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.
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Depression Era Unemployment Statistics
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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
|