Unemployment Across Presidencies

The unemployment rate is one of the most closely watched economic indicators, offering a snapshot of labor market health and broader economic conditions. Tracking the percentage of the labor force actively seeking work but unable to find employment, this metric influences everything from Federal Reserve policy decisions to household financial planning.

Over recent decades, the unemployment rate has traced dramatic swings—from the relative stability of the late 1990s to the sharp spike during the 2008 financial crisis, followed by a long recovery, then the unprecedented disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and the subsequent rebound. Understanding these patterns reveals not just cyclical economic forces but also structural shifts in how Americans work, the resilience of different industries, and the evolving relationship between employment and economic growth.

The following visualization explores these trends, highlighting who was in charge when good became bad and bad became good.