LISEP Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity

True Rate of Unemployment

The TRU, as defined by LISEP, measures the percentage of the U.S. labor force that is functionally unemployed. Using data compiled by the federal government’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the True Rate of Unemployment tracks the percentage of the U.S. labor force that is seeking but unable to find a full-time job (35+ hours a week), is unemployed, or is employed in a position earning a poverty wage, conservatively pegged at less than $25,000 annually before taxes.

TRU Out of the Population

The TRU Out of the Population measures the percentage of people in the whole U.S. population that is functionally unemployed. Using data compiled by the federal government's Bureau of Labor Statistics, the True Rate of Unemployment Out of the Population tracks the percentage of the civilian noninstitutional population (age 16 and older) that is seeking but unable to find a full-time job (35+ hours a week), is unemployed, or is employed in a position earning a poverty wage, conservatively pegged at less than $25,000 annually before taxes.

For a more in-depth explanation of the True Rate of Unemployment Out of the Population, please reference LISEP’s TRU white paper.

True

Rate of Unemployment

LISEP has calculated the TRU and TRU Out of the Population for many U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs)* as well as for the 50 states. TRU for MSAs and states provides a deeper understanding of local labor market conditions than headline statistics.

Additional Resources:

TRU White Paper

TRU & TWE Methodology

TRU & TWE Source Data

TRU Local Source Data

The census defines an MSA as “a core area containing a large population nucleus, together with adjacent communities that have a high degree of economic and social integration with that core.” To be considered an MSA, the main city must have a population of 50,000 and the total MSA must have 100,000. For many smaller MSAs, the sample size is not large enough to produce a robust estimate of the TRU. LISEP was not able to calculate these MSAs due to sample size.

Hide List

Aguadilla-Isabela, PR
Albany, GA
Albany-Lebanon, OR
Alexandria, LA
Altoona, PA
Ames, IA
Anchorage, AK
Anniston-Oxford, AL
Arecibo, PR
Bay City, MI
Beckley, WV
Bellingham, WA
Bismarck, ND
Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA
Brunswick, GA
Cape Girardeau, MO-IL
Carson City, NV
Casper, WY
Cheyenne, WY
Columbia, MO
Columbus, IN
Corvallis, OR
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL
Cumberland, MD-WV
Dalton, GA
Danville, IL
Decatur, AL
Decatur, IL
Dothan, AL
Dubuque, IA
Duluth, MN-WI
Eau Claire, WI

El Centro, CA
Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY
Elmira, NY
Enid, OK
Fairbanks, AK
Flagstaff, AZ
Fond du Lac, WI
Gadsden, AL
Gettysburg, PA
Grand Forks, ND-MN
Grand Island, NE
Grand Junction, CO
Grants Pass, OR
Great Falls, MT
Guayama, PR
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS
Hammond, LA
Harrisonburg, VA
Hattiesburg, MS
Hinesville, GA
Homosassa Springs, FL
Hot Springs, AR
Houma-Thibodaux, LA
Ithaca, NY
Jackson, TN
Jefferson City, MO
Jonesboro, AR
Joplin, MO
Kankakee, IL
Kingston, NY
Kokomo, IN
La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ

Lawrence, KS
Lawton, OK
Lebanon, PA
Lewiston, ID-WA
Lima, OH
Lincoln, NE
Logan, UT-ID
Longview, WA
Lynchburg, VA
Madera, CA
Manhattan, KS
Mankato, MN
Mansfield, OH
Mayagüez, PR
Merced, CA
Michigan City-La Porte, IN
Midland, MI
Midland, TX
Missoula, MT
Morristown, TN
Muncie, IN
Napa, CA
New Bern, NC
Ocean City, NJ
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA
Owensboro, KY
Parkersburg-Vienna, WV
Pittsfield, MA
Pocatello, ID
Ponce, PR
Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown, NY
Pueblo, CO
Punta Gorda, FL

Rapid City, SD
Reno, NV
Rochester, MN
Rocky Mount, NC
Rome, GA
St. Cloud, MN
St. Joseph, MO-KS
San Angelo, TX
San Germán, PR
San Juan-Bayamón-Caguas, PR
Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL
Sebring-Avon Park, FL
Sheboygan, WI
Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD
Springfield, OH
State College, PA
Staunton, VA
Sumter, SC
Texarkana, TX-AR
The Villages, FL
Tuscaloosa, AL
Twin Falls, ID
Valdosta, GA
Victoria, TX
Walla Walla, WA
Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH
Wenatchee, WA
Wheeling, WV-OH
Wilmington, NC
Yakima, WA
Yauco, PR
Yuba City, CA

Local Unemployment Data

The state and local True Rate of Unemployment

The Madison, WI, region led the nation in living-wage jobs in 2024, while the lowest-ranked metropolitan area in LISEP’s analysis, McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX, had a functional unemployment rate of over 45%.

By MSA

By STATE

Local Unemployment Data

The state and local True Rate of Unemployment

The Madison, WI, region led the nation in living-wage jobs in 2024, while the lowest-ranked metropolitan area in LISEP’s analysis, McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX, had a functional unemployment rate of over 45%.

Read more

By MSA

By STATE