By 1933, unemployment reached which percentage?

• A. 5%
• B. 10%
• C. 15%
• D. 25%

Answer: (D)

During the Great Depression, demand collapsed and many businesses failed. By 1933 the jobless rate had climbed to about a quarter of the workforce—roughly 12 million people—so around 25% were unemployed. This peak level shows why sweeping reforms and public works programs were introduced to try to restore jobs. The other percentages are far too low to reflect the scale of job losses seen that year.