how is unemployment calculated 
in the united states the unemployment rate is calculated by dividing the number of unemployed people who are actively looking for work by the total number of people who are employed or actively seeking employment this does not include unemployed people who are unable to work or have given up seeking employment 18who is counted as unemployed the unemployed include anyone who doesn t have a job is available for work and has been actively looking for work in the previous four weeks actively looking for work includes having job interviews or contacting employers 19