Hires rate, total nonfarm sector, seasonally adjusted, January 2001-May 2009 Percent 2001 Jan 4.2 Feb 4.1 Mar 4.4 Apr 4.1 May 4.1 Jun 4.0 Jul 4.0 Aug 3.9 Sep 3.9 Oct 3.9 Nov 3.8 Dec 3.8 2002 Jan 3.8 Feb 3.9 Mar 3.7 Apr 3.9 May 3.9 Jun 3.8 Jul 4.1 Aug 3.8 Sep 3.8 Oct 3.7 Nov 3.8 Dec 3.9 2003 Jan 3.9 Feb 3.8 Mar 3.5 Apr 3.6 May 3.6 Jun 3.7 Jul 3.6 Aug 3.6 Sep 3.7 Oct 3.9 Nov 3.7 Dec 3.9 2004 Jan 3.8 Feb 3.8 Mar 4.1 Apr 4.0 May 3.9 Jun 3.9 Jul 3.8 Aug 3.9 Sep 3.9 Oct 4.0 Nov 4.0 Dec 4.0 2005 Jan 4.2 Feb 4.0 Mar 4.0 Apr 4.0 May 4.0 Jun 4.1 Jul 4.0 Aug 4.1 Sep 4.1 Oct 3.8 Nov 3.9 Dec 3.9 2006 Jan 3.8 Feb 4.1 Mar 4.0 Apr 3.8 May 4.1 Jun 4.0 Jul 4.1 Aug 3.9 Sep 4.0 Oct 3.9 Nov 4.0 Dec 3.9 2007 Jan 3.9 Feb 3.9 Mar 3.9 Apr 3.8 May 3.9 Jun 3.9 Jul 3.8 Aug 3.8 Sep 3.8 Oct 3.9 Nov 3.8 Dec 3.7 2008 Jan 3.6 Feb 3.7 Mar 3.5 Apr 3.6 May 3.4 Jun 3.5 Jul 3.4 Aug 3.4 Sep 3.3 Oct 3.3 Nov 3.1 Dec 3.3 2009 Jan 3.3 Feb 3.2 Mar 3.1 Apr 3.1 May 3.0