Employment Level (CE16OV)
Employment Level — Historical Chart
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Sign Up FreeUnderstanding Employment Level
Employment Level (FRED series CE16OV) is a monthly economic indicator measured in thousands of persons. The series is published through FRED, the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis economic database, with history going back to 1948. Values are seasonally adjusted, smoothing out predictable calendar effects so that underlying trends are easier to see.
Why it matters: Employment Level is one of the indicators traders, economists, and policymakers watch within the economic complex. Analysts use it to track conditions in the US economy and to anticipate shifts in growth, inflation, and policy.
How to read it: focus on the direction and persistence of changes rather than any single monthly print. Comparing the latest value against its level a year ago, and against its long-run range since 1948, gives a better sense of whether the series is signaling acceleration, deceleration, or a turning point.
About This Series
The civilian noninstitutional population is defined as: persons 16 years of age and older residing in the 50 states and the District of Columbia, who are not inmates of institutions (e.g., penal and mental facilities, homes for the aged), and who are not on active duty in the Armed Forces. The series comes from the 'Current Population Survey (Household Survey)' The source code is: LNS12000000
Recent Data
| Date | Value (Thous. of Persons) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2026 | 162,771 | +149 |
| April 1, 2026 | 162,622 | -226 |
| March 1, 2026 | 162,848 | -64 |
| February 1, 2026 | 162,912 | -185 |
| January 1, 2026 | 163,097 | -895 |
| December 1, 2025 | 163,992 | +232 |
| November 1, 2025 | 163,760 | +104 |
| September 1, 2025 | 163,656 | +286 |
| August 1, 2025 | 163,370 | +230 |
| July 1, 2025 | 163,140 | -226 |
| June 1, 2025 | 163,366 | +93 |
| May 1, 2025 | 163,273 | -696 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Employment Level today?
The latest value of Employment Level (CE16OV) is shown at the top of this page, along with its observation date and the change from the prior reading. Data is sourced from FRED and refreshed regularly.
How often is Employment Level updated?
Employment Level is reported monthly (Monthly). New observations appear on FRED shortly after the source agency releases them, and this page updates daily.
What does a rising Employment Level mean?
A sustained rise in Employment Level signals strengthening readings in this economic measure, in thousands of persons. Whether that is positive or negative for markets depends on context — compare the move against the series’ trend and related indicators in the same category.
Where does the CE16OV data come from?
The data comes from FRED® (Federal Reserve Economic Data), maintained by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, under series ID CE16OV. History is available back to 1948.
Related Unknown Indicators
- Real Gross Domestic Product1.6
- Real gross domestic product per capita70,502
- Average Hourly Earnings of Production and Nonsupervisory Employees, Total Private32.31
- Average Weekly Hours of All Employees, Total Private34.3
- Average Weekly Hours of Production and Nonsupervisory Employees, Manufacturing41.6
- Average Weekly Overtime Hours of Production and Nonsupervisory Employees, Manufacturing4
- Business Applications: Total for All NAICS in the United States523,971
- ICE BofA US Corporate Index Option-Adjusted Spread0.75
Data sourced from FRED®, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis: Employment Level (CE16OV). Retrieved from fred.stlouisfed.org. Last updated June 5, 2026.