Long-Term US Unemployment Rises to 27% Even as August Hiring Surges

NewsData.io · United States · Sep 13, 2026

Despite a strong August jobs report with 162,000 nonfarm payrolls added, long-term unemployment (27+ weeks) climbed to 27% of all unemployed Americans — roughly 1.93 million people — up from 25.5% in July, per BLS data. Richmond Fed researchers warn that the current 'low-hire, low-fire' environment makes reemployment especially difficult for extended job-seekers, as slower job creation reduces opportunities even when layoffs remain near historic lows. Meanwhile, a skills shortage persists: job vacancies sit near 7.3 million and employers face an estimated 1.3 million-worker talent gap in skilled trades, construction, and technical roles — sectors seeing heightened demand tied to AI infrastructure and manufacturing expansion. For staffing firms, this divergence signals strong placement opportunity in skilled trades while highlighting the growing challenge of placing long-term unemployed candidates.