US employment-population ratio, 1948 to 2026
About this statistic
US employment-population ratio stood at 59 in 2026, down 0.3% on the previous period.
US employment-population ratio, published through FRED. Since 1948 the series has ranged from 51 percent (2020) to 65 percent (2000); the latest reading is 59 percent for 2026, down from 59 percent the period before.
The labeled extremes are doing the work here: the high marks the worst (or best) this measure has recorded in the covered window, and distance from it tells you where today stands in historical terms. Rates mean-revert more than levels, which makes those bounds unusually informative.
Frequently asked questions
Where does this data come from?
FRED aggregates official series; this one originates with the Bureau of Labor Statistics or the responsible agency. Kitegraph refreshes it on FRED's publication schedule.
Are values revised?
Yes. Statistical agencies revise recent readings as fuller data arrives, so the latest points can change between releases.
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