Employment-Population Ratio (EMRATIO)
Employment-Population Ratio — Historical Chart
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Sign Up FreeUnderstanding Employment-Population Ratio
Employment-Population Ratio (FRED series EMRATIO) is a monthly economic indicator measured in percent. 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-Population Ratio 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 series comes from the 'Current Population Survey (Household Survey)' The source code is: LNS12300000
Recent Data
| Date | Value (%) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2026 | 59.20% | +0.1 |
| April 1, 2026 | 59.10% | -0.1 |
| March 1, 2026 | 59.20% | -0.1 |
| February 1, 2026 | 59.30% | -0.1 |
| January 1, 2026 | 59.40% | -0.3 |
| December 1, 2025 | 59.70% | +0.1 |
| November 1, 2025 | 59.60% | -0.1 |
| September 1, 2025 | 59.70% | +0.1 |
| August 1, 2025 | 59.60% | +0 |
| July 1, 2025 | 59.60% | -0.1 |
| June 1, 2025 | 59.70% | +0 |
| May 1, 2025 | 59.70% | -0.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Employment-Population Ratio today?
The latest value of Employment-Population Ratio (EMRATIO) 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-Population Ratio updated?
Employment-Population Ratio 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-Population Ratio mean?
A sustained rise in Employment-Population Ratio signals strengthening readings in this economic measure, in percent. 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 EMRATIO data come from?
The data comes from FRED® (Federal Reserve Economic Data), maintained by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, under series ID EMRATIO. History is available back to 1948.
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- ICE BofA US Corporate Index Option-Adjusted Spread0.75
Data sourced from FRED®, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis: Employment-Population Ratio (EMRATIO). Retrieved from fred.stlouisfed.org. Last updated June 5, 2026.