).
- Discouraged workers: 381,000 (-33,000).
Key Terms & Definitions
- Civilian noninstitutional population — People 16+ not in the military or institutions.
- Civilian labor force — People working or actively seeking work.
- Participation rate — Percent of population in the labor force.
- Employment-population ratio — Percent of population that is employed.
- Unemployment rate — Percent of labor force without a job but seeking work.
- Marginally attached workers — Not in labor force, want work, available, looked in last year.
- Discouraged workers — Not seeking work due to belief no jobs are available.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the full Employment Situation release for deeper analysis.
- Understand definitions for key labor statistics terminology.
- Prepare for discussion questions on labor force trends and demographics.