Which President's administration was marked by a significant rise in unemployment rates in the late 1980s?

The rise in unemployment rates in the late 1980s is most closely associated with George H.W. Bush’s administration. Following the economic expansion of the mid-1980s, the U.S. economy experienced a recession in the early part of the 1990s, which contributed to increased unemployment. Factors such as the end of the Cold War, the 1990 Gulf War, and a series of fiscal policy decisions led to economic instability, resulting in a notable spike in joblessness just before the onset of the 1992 presidential election.

While Ronald Reagan’s presidency did see changes in employment and economic challenges, particularly related to deregulation and tax cuts that initially increased unemployment before leading to overall economic recovery later in the decade, it is George H.W. Bush who faced an economic downturn characterized by rising unemployment shortly after he took office, culminating in significant losses in jobs. In contrast, the administrations of Bill Clinton and Lyndon B. Johnson are generally associated with economic growth and declining unemployment rates during their tenures.