U6RATEU-6 Underemployment Rate (U6RATE) — Current Value & Historical Data
U-6 Underemployment Rate (U6RATE) Chart & Data Table
Gray bands: NBER recessions
What is U-6 Underemployment Rate (U6RATE)?
The U-6 unemployment rate is the broadest official measure of labor underutilization in the United States, published monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from the Current Population Survey. It adds to the headline U-3 unemployment rate people marginally attached to the labor force, including discouraged workers who have stopped looking, and people working part-time because they cannot find full-time work. The result is the share of the extended labor force that is unemployed or underemployed. U-6 normally runs several percentage points above U-3. It climbed to about 17 percent in late 2009 after the financial crisis and above 22 percent in April 2020 during the pandemic shutdowns, then fell below 7 percent in the strong labor market that followed, the lowest readings in the series, which begins in 1994.
Current U-6 Underemployment Rate (U6RATE) Value
As of September 1, 2026, the current total unemployed, plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force (u-6) is 7.60 Percent. This is the most recent observation available for this series, updated monthly.
U-6 Underemployment Rate Historical Trend
Total Unemployed, Plus All Persons Marginally Attached to the Labor Force, Plus Total Employed Part Time for Economic Reasons, as a Percent of the Civilian Labor Force Plus All Persons Marginally Attached to the Labor Force (U-6) fell 1.30% month-over-month. Over the past year, total unemployed, plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force (u-6) fell 6.17% from August 2025. In the series' tracked history, the highest recorded value was 22.90 (April 2020), and the lowest was 6.60 (December 2022).
Why U-6 Underemployment Rate matters for government spending
U-6 captures slack that the headline rate misses, and that slack matters for the federal budget. Part-time workers who want full-time hours and discouraged workers earn less and pay less income and payroll tax, while relying more on programs like SNAP and Medicaid. A widening gap between U-6 and the headline rate suggests weaker receipts and higher safety-net outlays than the unemployment rate alone implies.
Methodology & Source
Source
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Frequency
Monthly
Units
Percent
Notes
The series comes from the 'Current Population Survey (Household Survey)' The source code is: LNS13327709...
Frequently Asked Questions About U-6 Underemployment Rate (U6RATE)
What is the current total unemployed, plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force (u-6)?
As of September 1, 2026, total unemployed, plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force (u-6) stands at 7.60 Percent.
Where does total unemployed, plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force (u-6) data come from?
Total Unemployed, Plus All Persons Marginally Attached to the Labor Force, Plus Total Employed Part Time for Economic Reasons, as a Percent of the Civilian Labor Force Plus All Persons Marginally Attached to the Labor Force (U-6) data is sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) system and related U.S. government agencies. Data quality and historical coverage vary by series.
How often is total unemployed, plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force (u-6) updated?
This series is updated according to its publication schedule. Check FRED or the source agency for the most current release calendar.
What is the historical high and low for total unemployed, plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force (u-6)?
In the available data, the highest value was 22.90 Percent in April 2020, and the lowest was 6.60 Percent in December 2022.
How has total unemployed, plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force (u-6) changed over the past year?
Over the past year, total unemployed, plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force (u-6) decreased 6.17%.
See U-6 Underemployment Rate in context
U6RATE is tracked on the Labor Market dashboard, alongside related indicators and historical context.
View the Labor Market dashboard →Related government-spending dashboards
How U-6 Underemployment Rate connects to the federal budget across GOVSPENDING.ORG:
Federal Debt
Total public debt, debt held by the public, and intragovernmental holdings.
Receipts vs Outlays
Federal revenue, spending, and the resulting surplus or deficit over time.
Congressional Activity
Recent legislation, appropriations, and fiscal-related bills in Congress.
Interest Expense vs Revenue
How rising debt service costs crowd out federal spending as a share of receipts over time.
Revenue Composition
Federal receipts broken down by source — individual income, corporate, social insurance, excise taxes, and customs duties as shares of total revenue.
Agency Spending (FY 2019 vs FY 2025)
Net outlays by federal agency for FY 2019 and FY 2025, from the Treasury Monthly Treasury Statement. Both nominal and inflation-adjusted comparisons.
Related Indicators
Compare U-6 Underemployment Rate with related indicators
See how U-6 Underemployment Rate stacks up against related series in a side-by-side chart and explainer: