Estimates for the civilian unemployment rate come from the household survey. The unemployment rate is the percentage of those in the labor force who do not have jobs. It is calculated by taking the number of unemployed divided by the civilian labor force.

Household survey. The sample is selected to reflect the entire civilian noninstitutional population. Based on responses to a series of questions on work and job search activities, each person 16 years and over in a sample household is classified as employed, unemployed, or not in the labor force.