If You Lose Your Job, How Long Will It Take to Find a New One?

The median number of weeks is much lower than the average. That has good and bad implications.

Median and Average Weeks Unemployed

• Median: 11.6 Weeks Unemployed Up from 9.4
• Average: 26.0 Week Unemployed Up from 20.9

Currently, 50 percent of the people will find a job 11.6 weeks. However, the average weeks unemployment is 26 weeks (half a year) and steadily rising.

Weeks Unemployed Percentage Breakdowns

• Under 5 Weeks: 30.6 Percent and Steady
• Over 14 Weeks: 41.9 Percent and Rising
• Over 26 Weeks: 27.5 Percent and Rising

The relative stability of under 5 weeks suggests 30-34 percent of the people who lose a job will quickly find another. That’s the good news.

After that, things get much worse. 41.9 percent of people who lose their job are still looking after 15 weeks.

And 27.5 percent are still looking after 26 weeks. This is why the average is so much higher than the median.

At 26 weeks (for many much earlier), unemployment insurance benefits are exhausted.

Initial Unemployment Claims Unexpectedly Jump to a Four-Month High

Yesterday, I noted Initial Unemployment Claims Unexpectedly Jump to a Four-Month High

Initial claims are the highest since February 7, 2026.

Five Factors Making Things Worse

1. Twelve states have a maximum of 21 weeks of benefits. Seven states including Florida offer 16 weeks of benefits or less.
2. Once someone maxes out benefits, they drop off continued claims counts.
3. The self-employed have no benefits and cannot file an unemployment claim. Tariffs hit small businesses and the self-employed disproportionately.
4. Immigrants are hesitant to file a claim, even those who have been working here for years.
5. Illegal immigrants are highly unlikely to respond to BLS phone calls regarding unemployment. This means the unemployment level itself is undercounted.

At a minimum, continued claims undercount stress by a minimum of 2 million. That is the number of of 27⁺ week unemployed, plus everyone in points #1 through #4 above.

I have yet to see any mainstream media report cover this important detail about people with expiring benefits.

For more details click above link.

Jobs Rise a Better than Expected 172,000 in May, Unemployment Rate Steady

Today, I note Jobs Rise a Better than Expected 172,000 in May, Unemployment Rate Steady

The unemployment rate is unchanged at 4.3 percent for 3 months.

QCEW and BED data show more jobs are now being lost in closing businesses than gained in new businesses.

Annual revisions have been lower for two consecutive years. And the QCEW and BED reports show more negative revisions are likely. See links below.

Perhaps today’s report is accurate, but there is no valid reason to believe so.