Authority and currency
About this authority
- Publisher
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Standing
- Primary authority
- Version
- Current definitions page verified August 7, 2026
- Relevant parts
- Employed; unemployed; labor force; not in the labor force; labor force participation rate
- Currency
- current · checked Aug 7, 2026
These definitions anchor the arithmetic and classification logic for the unemployment and participation formulas. They make clear why a person can move out of unemployment without moving into employment and why the two headline rates can move differently.
The definitions support correct measurement, not a complete evaluation of a labor market. Earnings, hours, job stability, underemployment, and population composition require additional measures.