How to calculate Unemployment Rate using the ACS 2022 5-year estimates in the Enriched Data

Question

Hello -

Does anyone know how I can calculate the Unemployment Rate using the ACS 2022 5-year estimates in the Enriched Data? I tried using 2022 Employed Civilian Population Age 16+ (ACS 5-Yr) Percent (ACSEMPCIV_P) and subtracting it from 100, but I get a grossly wrong number. I can't identify a denominator that I could use to calculate it manually.

Thanks

LJackson29 · Answer

@NicoleJohnson Thanks for your response. I need to use the enriched data source to calculate the unemployment rate for our service area polygon that doesn't align with any census boundaries. I would like to use B23025_calc_pctUnempE but it is not provided in the enriched data nor is the denominator data "Civilian Population Age 16+ in Labor Force from what I can find.

NicoleJohnson · Answer

I'm not familiar with using enriched data, but if your geography is tracts, counties, or states, you could instead use Esri's Living Atlas ACS Employment Status Variables layer? Field 'B23025_calc_pctUnempE' is what you want.

Otherwise, I think your calculation is giving an incorrect value because some of the population isn't in the labor force (e.g., students, stay-at-home parents, etc.), and the unemployment % only takes into account people who are actually looking for work.

Your denominator should be something like, "Civilian Population Age 16+ in Labor Force."