body {
font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
line-height: 1.6;
color: #333;
max-width: 800px;
margin: 0 auto;
padding: 20px;
}
.calculator-container {
background-color: #f8f9fa;
border: 1px solid #e9ecef;
border-radius: 8px;
padding: 30px;
margin-bottom: 40px;
box-shadow: 0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
}
.calculator-header {
text-align: center;
margin-bottom: 25px;
}
.calculator-header h2 {
margin: 0;
color: #2c3e50;
}
.input-group {
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.input-group label {
display: block;
margin-bottom: 8px;
font-weight: 600;
color: #495057;
}
.input-wrapper {
position: relative;
}
.input-wrapper input {
width: 100%;
padding: 12px;
border: 1px solid #ced4da;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 16px;
box-sizing: border-box; /* Fix padding issue */
}
.help-text {
font-size: 12px;
color: #6c757d;
margin-top: 5px;
}
.calc-btn {
display: block;
width: 100%;
padding: 15px;
background-color: #007bff;
color: white;
border: none;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 18px;
font-weight: bold;
cursor: pointer;
transition: background-color 0.2s;
margin-top: 20px;
}
.calc-btn:hover {
background-color: #0056b3;
}
.results-section {
margin-top: 30px;
background-color: white;
border: 1px solid #dee2e6;
border-radius: 4px;
padding: 20px;
display: none;
}
.result-row {
display: flex;
justify-content: space-between;
align-items: center;
padding: 10px 0;
border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;
}
.result-row:last-child {
border-bottom: none;
}
.result-label {
font-weight: 500;
}
.result-value {
font-weight: 700;
font-size: 18px;
color: #2c3e50;
}
.primary-result {
background-color: #e8f4fd;
padding: 15px;
border-radius: 4px;
margin-bottom: 15px;
text-align: center;
}
.primary-result .result-value {
font-size: 32px;
color: #007bff;
display: block;
margin-top: 5px;
}
.content-section {
margin-top: 40px;
background: #fff;
}
h2 {
color: #2c3e50;
border-bottom: 2px solid #007bff;
padding-bottom: 10px;
margin-top: 30px;
}
h3 {
color: #34495e;
margin-top: 25px;
}
p, li {
font-size: 16px;
}
ul {
padding-left: 20px;
}
.formula-box {
background-color: #eee;
padding: 15px;
font-family: monospace;
border-left: 4px solid #333;
margin: 20px 0;
}
function calculateUnemployment() {
// Get input values
var employedInput = document.getElementById('employed').value;
var unemployedInput = document.getElementById('unemployed').value;
var populationInput = document.getElementById('population').value;
// Parse values
var employed = parseFloat(employedInput);
var unemployed = parseFloat(unemployedInput);
var population = parseFloat(populationInput);
// Validation
if (isNaN(employed) || isNaN(unemployed)) {
alert("Please enter valid numbers for Employed and Unemployed persons.");
return;
}
if (employed < 0 || unemployed 0) {
unemploymentRate = (unemployed / laborForce) * 100;
} else {
unemploymentRate = 0;
}
// Optional Calculations (Participation Rate)
var participationRate = 0;
var empPopRatio = 0;
var hasPopulation = !isNaN(population) && population > 0;
if (hasPopulation) {
if (population < laborForce) {
alert("Note: Population should typically be larger than the Labor Force.");
}
participationRate = (laborForce / population) * 100;
empPopRatio = (employed / population) * 100;
}
// Display Results
document.getElementById('results').style.display = 'block';
// Update DOM elements
document.getElementById('rateResult').innerHTML = unemploymentRate.toFixed(2) + "%";
document.getElementById('laborForceResult').innerHTML = laborForce.toLocaleString();
if (hasPopulation) {
document.getElementById('participationResult').innerHTML = participationRate.toFixed(2) + "%";
document.getElementById('empPopRatioResult').innerHTML = empPopRatio.toFixed(2) + "%";
} else {
document.getElementById('participationResult').innerHTML = "N/A (Pop. missing)";
document.getElementById('empPopRatioResult').innerHTML = "N/A (Pop. missing)";
}
}
How to Calculate the US Unemployment Rate
Understanding how the unemployment rate is calculated is essential for interpreting economic data. In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) measures labor market activity, working hours, and earnings. The most commonly cited figure is the U-3 Unemployment Rate, which this calculator is designed to compute.
The Unemployment Rate Formula
The unemployment rate represents the percentage of the labor force that is jobless and looking for work. It is not calculated based on the total population, but rather on the Civilian Labor Force.
Unemployment Rate = (Unemployed Workers / Civilian Labor Force) × 100
To use this formula, you must first calculate the Civilian Labor Force:
Civilian Labor Force = Employed Workers + Unemployed Workers
Definitions of Key Terms
- Employed: People who did any work for pay or profit during the survey week, or worked at least 15 hours in a family-operated business. This includes part-time and full-time workers.
- Unemployed: People who do not have a job, have actively looked for work in the prior four weeks, and are currently available for work.
- Civilian Labor Force: The sum of all employed and unemployed people. It excludes military personnel, federal government employees, retirees, students, and those not looking for work.
- Labor Force Participation Rate: The percentage of the total civilian noninstitutional population (aged 16+) that is in the labor force.
Why Your Result Might Differ from Official Numbers
Official BLS statistics are derived from the Current Population Survey (CPS), a monthly survey of households. The data is often seasonally adjusted to account for predictable seasonal patterns (like holiday hiring or students returning to school). This calculator performs the raw mathematical calculation based on the inputs you provide, without seasonal adjustment algorithms.
Example Calculation
Let's look at a practical example. Suppose a small town has the following statistics:
- Employed Persons: 9,500
- Unemployed Persons: 500
- Total Population (16+): 15,000
Step 1: Calculate Labor Force
9,500 (Employed) + 500 (Unemployed) = 10,000
Step 2: Calculate Unemployment Rate
(500 ÷ 10,000) × 100 = 5.0%
Step 3: Calculate Participation Rate
(10,000 ÷ 15,000) × 100 = 66.7%
U-3 vs. U-6 Unemployment
The calculator above determines the standard U-3 rate. However, economists also look at the U-6 rate, which is a broader measure of labor underutilization. U-6 includes:
- Discouraged workers (those who have stopped looking for work).
- Marginally attached workers.
- Part-time workers who would prefer full-time employment ("part-time for economic reasons").
The U-6 rate is always higher than the U-3 rate because the numerator (unemployed + underemployed) is larger.