Figure G
More than one in nine young college graduates is underemployed: Unemployment and underemployment rates of young college graduates, 1994–2017*
| Date | Unemployment rate | Underemployment rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1994-12-01 | 5.3% | 10.2% |
| 1995-01-01 | 5.3% | 10.4% |
| 1995-02-01 | 5.5% | 10.6% |
| 1995-03-01 | 5.6% | 10.6% |
| 1995-04-01 | 5.7% | 10.8% |
| 1995-05-01 | 5.8% | 10.9% |
| 1995-06-01 | 5.8% | 10.8% |
| 1995-07-01 | 5.6% | 10.7% |
| 1995-08-01 | 5.6% | 10.8% |
| 1995-09-01 | 5.7% | 10.9% |
| 1995-10-01 | 5.7% | 11.0% |
| 1995-11-01 | 5.8% | 11.1% |
| 1995-12-01 | 5.8% | 11.0% |
| 1996-01-01 | 5.8% | 10.8% |
| 1996-02-01 | 5.7% | 10.5% |
| 1996-03-01 | 5.9% | 10.6% |
| 1996-04-01 | 5.7% | 10.3% |
| 1996-05-01 | 5.8% | 10.3% |
| 1996-06-01 | 6.0% | 10.6% |
| 1996-07-01 | 6.1% | 10.8% |
| 1996-08-01 | 6.1% | 10.8% |
| 1996-09-01 | 6.0% | 10.6% |
| 1996-10-01 | 5.8% | 10.4% |
| 1996-11-01 | 5.7% | 10.2% |
| 1996-12-01 | 5.5% | 9.9% |
| 1997-01-01 | 5.4% | 9.8% |
| 1997-02-01 | 5.4% | 9.6% |
| 1997-03-01 | 5.2% | 9.5% |
| 1997-04-01 | 5.1% | 9.5% |
| 1997-05-01 | 4.9% | 9.2% |
| 1997-06-01 | 4.6% | 8.7% |
| 1997-07-01 | 4.2% | 8.2% |
| 1997-08-01 | 4.2% | 8.1% |
| 1997-09-01 | 4.0% | 7.8% |
| 1997-10-01 | 3.9% | 7.7% |
| 1997-11-01 | 3.7% | 7.5% |
| 1997-12-01 | 3.8% | 7.8% |
| 1998-01-01 | 3.7% | 7.7% |
| 1998-02-01 | 3.6% | 7.6% |
| 1998-03-01 | 3.4% | 7.5% |
| 1998-04-01 | 3.4% | 7.6% |
| 1998-05-01 | 3.6% | 7.8% |
| 1998-06-01 | 3.7% | 7.9% |
| 1998-07-01 | 4.0% | 8.1% |
| 1998-08-01 | 4.0% | 8.0% |
| 1998-09-01 | 4.2% | 8.1% |
| 1998-10-01 | 4.2% | 7.9% |
| 1998-11-01 | 4.4% | 7.9% |
| 1998-12-01 | 4.4% | 7.6% |
| 1999-01-01 | 4.3% | 7.5% |
| 1999-02-01 | 4.4% | 7.6% |
| 1999-03-01 | 4.5% | 7.4% |
| 1999-04-01 | 4.5% | 7.1% |
| 1999-05-01 | 4.5% | 7.1% |
| 1999-06-01 | 4.7% | 7.1% |
| 1999-07-01 | 4.8% | 7.3% |
| 1999-08-01 | 4.7% | 7.3% |
| 1999-09-01 | 4.7% | 7.2% |
| 1999-10-01 | 5.0% | 7.4% |
| 1999-11-01 | 5.0% | 7.5% |
| 1999-12-01 | 5.0% | 7.6% |
| 2000-01-01 | 5.1% | 7.7% |
| 2000-02-01 | 5.2% | 7.7% |
| 2000-03-01 | 5.4% | 7.9% |
| 2000-04-01 | 5.4% | 8.0% |
| 2000-05-01 | 5.4% | 8.2% |
| 2000-06-01 | 5.3% | 8.1% |
| 2000-07-01 | 5.0% | 7.9% |
| 2000-08-01 | 4.9% | 7.7% |
| 2000-09-01 | 4.7% | 7.5% |
| 2000-10-01 | 4.5% | 7.4% |
| 2000-11-01 | 4.4% | 7.3% |
| 2000-12-01 | 4.3% | 7.1% |
| 2001-01-01 | 4.3% | 7.1% |
| 2001-02-01 | 4.2% | 7.1% |
| 2001-03-01 | 4.1% | 7.1% |
| 2001-04-01 | 4.1% | 7.0% |
| 2001-05-01 | 4.1% | 7.0% |
| 2001-06-01 | 4.2% | 7.2% |
| 2001-07-01 | 4.3% | 7.3% |
| 2001-08-01 | 4.9% | 8.1% |
| 2001-09-01 | 5.4% | 8.7% |
| 2001-10-01 | 5.5% | 9.0% |
| 2001-11-01 | 5.8% | 9.3% |
| 2001-12-01 | 5.9% | 9.4% |
| 2002-01-01 | 5.9% | 9.5% |
| 2002-02-01 | 6.1% | 9.9% |
| 2002-03-01 | 6.2% | 10.0% |
| 2002-04-01 | 6.3% | 10.2% |
| 2002-05-01 | 6.3% | 10.3% |
| 2002-06-01 | 6.2% | 10.2% |
| 2002-07-01 | 6.3% | 10.3% |
| 2002-08-01 | 6.1% | 9.8% |
| 2002-09-01 | 5.8% | 9.6% |
| 2002-10-01 | 5.9% | 9.4% |
| 2002-11-01 | 5.7% | 9.2% |
| 2002-12-01 | 5.7% | 9.3% |
| 2003-01-01 | 6.0% | 9.6% |
| 2003-02-01 | 6.0% | 9.6% |
| 2003-03-01 | 6.1% | 9.8% |
| 2003-04-01 | 6.1% | 9.8% |
| 2003-05-01 | 6.1% | 10.0% |
| 2003-06-01 | 6.2% | 10.3% |
| 2003-07-01 | 6.3% | 10.6% |
| 2003-08-01 | 6.4% | 10.8% |
| 2003-09-01 | 6.2% | 10.7% |
| 2003-10-01 | 6.4% | 11.0% |
| 2003-11-01 | 6.5% | 11.3% |
| 2003-12-01 | 6.4% | 11.3% |
| 2004-01-01 | 6.3% | 11.3% |
| 2004-02-01 | 6.2% | 11.5% |
| 2004-03-01 | 6.3% | 11.6% |
| 2004-04-01 | 6.3% | 11.6% |
| 2004-05-01 | 6.1% | 11.3% |
| 2004-06-01 | 6.2% | 11.3% |
| 2004-07-01 | 6.0% | 11.0% |
| 2004-08-01 | 5.7% | 10.7% |
| 2004-09-01 | 5.7% | 10.8% |
| 2004-10-01 | 5.6% | 10.7% |
| 2004-11-01 | 5.7% | 10.6% |
| 2004-12-01 | 5.9% | 10.7% |
| 2005-01-01 | 6.1% | 10.7% |
| 2005-02-01 | 6.1% | 10.7% |
| 2005-03-01 | 5.9% | 10.4% |
| 2005-04-01 | 5.9% | 10.6% |
| 2005-05-01 | 6.0% | 10.7% |
| 2005-06-01 | 5.7% | 10.4% |
| 2005-07-01 | 6.0% | 10.5% |
| 2005-08-01 | 6.1% | 10.7% |
| 2005-09-01 | 6.1% | 10.6% |
| 2005-10-01 | 6.0% | 10.5% |
| 2005-11-01 | 5.8% | 10.4% |
| 2005-12-01 | 5.5% | 10.1% |
| 2006-01-01 | 5.3% | 9.9% |
| 2006-02-01 | 5.1% | 9.8% |
| 2006-03-01 | 5.1% | 9.6% |
| 2006-04-01 | 4.9% | 9.3% |
| 2006-05-01 | 4.8% | 9.1% |
| 2006-06-01 | 4.9% | 9.2% |
| 2006-07-01 | 4.8% | 9.2% |
| 2006-08-01 | 4.8% | 9.0% |
| 2006-09-01 | 4.7% | 8.8% |
| 2006-10-01 | 4.8% | 8.9% |
| 2006-11-01 | 4.8% | 8.8% |
| 2006-12-01 | 5.0% | 8.9% |
| 2007-01-01 | 5.0% | 9.0% |
| 2007-02-01 | 5.0% | 8.8% |
| 2007-03-01 | 4.9% | 8.7% |
| 2007-04-01 | 5.1% | 8.8% |
| 2007-05-01 | 5.1% | 8.9% |
| 2007-06-01 | 5.2% | 9.0% |
| 2007-07-01 | 5.2% | 9.1% |
| 2007-08-01 | 5.2% | 9.2% |
| 2007-09-01 | 5.5% | 9.5% |
| 2007-10-01 | 5.5% | 9.5% |
| 2007-11-01 | 5.6% | 9.6% |
| 2007-12-01 | 5.5% | 9.6% |
| 2008-01-01 | 5.6% | 9.3% |
| 2008-02-01 | 5.6% | 9.4% |
| 2008-03-01 | 5.6% | 9.4% |
| 2008-04-01 | 5.5% | 9.5% |
| 2008-05-01 | 5.5% | 9.6% |
| 2008-06-01 | 5.5% | 9.9% |
| 2008-07-01 | 5.7% | 10.0% |
| 2008-08-01 | 5.8% | 10.2% |
| 2008-09-01 | 5.7% | 10.1% |
| 2008-10-01 | 5.8% | 10.3% |
| 2008-11-01 | 5.8% | 10.4% |
| 2008-12-01 | 5.9% | 10.8% |
| 2009-01-01 | 6.2% | 11.4% |
| 2009-02-01 | 6.5% | 11.9% |
| 2009-03-01 | 6.9% | 12.6% |
| 2009-04-01 | 7.2% | 13.1% |
| 2009-05-01 | 7.4% | 13.5% |
| 2009-06-01 | 7.8% | 14.0% |
| 2009-07-01 | 7.9% | 14.4% |
| 2009-08-01 | 8.3% | 15.2% |
| 2009-09-01 | 8.4% | 15.8% |
| 2009-10-01 | 8.7% | 16.3% |
| 2009-11-01 | 8.9% | 16.8% |
| 2009-12-01 | 9.1% | 17.3% |
| 2010-01-01 | 9.1% | 17.5% |
| 2010-02-01 | 9.2% | 17.8% |
| 2010-03-01 | 9.2% | 17.7% |
| 2010-04-01 | 9.3% | 17.9% |
| 2010-05-01 | 9.3% | 18.1% |
| 2010-06-01 | 9.3% | 18.1% |
| 2010-07-01 | 9.5% | 18.3% |
| 2010-08-01 | 9.4% | 17.8% |
| 2010-09-01 | 9.4% | 18.0% |
| 2010-10-01 | 9.4% | 18.1% |
| 2010-11-01 | 9.5% | 18.2% |
| 2010-12-01 | 9.6% | 18.2% |
| 2011-01-01 | 9.7% | 18.4% |
| 2011-02-01 | 9.8% | 18.5% |
| 2011-03-01 | 9.9% | 18.6% |
| 2011-04-01 | 9.8% | 18.4% |
| 2011-05-01 | 9.7% | 18.2% |
| 2011-06-01 | 9.7% | 18.3% |
| 2011-07-01 | 9.9% | 18.5% |
| 2011-08-01 | 9.9% | 19.0% |
| 2011-09-01 | 9.9% | 18.8% |
| 2011-10-01 | 9.8% | 18.6% |
| 2011-11-01 | 9.5% | 18.4% |
| 2011-12-01 | 9.3% | 18.0% |
| 2012-01-01 | 9.1% | 17.8% |
| 2012-02-01 | 9.0% | 17.7% |
| 2012-03-01 | 8.7% | 17.5% |
| 2012-04-01 | 8.7% | 17.5% |
| 2012-05-01 | 8.7% | 17.4% |
| 2012-06-01 | 8.5% | 17.2% |
| 2012-07-01 | 8.3% | 17.2% |
| 2012-08-01 | 8.2% | 17.0% |
| 2012-09-01 | 8.0% | 17.0% |
| 2012-10-01 | 7.8% | 16.8% |
| 2012-11-01 | 7.9% | 16.6% |
| 2012-12-01 | 8.0% | 16.9% |
| 2013-01-01 | 8.0% | 16.8% |
| 2013-02-01 | 8.1% | 16.8% |
| 2013-03-01 | 8.2% | 16.8% |
| 2013-04-01 | 8.2% | 16.9% |
| 2013-05-01 | 8.3% | 17.2% |
| 2013-06-01 | 8.3% | 17.1% |
| 2013-07-01 | 8.3% | 17.0% |
| 2013-08-01 | 8.4% | 16.9% |
| 2013-09-01 | 8.6% | 17.0% |
| 2013-10-01 | 8.6% | 17.1% |
| 2013-11-01 | 8.6% | 17.2% |
| 2013-12-01 | 8.6% | 16.9% |
| 2014-01-01 | 8.6% | 17.0% |
| 2014-02-01 | 8.6% | 16.9% |
| 2014-03-01 | 8.5% | 16.8% |
| 2014-04-01 | 8.2% | 16.4% |
| 2014-05-01 | 8.0% | 16.0% |
| 2014-06-01 | 7.9% | 15.9% |
| 2014-07-01 | 7.9% | 15.8% |
| 2014-08-01 | 7.6% | 15.4% |
| 2014-09-01 | 7.6% | 15.2% |
| 2014-10-01 | 7.7% | 15.1% |
| 2014-11-01 | 7.6% | 15.1% |
| 2014-12-01 | 7.5% | 15.1% |
| 2015-01-01 | 7.4% | 15.0% |
| 2015-02-01 | 7.3% | 15.1% |
| 2015-03-01 | 7.2% | 14.9% |
| 2015-04-01 | 7.3% | 15.0% |
| 2015-05-01 | 7.3% | 15.0% |
| 2015-06-01 | 7.0% | 14.6% |
| 2015-07-01 | 6.7% | 14.3% |
| 2015-08-01 | 6.6% | 14.2% |
| 2015-09-01 | 6.5% | 14.2% |
| 2015-10-01 | 6.4% | 13.9% |
| 2015-11-01 | 6.2% | 13.6% |
| 2015-12-01 | 6.0% | 13.3% |
| 2016-01-01 | 5.8% | 13.0% |
| 2016-02-01 | 5.6% | 12.6% |
| 2016-03-01 | 5.6% | 12.4% |
| 2016-04-01 | 5.5% | 12.3% |
| 2016-05-01 | 5.5% | 12.3% |
| 2016-06-01 | 5.7% | 12.5% |
| 2016-07-01 | 5.5% | 12.4% |
| 2016-08-01 | 5.6% | 12.3% |
| 2016-09-01 | 5.4% | 12.1% |
| 2016-10-01 | 5.4% | 12.1% |
| 2016-11-01 | 5.4% | 11.9% |
| 2016-12-01 | 5.5% | 11.9% |
| 2017-01-01 | 5.6% | 11.9% |
| 2017-02-01 | 5.6% | 11.9% |
* Data reflect 12-month moving averages; data for 2017 represent 12-month average from March 2016 to February 2017.
Note: Shaded areas denote recessions. Underemployment data are only available beginning in 1994. Data are for college graduates age 21–24 who do not have an advanced degree and are not enrolled in further schooling.
Source: EPI analysis of basic monthly Current Population Survey microdata
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