Unemployment Insurance Coverage Rate

Description: 

Percent of non-farm employment covered by unemployment insurance.

Methodological Notes: 

The Unemployment Insurance (UI) program provides unemployment benefits to eligible workers who become unemployed through no fault of their own, and meet certain other eligibility requirements.

The unemployment insurance coverage rate is calculated by dividing the average monthly covered employment by total nonfarm employment.

Average monthly covered employment is the 12-month average of the number of covered employees reported to the states by employers. From 1938 to 1944, data were reported for the last payroll period of each month; from 1945 to 1962, data were reported for the payroll period ending nearest to the 15th day of each month; and for 1963 and after, data have been reported for the payroll period including the 12th day of each month. More details are available from the Department of Labor.

Total nonfarm employment is the total number of people employed in the non-farm business sector, as estimated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics with data from its Current Employment Statistics Survey. It excludes people who are self-employed.