Long-Term Unemployment Hits 25.9% of Jobless
A MyPerfectResume analysis of federal data finds more Americans out of work for six months or longer in 2026 than in 2023.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Employment
Live Poll
Do you think it is getting harder to find a job in your area?
Some 25.9% of unemployed Americans had been out of work for at least 27 weeks during the first seven months of 2026, up from 18.9% in 2023. The long-term unemployed population grew 68% over that span, from 1.1 million to 1.9 million workers.
Why it matters
A growing share of jobseekers remaining unemployed for extended periods signals a labor market in which finding new work has become slower and harder. The shift coincides with a falling hiring rate, which suggests fewer openings are absorbing people already searching.
The hiring rate fell from 3.8% in 2023 to 3.3% in 2026, while the job openings rate dropped from 5.8% to 4.4%, and the layoffs rate held steady at 1.1%. The source analysis does not explain why hiring and openings declined while layoffs stayed flat.
The players
MyPerfectResume
An online resume-building and career services company that commissioned the analysis of federal labor data.
The details
Average unemployment duration rose from 20.4 weeks in 2023 to 25.1 weeks in 2026. Among adults ages 25 to 54, 83.7% were working or looking for work in 2026, the highest rate in the study period.
Timeline
2023: long-term unemployment share stood at 18.9% of unemployed workers.
May 2026: nearly 2 million Americans had been unemployed for at least 27 weeks.
First seven months of 2026: the long-term unemployment share averaged 25.9%.
Macro View
The decline in hiring and job openings measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey mirrors a cooling labor market in which workers who lose jobs take longer to find new ones. The layoffs rate's stability alongside falling hiring points to a market that is not shedding jobs quickly but is filling them slowly.
For jobseekers, a longer average search of 25.1 weeks means budgeting for extended stretches without a paycheck and planning savings or benefits accordingly. Workers who have been out of work for six months or more may find that employers weigh recent gaps heavily when reviewing applications.
The takeaway
Job searches are lasting longer across the country, so jobseekers should plan for a multi-month timeline and keep skills and networks active throughout. Tracking hiring and openings trends can help set realistic expectations for how long a search may take.
Further reading
Track broader hiring and jobless trends in the Employment section.
More information
Read the full MyPerfectResume long-term unemployment report for the complete analysis of federal data.
Live Poll
Do you think it is getting harder to find a job in your area?
