Guaynabo, PR — November 2nd, 2026 — MyPerfectResume®, a premium resume-building service, has released The Long Shutout report, finding that more than one in four unemployed Americans are now long-term unemployed as hiring slows across the U.S. labor market.
A MyPerfectResume analysis of 23 federal data sets found that 25.9% of unemployed Americans had been out of work for at least 27 weeks during the first seven months of 2026. That is up from 18.9% in 2023. The number of long-term unemployed workers also climbed from 1.1 million to 1.9 million over the same period.
Key Findings
- More than one in four unemployed Americans were long-term unemployed. The share averaged 25.9% in the first seven months of 2026, up from 18.9% in 2023.
- The long-term unemployed population grew 68% since 2023. It rose from 1.1 million to 1.9 million.
- People are spending longer unemployed. Median unemployment duration reached about 11 weeks, while the average rose to about 25 weeks.
- Hiring is a major weakness. The hiring rate fell to its lowest level in the 11 years studied, while layoffs remained below pre-pandemic levels.
- Adults ages 25–54 remained active in the labor market. Their labor force participation rate reached its highest level in the study.
“Low layoffs can make the job market look stable, but that does not tell the full story for people who are already out of work,” said Dr. Jasmine Escalera, Career Expert at MyPerfectResume. “More unemployed Americans are spending months looking for work at the same time employers are hiring at a slower pace.”
Long-Term Unemployment Keeps Rising
Long-term unemployment has increased each year since 2023.
- In 2023, 18.9% of unemployed Americans were long-term unemployed.
- That share reached 25.9% in the first seven months of 2026.
- The number of long-term unemployed workers rose 68%, from 1.1 million to 1.9 million.
- In May 2026, nearly 2 million Americans had been unemployed for at least 27 weeks.
The time people spend unemployed has also increased. Median unemployment duration rose from 8.9 weeks in 2023 to 11.1 weeks in 2026, while average duration increased from 20.4 weeks to 25.1 weeks.
Hiring Has Slowed Without a Surge in Layoffs
Employer data show a labor market with fewer hires and fewer workers leaving their jobs.
From 2023 to 2026:
- Hiring rate: 3.8% to 3.3%
- Quits rate: 2.4% to 2.0%
- Layoffs rate: remained at 1.1%
- Job openings rate: 5.8% to 4.4%
Hiring and quits both reached their lowest rates in the period studied. At the same time, layoffs remained below their pre-pandemic rate.
The data do not prove that slower hiring caused longer unemployment, but they show both trends happening at the same time.
Workers Are Still Participating
Prime-age workers are not driving the rise in long-term unemployment.
Among adults ages 25–54, 83.7% were working or looking for work in 2026, the highest rate in the study.
Unemployment has also risen among several groups:
- Ages 25–34: 4.7%, up from 3.8% in 2019
- Ages 25–54: 3.7%, up from 3.1%
- Ages 20–24: 7.1%, up from 6.9%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher, age 25+: 2.8%, up from 2.2%
Adults ages 25–34 saw the largest increase in unemployment compared with 2019 among the age groups studied.
To view the full report, visit the MyPerfectResume Long-Term Unemployment report: https://www.myperfectresume.com/career-center/careers/basics/long-term-unemployment
For media inquiries or to speak with Dr. Jasmine Escalera, contact Nathan Barber, Public Relations Specialist, at [email protected].
Methodology
MyPerfectResume analyzed 23 seasonally adjusted monthly data sets from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics covering January 2016 through July 2026.
The analysis included data from the Current Population Survey and the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. Annual comparisons use January-through-July averages so each year covers the same period.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics defines long-term unemployment as being unemployed for 27 weeks or longer. All BLS figures are subject to revision.
About MyPerfectResume
MyPerfectResume Resume Builder with professional templates is designed to help job seekers elevate their careers. The easy-to-use platform was created to eliminate the hassle of resume writing, offering professionally written examples, free expert tips, step-by-step guidance to make a resume, and valuable interview advice to create an outstanding job application effortlessly. Since 2012, MyPerfectResume’s Resume Builder has helped more than 11 million job seekers create their perfect resumes online. The MyPerfectResume Research Center produces employment surveys and workforce research that have been featured in Forbes, Yahoo! Finance, CNBC, USA Today, BBC, and more. Add MyPerfectResume as a preferred source on Google to receive more workforce trends, career insights, and labor market research in your personalized search experience.
