Share of young college graduates not enrolled in college or a university and not employed, by gender, 1989–2014*

All Men Women
1989 7.6% 7.5% 7.8%
1990 7.8% 7.1% 8.2%
1991 10.1% 9.5% 10.5%
1992 8.8% 8.4% 9.2%
1993 8.0% 8.2% 7.8%
1994 8.3% 8.1% 8.4%
1995 9.1% 9.0% 9.1%
1996 7.9% 7.9% 7.9%
1997 6.7% 5.8% 7.4%
1998 7.3% 6.7% 7.7%
1999 8.1% 7.1% 8.7%
2000 8.6% 6.3% 10.1%
2001 9.1% 9.1% 9.2%
2002 9.6% 8.3% 10.5%
2003 10.3% 9.6% 10.7%
2004 9.3% 8.0% 10.2%
2005 9.0% 8.3% 9.6%
2006 8.8% 8.5% 9.1%
2007 8.4% 8.4% 8.4%
2008 9.5% 8.8% 9.9%
2009 11.2% 11.8% 10.8%
2010 11.0% 12.1% 10.2%
2011 11.6% 11.1% 11.9%
2012 11.1% 10.4% 11.6%
2013 11.3% 11.6% 11.1%
2013-04-01 11.2% 11.2% 11.1%

* Data for 2014 represent 12-month average from April 2013–March 2014.

Note: Shaded areas denote recessions. Data are for college graduates (bachelor's degree only) age 21–24. "Not employed" includes those who are unemployed and those who are not in the labor force.

Source: Authors' analysis of Current Population Survey Outgoing Rotation Group microdata

View the underlying data on epi.org.