contests Unemployment rate matches lowest point in half a century The unemployment rate has matched its lowest point in half a century. The Labor Department reported Friday that unemployment fell to 3.8% in May. The economy ad... 180504093410-april-jobs-report-00005019-640×360 The unemployment rate has matched its lowest point in half a century. The Labor Department reported Friday that unemployment fell to 3.8% in May. The economy added 223,000 jobs, better than expected. Since 1969, the only other time unemployment has been this low was in April 2000.