The True Rate of Unemployment, developed by LISEP, tracks the percentage of the U.S. labor force without full-time work (35+ hours weekly) but who desire employment, are jobless, or earn below a living wage. Conservatively pegged at $26,000 annually in 2025 dollars before taxes, this metric offers a more accurate measure of Americans' financial well-being than standard indicators. Just as an accurate census funds communities equitably, policymakers rely on precise economic data to shape effective policy.

LISEP compiled this data using federal government sources from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to provide analysts and decision-makers with deeper insight into the current labor market landscape.