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Data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Forecasts by Sigmanomics Forecast Engine.
United StatesUS Labor Force Participation Rate held to 61.8 Percent in April 2026
U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMonthlyReleased May 2026
US Labor Force Participation Rate held to 61.8 Percent in April 2026, released May 2026.
Latest Release
61.800000
Actual
—
Consensus
61.800000
Previous
Sigmacast Track Record
Sigmacast track record will appear here once this indicator has been released 3+ times since Sigmanomics began tracking.
Sigmacast Σ-direction model: consensus + ½ × mean(surprise, trailing 90d).
CORRELATED SYMBOLS— markets that historically move with this indicator
| Symbol | Direction | Correlation | Asset Class | Signal Bias | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 | ▲ Direct | +0.61 | INDEX | Bullish S&P 500 | → View |
| AAPL | ▼ Inverse | −0.52 | STOCKS | Bearish AAPL | → View |
| GBP/USD | ▲ Direct | +0.43 | FOREX | Bullish GBP | → View |
| BTC/USD | ▲ Direct | +0.39 | CRYPTO | Bullish BTC | → View |
Correlation based on 12-month rolling window. Click any symbol to view its Sigmanomics forecast page.
THE RELEASE
Labor Force Participation Rate (United States) was reported at 61.80 Percent in April 2026. The reading was unchanged from the previous release. Over the past 12 months, the indicator has averaged 62.15 Percent, ranging from 61.80 Percent to 62.50 Percent across 10 releases. This is classified as a high-impact indicator released on a monthly basis.
WHY IT MATTERS
The trailing three releases averaged 61.83 Percent, down from the prior three at 62.17 Percent. Volatility over the past year (σ 0.26 Percent) is higher than the prior year (σ 0.12 Percent). In May readings over the past 3 years, Labor Force Participation Rate has averaged 62.27 Percent.
THE MODEL'S TAKE
Historically, this indicator is positively correlated with S&P 500 (Bullish S&P 500). A secondary relationship exists with AAPL, negatively correlated (Bearish AAPL).
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
Same-country events in the next 14 days include Building Permits MoM (Jun 16) and Building Permits (Jun 16).
Auto-generated from current model state · Refreshes on each release · Last update May 2026.
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Labor Force Participation Rate - US
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About Labor Force Participation Rate — United States
DEFINITION
The US Labor Force Participation Rate held steady at 61.8% in April, matching the previous month's level. April's 61.8% remained below February's 62.0%, indicating a continued slight decline in workforce engagement. Market focus now shifts to upcoming employment reports for further labor market insights. Updated 6/6/26
WHY THIS INDICATOR MATTERS
This release contributes to the broader macro picture used by cross-asset investors for positioning and risk management. Surprises against consensus typically move rates and currencies on release. Released monthly.
WHAT CHANGED THIS MONTH
Latest reading (May 2026): actual 61.8 Percent. Prior reading (Apr 2026): 61.8 Percent. Before that (Mar 2026): 61.9 Percent.
WHAT'S NEXT
Sigmacast's 1-month forecast points to a similar reading versus the latest print. The 1-month and 3-month horizons disagree, suggesting a mixed signal. Trend-driven dynamics are the primary neutral force in the current projection. This indicator correlates most strongly with S&P 500 (Bullish S&P 500, r=0.61) — a useful reference for index-focused traders.