MarketXLS

Average Weeks Unemployed 26.3 for 

Average Weeks Unemployed came in at 26.3 (Weeks) for Aug 2026, up 5.62% from 24.9 the prior month and 7.35% above its level of 24.5 one year ago. The series has averaged 16.65 since 1948, reaching a record high of 40.7 in July 2011 and a record low of 7.1 in September 1953.

Source: Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED), St. Louis Fed

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Cite this data: "Average Weeks Unemployed," MarketXLS. Data from Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED), St. Louis Fed. marketxls.com/indicators/average-duration-of-unemployment

Historical Data

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August 1, 202626.3
July 1, 202624.9
June 1, 202625.5
May 1, 202626
April 1, 202624.4
March 1, 202625.3
February 1, 202625.7
January 1, 202623.7
December 1, 202524.4
November 1, 202523.1
September 1, 202524.1
August 1, 202524.5
July 1, 202524
June 1, 202523.1
May 1, 202521.9
April 1, 202523.2
March 1, 202522.9
February 1, 202521.4
January 1, 202522
December 1, 202423.7
⋮
⋮
April 1, 198714.8
March 1, 198714.9
February 1, 198714.7
January 1, 198714.9
December 1, 198615
November 1, 198615
October 1, 198615.2
September 1, 198615.4
August 1, 198615.5
July 1, 198615.2
June 1, 198615.2
May 1, 198614.7
April 1, 198614.7
March 1, 198614.6
February 1, 198615.2
January 1, 198614.8
December 1, 198515.1
November 1, 198515.7
October 1, 198515.3
September 1, 198515.3

About Average Weeks Unemployed

What it measures

Average Weeks Unemployed (FRED series UEMPMEAN) measures the mean duration, in weeks, that currently unemployed people have been out of work and searching. The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes it monthly from the Current Population Survey as part of the household data in the employment situation report.

Why it matters

Duration reveals labor market quality beyond the headline unemployment rate: the same rate can reflect brief transitions or entrenched joblessness. Long average durations signal weak hiring demand and skills mismatch, and extended unemployment erodes earnings and reemployment prospects. The measure helps distinguish churn-driven unemployment from stagnation.

How to read it

The series lags the cycle: it keeps rising well after recessions end, because short-duration layoffs stop first while the long-term unemployed remain in the pool. A high average with a falling unemployment rate indicates recovery that has not yet reached the hardest-hit workers. The mean is skewed upward by very long spells, so compare with the median duration.

Get Average Weeks Unemployed in Excel

Pull Average Weeks Unemployed directly into your spreadsheet with a single MarketXLS formula - always current, no copy-pasting:

=AverageWeeksUnemployed()

View the Average Weeks Unemployed formula documentation or browse all 100+ Economic Data functions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current Average Weeks Unemployed?

Average Weeks Unemployed is 26.3 (Weeks) as of August 2026.

What is the all-time high and low of Average Weeks Unemployed?

The highest value on record is 40.7 (July 2011) and the lowest is 7.1 (September 1953).

How often is Average Weeks Unemployed updated?

Average Weeks Unemployed is published on a monthly basis, sourced from Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).

How do I get Average Weeks Unemployed in Excel?

Use the MarketXLS Excel formula =AverageWeeksUnemployed() to pull Average Weeks Unemployed directly into any cell, with historical values available for analysis.

Basic info
Average weeks a person remains unemployed in the economy.
RegionUnited States
FrequencyMonthly
Last updatedSeptember 4, 2026
Seasonal adjustmentSeasonally Adjusted
UnitWeeks

Stats
Last Value26.3
Latest PeriodAug 2026
Last UpdatedSeptember 4 2026, 08:27
Value Previous Month24.9
Change From Previous Month5.62%
Value 1 Year Ago24.5
Change From Year Ago7.35%
Average Growth Rate1.39%/yr
Record High (Jul 2011)40.7
Record Low (Sep 1953)7.1
Long-Term Average16.65
FrequencyMonthly
AdjustmentSeasonally Adjusted
UnitWeeks

Annual Averages
202625.23
202523.15
202421.66
202320.63
202222.58
202128.73
202018.21
201921.67
201822.69
201725.01
201627.49
201529.1

Related Indicators
Nonfarm Payrolls
All Employees, Total Private
All Employees, Goods-Producing
All Employees, Service-Providing
All Employees, Government
Unemployment Rate
Initial Jobless Claims
Job Openings: Total Nonfarm
Hires: Total Nonfarm
Total Separations: Total Nonfarm
Quits: Total Nonfarm
Layoffs and Discharges: Total Nonfarm
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