Unemployment Impact Simulator
Project personal finances during job loss. Model savings drain, runway, and macro effects from jobless claims.
Jobless claims dropped to 206K — but long-term unemployment is rising. Model your financial runway.
Run Your Own Simulation
Adjust the inputs below. Results update instantly. No signup, no data saved — everything runs in your browser.
How We Calculate Impact
Runway = Savings ÷ Monthly expenses. Savings drain = Monthly expenses × Duration. Simple, but powerful. No APIs — you control every input. The calculator shows how long your money lasts and how much you’d burn over a given period.
Formulas
- Runway (months) = Savings ÷ Monthly expenses
- Savings drain = Expenses × Duration
- Remaining = Savings − Drain
How do I calculate financial runway? Add up your essential monthly expenses — rent, utilities, food, insurance, debt minimums. Divide your liquid savings by that number. At $60K savings and $5K/month expenses, you have 12 months. That’s your runway. The calculator does it in seconds.
Probability-based what-if
Jobless claims at 206K suggest labor market resilience. But long-term unemployment can rise even as new claims fall. Model your personal runway under different duration assumptions: 3 months, 6 months, 12 months. Know your floor before you need it.
The News Driving This Conversation
Jobless claims at 206K — down 23K from the prior week. Headlines say labor market strength. But long-term unemployment is ticking up. What does that mean for you? Model your financial runway. If you lost your job tomorrow, how long would savings last?
What if jobless claims fall but long-term unemployment rises? New filings can drop while people already unemployed stay out longer. Both metrics matter. For personal planning, focus on your own runway — the calculator ignores macro noise and shows your numbers.
Savings drain visualization
See your balance month by month. How fast does $80K disappear at $6K/month? In 13 months. The chart makes it visceral. Adjust expenses or savings and watch the line move. It’s the best motivator to build a larger cushion.
How to Interpret Your Results
Runway tiers:
| Runway | Assessment |
|---|---|
| 12+ months | Strong cushion; can be selective |
| 6–12 months | Solid; consider building more |
| 3–6 months | Minimum target; prioritize savings |
| Under 3 months | At risk; cut expenses or boost savings |
How much should I save for job loss? Standard advice: 3–6 months of expenses. In volatile sectors or uncertain times, aim for 6–12. Use the calculator to see your actual runway — then set a target and build toward it.
Who Should Use This Calculator
Individuals — plan finances. Know your runway before you need it.
Financial advisors — show clients the impact of job loss. Make it tangible.
Career changers — model the transition. How long can you fund a job search?
Anyone in volatile industries — tech, media, retail. Build the cushion the calculator reveals you need.
Know your runway before you need it
Hope for the best, plan for the worst. One calculation, lifetime clarity. Adjust expenses, savings, and duration — see the impact in real time.
Emergency fund vs runway
Runway and emergency fund are related but different. Emergency fund = 3–6 months expenses for unexpected costs. Runway = how long you can sustain full expenses without income. Job loss is the extreme case. The calculator handles both — same formula, different framing.
Cutting expenses to extend runway
If you reduce monthly expenses by 20%, runway extends by 25%. The math: $60K ÷ $5K = 12 months. Cut to $4K and you get 15 months. The calculator lets you model “what if I cut to $X?” — see the runway extension instantly. Useful for planning lifestyle changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
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