Labor Force Participation Rate
CIVPARTLatest Value
Date: 2026-05-01
Data Count
940recordsData from FRED source
Basic Info
Country: US
Frequency: monthly
Source: FRED
Next Release
07/14 12:30 JSTPeriod: Jun
Trend Chart (Line)
Historical Trend Data
| Date | Value (%) | MoM (Change) | YoY (Change) | 3-Month MA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-01 | 61.8 | 0.00% | -1.28% | 61.83 |
| 2026-04-01 | 61.8 | -0.16% | -1.12% | 61.9 |
| 2026-03-01 | 61.9 | -0.16% | -0.96% | 62 |
| 2026-02-01 | 62 | -0.16% | -0.96% | 62.17 |
| 2026-01-01 | 62.1 | -0.48% | -0.64% | 62.33 |
| 2025-12-01 | 62.4 | -0.16% | 0.00% | 62.47 |
| 2025-11-01 | 62.5 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 62.43 |
| 2025-09-01 | 62.5 | +0.32% | -0.32% | 62.33 |
| 2025-08-01 | 62.3 | +0.16% | -0.64% | 62.27 |
| 2025-07-01 | 62.2 | -0.16% | -0.80% | 62.3 |
| 2025-06-01 | 62.3 | -0.16% | -0.48% | 62.43 |
| 2025-05-01 | 62.4 | -0.32% | -0.32% | 62.5 |
| 2025-04-01 | 62.6 | +0.16% | 0.00% | 62.53 |
| 2025-03-01 | 62.5 | 0.00% | -0.32% | 62.53 |
| 2025-02-01 | 62.5 | -0.16% | -0.16% | 62.53 |
| 2025-01-01 | 62.6 | +0.16% | +0.16% | 62.5 |
| 2024-12-01 | 62.5 | +0.16% | 0.00% | 62.47 |
| 2024-11-01 | 62.4 | -0.16% | -0.64% | 62.53 |
| 2024-10-01 | 62.5 | -0.32% | -0.16% | 62.63 |
| 2024-09-01 | 62.7 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 62.7 |
| 2024-08-01 | 62.7 | 0.00% | -0.16% | 62.67 |
| 2024-07-01 | 62.7 | +0.16% | +0.16% | 62.63 |
| 2024-06-01 | 62.6 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 62.6 |
| 2024-05-01 | 62.6 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 62.63 |
| 2024-04-01 | 62.6 | -0.16% | 0.00% | 62.63 |
| 2024-03-01 | 62.7 | +0.16% | +0.16% | 62.6 |
| 2024-02-01 | 62.6 | +0.16% | +0.16% | 62.53 |
| 2024-01-01 | 62.5 | 0.00% | +0.16% | 62.6 |
| 2023-12-01 | 62.5 | -0.48% | +0.32% | 62.63 |
| 2023-11-01 | 62.8 | +0.32% | +1.13% | 62.7 |
| 2023-10-01 | 62.6 | -0.16% | +0.64% | 62.7 |
| 2023-09-01 | 62.7 | -0.16% | +0.80% | 62.7 |
| 2023-08-01 | 62.8 | +0.32% | +0.80% | 62.67 |
| 2023-07-01 | 62.6 | 0.00% | +0.81% | 62.6 |
| 2023-06-01 | 62.6 | 0.00% | +0.64% | 62.6 |
| 2023-05-01 | 62.6 | 0.00% | +0.48% | 62.6 |
| 2023-04-01 | 62.6 | 0.00% | +0.64% | 62.57 |
| 2023-03-01 | 62.6 | +0.16% | +0.32% | 62.5 |
| 2023-02-01 | 62.5 | +0.16% | +0.32% | 62.4 |
| 2023-01-01 | 62.4 | +0.16% | +0.32% | 62.27 |
| 2022-12-01 | 62.3 | +0.32% | +0.48% | 62.2 |
| 2022-11-01 | 62.1 | -0.16% | +0.32% | 62.17 |
| 2022-10-01 | 62.2 | 0.00% | +0.65% | 62.23 |
| 2022-09-01 | 62.2 | -0.16% | +0.81% | 62.2 |
| 2022-08-01 | 62.3 | +0.32% | +0.97% | 62.2 |
| 2022-07-01 | 62.1 | -0.16% | +0.49% | 62.2 |
| 2022-06-01 | 62.2 | -0.16% | +0.81% | 62.23 |
| 2022-05-01 | 62.3 | +0.16% | +1.14% | 62.3 |
| 2022-04-01 | 62.2 | -0.32% | +0.97% | 62.3 |
| 2022-03-01 | 62.4 | +0.16% | +1.46% | 62.3 |
| 2022-02-01 | 62.3 | +0.16% | +1.47% | 62.17 |
| 2022-01-01 | 62.2 | +0.32% | +1.30% | 62.03 |
| 2021-12-01 | 62 | +0.16% | +0.81% | 61.9 |
| 2021-11-01 | 61.9 | +0.16% | +0.65% | 61.8 |
| 2021-10-01 | 61.8 | +0.16% | +0.16% | 61.73 |
| 2021-09-01 | 61.7 | 0.00% | +0.49% | 61.73 |
| 2021-08-01 | 61.7 | -0.16% | 0.00% | 61.73 |
| 2021-07-01 | 61.8 | +0.16% | +0.49% | 61.7 |
| 2021-06-01 | 61.7 | +0.16% | +0.33% | 61.63 |
| 2021-05-01 | 61.6 | 0.00% | +1.32% | 61.57 |
About Indicator
Explanation
What is the Labor Force Participation Rate (CIVPART)?
The Labor Force Participation Rate measures the proportion of the working-age population (16 and older) in the US that is either employed or actively looking for work. It tracks the overall size of the active workforce supply.
Viewpoints on this Indicator
When evaluated alongside the Unemployment Rate, it reveals the true health of the labor market. A falling unemployment rate is only healthy if the participation rate is steady or rising; otherwise, it may suggest workers are giving up and exiting the market.
Importance
HighView Details
Deep Dive
The participation rate reflects the active labor supply. For example, if a significant number of job seekers give up searching due to a lack of opportunities, they are no longer counted as unemployed, which causes the unemployment rate to drop but the participation rate to fall. This is a sign of economic weakness.
Conversely, during economic recoveries, rising job prospects draw retired or discouraged individuals back into the market, lifting the participation rate. Even if the unemployment rate rises temporarily due to this inflow, it represents a healthy labor supply expansion.
The Fed monitors the participation rate to gauge the spare capacity in labor supply. A low participation rate indicates a tight labor market, which can fuel wage inflation and lead to prolonged high interest rates.
Key Checkpoints in Data
Key Checkpoints
- Whether the participation rate increased or decreased month-over-month.
- How it matches shifts in the Unemployment Rate.
- If the trend aligns with long-term structural changes (like population aging).
- Whether it shows sustained increases during economic expansions.
- How the Fed interprets it to evaluate labor market capacity.
Connection with Associated Indicators
Why Look at Associated Indicators Together
| Associated Indicator | Why to Look Together |
|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | To check if the changes in unemployment are caused by shifts in the active labor force supply. |
| Non-Farm Payrolls | To see if job availability is pulling discouraged job seekers back into the workforce. |
One-Line Summary for Beginners
The Labor Force Participation Rate measures the percentage of adults who want to work. It helps identify if a drop in the Unemployment Rate is due to actual job gains or simply people giving up their job search.
Last Fetched: 6/5/2026, 6:34:27 PM
Flow of Analysis: US Employment Situation
🔍1. Before (Leading)
Check these leading indicators a few days before to gauge expectations.
📊2. During (Core Values)
Check the headline and core figures at the moment of release.
⚡3. After (Market Reactions)
Track reactions in yields, currencies, and major stock indexes.