Trends in Unemployment Duration

The median duration of unemployment has increased to 10.5 weeks, reflecting a slight rise compared to the previous year, though this remains consistent outside of recession periods. Concerns arise from the growing number of individuals who experience prolonged unemployment, as those out of work for six months or longer face significant challenges in finding new jobs. Factors contributing to this trend include a lack of current qualifications and potential employer biases against applicants with lengthy unemployment periods. While the overall median unemployment duration isn't alarming by historical standards, the trend highlights increasing difficulties within the labor market.