During the Great Depression, the unemployment rate in the United States rose to 24.9% at its peak in 1933. This means that 12,830,000 people were unemployed at that time. Although farmers were not technically counted among the unemployed, drastic drops in farm commodity prices resulted in farmers losing their lands and homes to foreclosure. The unemployment rate gradually lowered as New Deal programs were enacted. Virtually full employment was achieved during World War II. In comparison, the official unemployment rate hit 14.7% in April 2020, its highest since the Great Depression, when it exceeded 25% . However, the actual figure today may be closer to, or even above, 20% .