October 11, 2006 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Unemployment rate in September 2006

The number of unemployed persons (6.9 million) and the unemployment rate (4.6 percent) were essentially unchanged in September.

Unemployment rate, January 2005-September 2006
[Chart data—TXT]

Thus far in 2006, the jobless rate has ranged from 4.6 to 4.8 percent.

Over the month, the unemployment rates for most major worker groups—adult women, teenagers, whites, blacks, and Hispanics—showed little or no change. The jobless rate for adult men declined in September.

These data are from the Current Population Survey and are seasonally adjusted. More information can be found in "The Employment Situation: September 2006" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 06-1770.