Unemployment Statistics during the Great Depression
Unemployment statistics for the Great Depression show a remarkable collapse in
the labor market in just a few years, with recovery that did not take place
until the onset of World War II created an industrial demand that
brought the economy back to prosperity. In addition to unemployment, workers
during the Great Depression found themselves working in an atmosphere of
insecurity for lower salaries and wages than before.
|
Depression Era Unemployment Statistics
| ||||
|
Year
|
Population
|
Labor
Force |
Unemployed
|
Percentage
of
Labor Force |
|
1929
|
88,010,000
|
49,440,000
|
1,550,000
|
3.14
|
|
1930
|
89,550,000
|
50,080,000
|
4,340,000
|
8.67
|
|
1931
|
90,710,000
|
50,680,000
|
8,020,000
|
15.82
|
|
1932
|
91,810,000
|
51,250,000
|
12,060,000
|
23.53
|
|
1933
|
92,950,000
|
51,840,000
|
12,830,000
|
24.75
|
|
1934
|
94,190,000
|
52,490,000
|
11,340,000
|
21.60
|
|
1935
|
95,460,000
|
53,140,000
|
10,610,000
|
19.97
|
|
1936
|
96,700,000
|
53,740,000
|
9,030,000
|
16.80
|
|
1937
|
97,870,000
|
54,320,000
|
7,700,000
|
14.18
|
|
1938
|
99,120,000
|
54,950,000
|
10,390,000
|
18.91
|
|
1939
|
100,360,000
|
55,600,000
|
9,480,000
|
17.05
|
|
1940
|
101,560,000
|
56,180,000
|
8,120,000
|
14.45
|
|
1941
|
102,700,000
|
57,530,000
|
5,560,000
|
9.66
|
