US unemployment

Beginner Questions
1

Hi guys,

Sorry if this is posted in the wrong category.

Could anyone here point me in the right direction to help answer my question regarding US unemployment.

I understand the unemployment rate is calculated via the current population survey from 60000 households on a monthly basis. What I do not understand is how the BLS obtain data for unemployed persons in the millions? Do they somehow estimate tho from the household survey data?

2

right now in this covid situation, the unemployment has increased very rapidly, its a very common issue and the problem with no solutiuons.