Short Answer
Long-term unemployment—defined as being jobless for 27 weeks or more—is one of the most telling indicators of labor market health. While the official unemployment rate captures the total number of unemployed people, it does not reveal how long those individuals have been out of work. This article examines how long-term unemployment is measured at the state level, what the available data show, and why the share of jobless out of work 27 weeks or more matters for workers, policymakers, and communities.
Key Numbers
- 27 weeks: The standard threshold for long-term unemployment in U.S. labor statistics.
- 15 weeks: The threshold used in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ state-level U-1 measure, the closest published proxy for long-term unemployment by state.
- U-3: Total unemployed as a percent of the civilian labor force—the official unemployment rate.
- U-6: Total unemployed plus all marginally attached workers plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all marginally attached workers.
- July 2025–June 2026: The most recent 11-month average period for state alternative measures of labor underutilization published by BLS.
- 2024: The latest annual average period for state alternative measures.
- 6: The number of alternative labor underutilization measures (U-1 through U-6) published for states.
Explanation
Long-term unemployment is typically defined as a spell of joblessness lasting 27 weeks (about six months) or more. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) tracks unemployment duration through the Current Population Survey (CPS), a monthly survey of households. At the national level, BLS publishes the share of unemployed persons who have been out of work 27 weeks or more. At the state level, however, the most widely available duration-based measure is U-1, which counts persons unemployed 15 weeks or longer as a percent of the civilian labor force. The 27-week share is a subset of U-1 and is not separately published for states in the BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) alternative measures.
The six alternative measures—U-1 through U-6—provide a broader view of labor underutilization than the official unemployment rate. U-1 focuses on long-term unemployment (15 weeks or longer), U-2 on job losers, U-3 on total unemployment, U-4 adds discouraged workers, U-5 adds all marginally attached workers, and U-6 adds part-time workers who want full-time work but cannot find it. These measures are published for states as 11-month averages to improve statistical reliability.
Understanding the share of jobless out of work 27 weeks or more is important because long unemployment spells can erode skills, reduce lifetime earnings, and increase the risk of permanent labor force exit. States with high long-term unemployment shares may face deeper economic scarring and slower recoveries.
Definition
Long-term unemployment refers to a continuous spell of joblessness lasting 27 weeks or more while the individual is actively seeking work. The BLS defines unemployed persons as those who do not have a job, have actively looked for work in the prior 4 weeks, and are currently available for work. The 27-week threshold is widely used because it represents roughly six months—a period after which reemployment prospects often decline sharply.
In state-level data, the BLS publishes U-1, which measures persons unemployed 15 weeks or longer as a percent of the civilian labor force. While U-1 is not identical to the 27-week measure, it is the closest duration-based indicator available for all states on a consistent basis.
How the Statistic Is Calculated
The share of jobless out of work 27 weeks or more is calculated by dividing the number of unemployed persons who have been jobless for 27 weeks or longer by the total number of unemployed persons, then multiplying by 100. This yields a percentage of the unemployed, not of the labor force. By contrast, BLS’s U-1 measure expresses long-term unemployment (15 weeks or longer) as a percent of the civilian labor force, which includes both employed and unemployed persons.
For state-level estimates, the BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics program uses data from the Current Population Survey, supplemented by other sources, and publishes 11-month averages to reduce sampling variability. The formula for U-1 is: (persons unemployed 15 weeks or longer ÷ civilian labor force) × 100.
State Comparison
State-level data for the 27-week share are not directly published in the BLS alternative measures. The closest available state-level indicator is U-1, which captures unemployment lasting 15 weeks or longer. Because the 27-week threshold is more restrictive, a state’s U-1 rate will generally be higher than its 27-week share of the unemployed. The table below summarizes the six alternative measures and what each includes.
| Measure | Definition | Includes 27-week unemployed? |
|---|---|---|
| U-1 | Persons unemployed 15 weeks or longer, as a percent of the civilian labor force | Yes, as a subset |
| U-2 | Job losers and persons who completed temporary jobs, as a percent of the civilian labor force | No |
| U-3 | Total unemployed, as a percent of the civilian labor force (official unemployment rate) | Yes, included in total |
| U-4 | Total unemployed plus discouraged workers, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus discouraged workers | Yes, included in total unemployed |
| U-5 | Total unemployed plus discouraged workers plus all other marginally attached workers, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all marginally attached workers | Yes, included in total unemployed |
| U-6 | Total unemployed plus all marginally attached workers plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all marginally attached workers | Yes, included in total unemployed |
For actual state values, readers should consult the BLS source pages, which provide U-1 through U-6 for each state.
National Comparison
At the national level, BLS publishes monthly data on the number and share of unemployed persons by duration, including those out of work 27 weeks or more. The national long-term unemployment share is a key recession indicator. During the 2007–09 recession, the share of unemployed persons jobless for 27 weeks or more rose sharply, peaking above 45 percent in 2010. State-level U-1 rates tend to follow the national pattern but vary widely by state economic conditions.
Because state alternative measures are published as 11-month averages, they are less volatile than monthly national figures and are better suited for cross-state comparisons.
Ranking Table
The following table lists the six BLS alternative measures of labor underutilization for states, ranked by the breadth of the measure. It does not show state-specific values because the provided sources do not include the underlying state data; however, the BLS pages referenced at the end of this article contain the full state tables.
| Rank (broadest to narrowest) | Measure | What it adds to U-3 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | U-6 | Marginally attached workers and part-time for economic reasons |
| 2 | U-5 | All marginally attached workers |
| 3 | U-4 | Discouraged workers only |
| 4 | U-3 | Total unemployed (official rate) |
| 5 | U-2 | Job losers and completed temporary jobs |
| 6 | U-1 | Long-term unemployed (15 weeks or longer) |
Historical Data
Long-term unemployment is highly cyclical. The Monthly Labor Review article ‘Duration of unemployment in States, 2007–09’ documented that during the Great Recession, the share of long-term unemployed rose in every state, with some states seeing the long-term share more than double. The article noted that in a strong economy, the largest share of the unemployed is generally short-term, while increases in long-term unemployment can signal a weakening economy.
In a strong economy, the largest share of the unemployed is generally found in the short-term category. Increases in the number of short-term unemployed can indicate a weakening economy. If the economy continues to weaken, the long-term share rises.
Why It Matters
Long-term unemployment has lasting consequences. Workers out of work 27 weeks or more are more likely to experience skill depreciation, lower subsequent wages, and difficulty reentering the labor force. High long-term unemployment can also strain public finances through extended unemployment benefits and reduced tax revenue. For states, a high share of long-term jobless may indicate structural problems, such as a mismatch between workers’ skills and available jobs.
Factors Behind the Trend
- Economic cycles: Recessions increase layoffs and reduce hiring, lengthening unemployment spells.
- Industry shifts: Declines in manufacturing or other sectors can leave workers with skills that are no longer in demand.
- Geographic mismatch: Job growth may occur in different regions than where unemployed workers live.
- Demographics: Older workers and those with less education often face longer unemployment spells.
- Policy environment: Availability of unemployment benefits and job training programs can affect duration.
Limitations of the Data
The state-level U-1 measure uses a 15-week threshold, not 27 weeks, so it is not a direct measure of the share of jobless out of work 27 weeks or more. Additionally, state alternative measures are published as 11-month averages, which smooth out monthly changes and may obscure recent trends. The Current Population Survey sample size for smaller states can lead to higher sampling error, making year-to-year comparisons less reliable. Finally, the 27-week share of the unemployed is a different denominator than U-1’s labor force share, so the two should not be directly compared.
Methodology
The BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program produces state-level labor force estimates using a combination of Current Population Survey data, Current Employment Statistics, and state unemployment insurance claims. The alternative measures U-1 through U-6 are calculated using the same definitions as the national measures. State values are published as 11-month averages to improve reliability. The most recent period available in the provided sources is July 2025 through June 2026.
Source & Data Date
Primary source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, ‘Alternative Measures of Labor Underutilization for States, July 2025 through June 2026 11-month Averages’ (accessed September 10, 2026). Additional sources include BLS ‘Alternative Measures of Labor Underutilization for States, April 2025 through March 2026 11-month Averages’ and ‘Alternative Measures of Labor Underutilization for States, 2024 Annual Averages,’ as well as the Monthly Labor Review article ‘Duration of unemployment in States, 2007–09’ (December 2010).
FAQ
What is long-term unemployment?
Long-term unemployment is defined as a continuous spell of joblessness lasting 27 weeks (about six months) or more while actively seeking work. It is a key indicator of labor market distress because long unemployment spells can erode skills and reduce reemployment prospects.
How does BLS measure long-term unemployment by state?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes state-level alternative measures of labor underutilization, including U-1, which counts persons unemployed 15 weeks or longer as a percent of the civilian labor force. The 27-week share is a subset of U-1 and is not separately published for states in the LAUS alternative measures.
What is the difference between U-1 and the 27-week share?
U-1 uses a 15-week threshold and expresses the count as a percent of the civilian labor force. The 27-week share uses a longer threshold and is typically expressed as a percent of total unemployed persons. U-1 will generally be higher because it includes more people and uses a different denominator.
Why is long-term unemployment important?
Long-term unemployment can lead to skill depreciation, lower lifetime earnings, and increased risk of leaving the labor force permanently. High long-term unemployment shares may indicate structural economic problems and can strain public finances.
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