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It's about what each of these statistics measure.

As another user mentioned, the U3 is a very narrow definition that is largely useful for measuring the cost of unemployment benefits, it does not give a true idea of the real unemployment rate.

This article goes into the differences and their relevance

https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/080415/true-...

>The U-3 unemployment rate is a comparatively narrow technical measure that leaves out a whole swath of out-of-work people who are willing and able to take a job but who don't fit the narrow BLS definition of "unemployed." For example, a stonemason who wants to work but who has become discouraged by a lack of opportunity in the midst of a deep economic recession would not be included in U-3 unemployment. A marketing executive who is laid off at age 57 and stops scheduling new job interviews due to her experience of age discrimination would not be included in U-3 unemployment. A person who only works one six-hour shift per week because no full-time jobs are available in his area would not be included in U-3 unemployment.



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