The broad U.S. U6 unemployment rate eased to 7.7% in August 2026, down from 7.9% in July, according to data updated on 4 September 2026. The U6 measure, which includes discouraged workers and those employed part-time for economic reasons, points to a modest improvement in overall labor market slack during the month.
The decline from July’s 7.9% suggests that fewer workers are experiencing underemployment or marginal attachment to the labor force, although the data still indicate a pool of labor not fully absorbed into full-time roles. Investors and policymakers will watch subsequent releases closely to determine whether August marks the start of a more sustained trend in broader labor market strengthening.
