May Job Market Trends: 6.2 Million Americans Seeking Work

Americans can't find jobs.

The number of Americans not in the labor force who currently want a job rose +76,000 in May, to 6.2 million, the 3rd-highest since July 2021.

These are people who are not officially part of the labor force, meaning they are not actively looking for… pic.twitter.com/HwsXgaO4H5

— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) June 14, 2026