

So as the unemployment rate increases, inflation decreases, though at a declining rate. Phillips Curve: The Phillips Curve describes a similar relationship between the unemployment rate and inflation, though on an exponential decay curve. "When the economy overheats, we tend to fall into what we call an inflationary gap," Bissessar says, which is a gap caused when the measured GDP is higher than the theoretical GDP when unemployment is at a natural rate.

If the unemployment rate dips too low, GDP growth can grow unsustainably. The lower the unemployment rate, the higher the GDP. For every percentage point that the unemployment rate rises, GDP falls by 2%. Okun's Law: Okun's Law describes a 1:2 inverse ratio between unemployment and GDP. An unemployment rate that exists outside these bounds is problematic for the economy, as outlined by two economic theories: Okun's law and the Phillips curve: In the US, a healthy unemployment rate can range between 3% to 5%, though this varies from country to country. "It's never a good strategy for a politician to be in office, and it doesn't matter which country, and there's tons of unemployment," Bissessar says. Additionally, unemployment usually creates unhappy voters. In addition to the economy's health, the unemployment rate has other ramifications, including a positive correlation with the crime rate. Nicole Bissessar, a professor of economics at Southern New Hampshire University says "the unemployment rate is always the first thing that you notice when the economy is on its way down." Other effects of the unemployment rate While each factor is tied to the others, Dr. As a result, unemployment would rise, which would mean less consumer spending because their source of income is suddenly uncertain. In addition to the unemployment rate, the NBER also looks at real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), real income, consumer spending, industrial production, and retail sales - all of which are closely intertwined.įor example, if GDP starts falling, companies might halt production as a precautionary measure, which means they're also cutting back on staff. Specifically, it is a key determinant when the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) announces the economy is in recession. The unemployment rate is used as a measure of the economy's health. As of May 2022, the unemployment rate is at 3.6%, unchanged since March. It's released on a monthly basis by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, usually on the first Friday of every month. The unemployment rate is expressed as a percentage of the labor force that is unemployed. Governments can keep their finger on the pulse of the economy by keeping track of the unemployment rate. Their main concern is cyclical unemployment, the unemployment caused by ups and downs in the wider economy. Governments, for the most part, are unconcerned with these forms of unemployment. Structural unemployment describes an imbalance between the skills demanded in the job market and the skills that the labor force has. Frictional unemployment describes the period of unemployment that occurs when someone is in-between jobs. Seasonal unemployment occurs when a particular industry goes dark during a period throughout the year, like tour guides during the tourist season. Not all unemployment is created equal in the eyes of a country's government. By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from InsiderĪs well as other partner offers and accept our
