Labor Force Participation Rate (CIVPART)
Labor Force Participation Rate — Historical Chart
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Sign Up FreeUnderstanding Labor Force Participation Rate
Labor Force Participation Rate (FRED series CIVPART) 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: Labor Force Participation Rate 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: LNS11300000 The Labor Force Participation Rate is defined by the Current Population Survey (CPS) as “the number of people in the labor force as a percentage of the civilian noninstitutional population […] the participation rate is the percentage of the population that is either working or actively looking for work.” The Labor Force Participation Rate is collected in the CPS and published by the BLS. It is provided on a monthly basis, so this data is used in part by macroeconomists as an initial economic indicator of current labor market trends. The labor force participation rate helps government agencies, financial markets, and researchers gauge the overall health of the economy. Note that long-run changes in labor force participation may reflect secular economic trends that are unrelated to the overall health of the economy. For instance, demographic changes such as the aging of population can lead to a secular increase of exits from the labor force, shrinking the labor force and decreasing the labor force participation rate. For more information, see: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CES Overview (https://www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cesprog.htm) U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Concepts and Definitions (CPS) (https://www.bls.gov/cps/definitions.htm#lfpr)
Recent Data
| Date | Value (%) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2026 | 61.80% | +0 |
| April 1, 2026 | 61.80% | -0.1 |
| March 1, 2026 | 61.90% | -0.1 |
| February 1, 2026 | 62.00% | -0.1 |
| January 1, 2026 | 62.10% | -0.3 |
| December 1, 2025 | 62.40% | -0.1 |
| November 1, 2025 | 62.50% | +0 |
| September 1, 2025 | 62.50% | +0.2 |
| August 1, 2025 | 62.30% | +0.1 |
| July 1, 2025 | 62.20% | -0.1 |
| June 1, 2025 | 62.30% | -0.1 |
| May 1, 2025 | 62.40% | -0.2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Labor Force Participation Rate today?
The latest value of Labor Force Participation Rate (CIVPART) 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 Labor Force Participation Rate updated?
Labor Force Participation Rate 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 Labor Force Participation Rate mean?
A sustained rise in Labor Force Participation Rate 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 CIVPART data come from?
The data comes from FRED® (Federal Reserve Economic Data), maintained by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, under series ID CIVPART. History is available back to 1948.
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Data sourced from FRED®, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis: Labor Force Participation Rate (CIVPART). Retrieved from fred.stlouisfed.org. Last updated June 5, 2026.