C16 · HOW LONG THE JOBLESS STAY JOBLESS

Median duration of unemployment

11.60

CALM ROBUST absolute thresholds · z 0.36 (context) DRS 95 monthly as of 2026-05-01

Where it sits: 11.6 against fixed thresholds (15/22). higher than ~84% of its last decade.

The full history

1967 high 22.30 · low 4.00 · now 11.60 · 8 recessions shaded 2026

What it measures: how long the jobless stay jobless
Where it sits: 11.6 against fixed thresholds (15/22). higher than ~84% of its last decade: at the 84th percentile of its last decade.
z vs. its window: 0.36 (strain side: up). 118 observations in the window.
State rule: Scored against absolute thresholds: <15 calm, 15-22 watch, >22 extreme. Because the reference window is poisoned by the 2020-23 spikes, the z-score is shown for context but does not gate the state.
Confidence: ROBUST : a primary official series, mechanically reported.
Reliability (DRS): DRS 95

FRED ↗ Every number on this site is reproducible from this primary source.