EN
The paper undertakes an analysis оГ the basic trends, features and socio-economic effects of unemployment m the United States after World War II. The statistical survey conducted by the author confirmed a significant increase in the unemployment rate and considerable oscillations in that rate in the 1970s and 1980s A tendency towards growth of the share of long-term unemployment was observed, which points to a growing role of structural unemployment in the US economy. The analysis of the effects of unemployment presents the most important of the negative macroeconomic, microeconomic and social effects of that phenomenon. An attempt has also been made to quantify them. The major parliamentary acts and documents underlining the responsibility of the state Tor the situation in the labour market in the American economy are presented in the final part of the paper.