LISEP Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity

True Rate of Unemployment Out of the Population

The TRU OOP measures the percentage of the whole 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 U.S. population (age 16 and older) that does not have a full-time job (35+ hours a week) but wants one, has no job, or does not earn a living wage, conservatively pegged at $20,000 annually before taxes.

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LISEP Local Analysis

LISEP’s True Rate of Unemployment Out of the Population, True Living Cost and True Weekly Earnings are tailored to each MSA and combined with other metro-specific data to offer a more accurate and detailed understanding of how each MSA is performing.

For an in-depth explanation of the methodology behind these local metrics, please reference LISEP’s TLC & TWE Local Analysis Methodology or download the source data.

True Weekly Earnings

The TWE measures the weekly earnings of all members of the workforce — including the part-time and jobless who are seeking work. Using data compiled by the BLS, LISEP calculates the median earnings of everyone who is employed or actively seeking employment — taking the median earnings of the whole U.S. labor force as defined by the BLS.

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True Living Cost

The TLC is a cost-of-living metric that tracks price changes for essential items such as housing, food, transportation, medical care, childcare, technology, and personal care and household items. The TLC is tailored to the specific dynamics of individual households, considering the number of adults and/or children in the home, and assumes a modest budget where corners do not need to be cut to survive.

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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

LISEP Local Analysis

Localized economic metrics for the 50 largest metropolitan statistical areas

With wages that more than offset the high cost of living, the Bay Area is the best performing region for middle- and working-class households in the country’s 50 largest metropolitan statistical areas.

LISEP Local Analysis

Localized economic metrics for the 50 largest metropolitan statistical areas

With wages that more than offset the high cost of living, the Bay Area is the best performing region for middle- and working-class households in the country’s 50 largest metropolitan statistical areas.

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