Unemployment Rate The unemployment rate measures the percentage of the
total civilian labor force that are currently unemployed. The
civilian labor force consists of civilians (non-military
personnel), 16 years of age or older, who are willing to work
and are not incarcerated. The number of people unemployed is
determined according to certain criteria. In the U.S., an
unemployed person is a member of the civilian are not
considered a part of the civilian labor force and therefore are
not counted among the unemployed.
