MarketXLS

Civilian Labor Force Level 169M for 

Civilian Labor Force Level came in at 169M for Jul 2026, down 0.16% from 169M the prior month and 0.77% below its level of 170M one year ago. The series has averaged 115M since 1948, reaching a record high of 172M in November 2025 and a record low of 60M in May 1948.

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

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Cite this data: "Civilian Labor Force Level," MarketXLS. Data from Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED), St. Louis Fed. marketxls.com/indicators/us-labor-force

Historical Data

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July 1, 2026169M
June 1, 2026169M
May 1, 2026170M
April 1, 2026170M
March 1, 2026170M
February 1, 2026170M
January 1, 2026170M
December 1, 2025171M
November 1, 2025172M
September 1, 2025171M
August 1, 2025171M
July 1, 2025170M
June 1, 2025170M
May 1, 2025170M
April 1, 2025171M
March 1, 2025171M
February 1, 2025170M
January 1, 2025171M
December 1, 2024169M
November 1, 2024168M
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⋮
March 1, 1987119M
February 1, 1987119M
January 1, 1987119M
December 1, 1986119M
November 1, 1986119M
October 1, 1986119M
September 1, 1986118M
August 1, 1986118M
July 1, 1986118M
June 1, 1986118M
May 1, 1986118M
April 1, 1986117M
March 1, 1986117M
February 1, 1986117M
January 1, 1986117M
December 1, 1985116M
November 1, 1985116M
October 1, 1985116M
September 1, 1985116M
August 1, 1985115M

About Civilian Labor Force Level

What it measures

The Civilian Labor Force Level (FRED series CLF16OV) counts all civilians aged 16 and over who are either employed or unemployed and actively seeking work. The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes it monthly from the Current Population Survey household data, and it serves as the denominator of the unemployment rate.

Why it matters

Labor force size caps how much the economy can produce: employment cannot grow sustainably faster than the labor force without draining slack and pressuring wages. Changes reveal whether people are entering the job market, drawn by opportunity, or exiting through discouragement, retirement, or caregiving. Immigration and demographics drive the long-run trend.

How to read it

A growing labor force alongside falling unemployment is the strongest configuration, showing the market absorbing new entrants. An unemployment rate that falls while the labor force shrinks is a weaker signal, reflecting exits rather than hiring. Monthly household survey figures are volatile and subject to annual population-control revisions that can create artificial level jumps each January.

Get Civilian Labor Force Level in Excel

Pull Civilian Labor Force Level directly into your spreadsheet with a single MarketXLS formula - always current, no copy-pasting:

=LaborForce()

View the Labor Force formula documentation or browse all 100+ Economic Data functions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current Civilian Labor Force Level?

Civilian Labor Force Level is 169M as of July 2026.

What is the all-time high and low of Civilian Labor Force Level?

The highest value on record is 172M (November 2025) and the lowest is 60M (May 1948).

How often is Civilian Labor Force Level updated?

Civilian Labor Force Level is published on a monthly basis, sourced from Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).

How do I get Civilian Labor Force Level in Excel?

Use the MarketXLS Excel formula =LaborForce() to pull Civilian Labor Force Level directly into any cell, with historical values available for analysis.

Basic info
The labour force is the sum of the number of persons employed and the number of persons unemployed in an economy.
RegionUnited States
FrequencyMonthly
Last updatedAugust 7, 2026
Seasonal adjustmentSeasonally Adjusted
UnitThousands of Persons

Stats
Last Value169M
Latest PeriodJul 2026
Last UpdatedAugust 7 2026, 08:33
Value Previous Month169M
Change From Previous Month-0.16%
Value 1 Year Ago170M
Change From Year Ago-0.77%
Average Growth Rate1.33%/yr
Record High (Nov 2025)172M
Record Low (May 1948)60M
Long-Term Average115M
FrequencyMonthly
AdjustmentSeasonally Adjusted
UnitThousands of Persons

Annual Averages
2026170M
2025171M
2024168M
2023167M
2022164M
2021161M
2020161M
2019164M
2018162M
2017160M
2016159M
2015157M

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