U-6 Unemployment.

U-6 is a broader unemployment rate that adds discouraged workers and people stuck in part-time jobs to the official count, so it runs higher than the headline rate.

Reviewed by Joseph Citizen, Founder · Last reviewed July 12, 2026

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U-6 Unemployment

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In plain English

U-6 is the widest of the government's unemployment measures. On top of the officially unemployed, it counts discouraged workers, others who want a job but are not actively looking, and people working part-time who want full-time work. Because it captures this hidden slack, U-6 is always higher than the headline U-3 rate, and the gap between them hints at how much weakness the main number is missing. Analysts watch it to judge the real health of the job market.

Most useful ages

25 to 70

01Why it matters

U-6 shows the underemployment the headline rate hides, so it is a better gauge of whether the job market is truly strong or just looks that way.

02The math, step by step

The headline unemployment rate is 4 percent, but U-6 is 7.5 percent. The gap reflects part-timers who want full-time work and people who have given up looking.

03What this is NOT

Do not confuse with The headline unemployment rate

U-6 is NOT the headline rate. The headline rate (U-3) counts only active job seekers; U-6 adds discouraged workers and involuntary part-timers, so it is always higher.