Per Gene Ludwig of the Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity. In addition to people out of work and looking for work his stat includes people who are involuntarily working part time, or who are making poverty level wages. The number has been around 25% the last 4 months, it has NEVER been this high since Ludwig has done the data although CBS didn't explain how long that is. Ludwig says the rate going higher when the labor participation is going lower shows the job market is not nearly as strong as the standard unemployment rate would seem to indicate.