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1

When SpaceX starts trading, some 'shareholders' will discover they own nothing at all

2

Corporate America has been draining the world's water. Matt Damon's new campaign calls on Gap, Starbucks, and Amazon to help give it back

3

Current price of oil as of June 12, 2026
FinanceEconomy

Real unemployment in the United States has likely hit 14.7%, the highest level since 1940

By
Lance Lambert
Lance Lambert
Former Real Estate Editor
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By
Lance Lambert
Lance Lambert
Former Real Estate Editor
Down Arrow Button Icon
April 9, 2020, 12:38 PM ET

We’re likely sitting at the highest level of joblessness since Franklin Roosevelt was president.

Another 6.6 million Americans filed initial unemployment claims in the week ending April 4. That follows 3.3 million and 6.9 million in the two previous weeks, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Before this three-week stretch of 16.8 million of initial jobless claims, there were already 7.1 million unemployed Americans as of March 13, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. When the figures are combined, it would equal 23.9 million unemployed, or a real unemployment rate of 14.7%—which would be the highest level since the early years of World War II.

The ‘official’ current unemployment rate of 4.4%—up from 3.5% in February—is lagging, running through the week ending March 13. So it’s the April jobs report when we should start to see this double digit figure manifest.

However, the way the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics categorizes Americans as unemployed could undercount the official jobless rate. Americans are only considered unemployed if they’re out of a job and also seeking work. Some recently laid-off workers may wait until the stay-at-home orders pass before seeking a new job—thus excluding themselves from the unemployed totals.

More must-read finance coverage from Fortune:

—3 strategies small business owners are using to get their SBA stimulus loans faster
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—College educated investors may be more likely to fall for coronavirus scams
—Corporate credit markets do brisk business after Fed help
—Listen to Leadership Next, a Fortune podcast examining the evolving role of CEO
—VIDEO: 401(k) withdrawal penalties waived for anyone hurt by COVID-19

Subscribe to Fortune’s Bull Sheet for no-nonsense finance news and analysis daily.

About the Author
By Lance LambertFormer Real Estate Editor
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Lance Lambert is a former Fortune editor who contributes to the Fortune Analytics newsletter.

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