The unemployment and underemployment rates for young high school grads are still higher than in 2000: Unemployment and underemployment for young high school graduates (ages 18–21) not enrolled in further schooling, 1990–2019
| Unemployment rate | Underemployment rate | |
|---|---|---|
| Dec-1989 | 10.2% | 18.9% |
| Jan-1990 | 10.1% | 18.8% |
| Feb-1990 | 10.1% | 19.0% |
| Mar-1990 | 10.0% | 19.0% |
| Apr-1990 | 10.0% | 18.9% |
| May-1990 | 10.0% | 18.8% |
| Jun-1990 | 9.7% | 18.5% |
| Jul-1990 | 9.6% | 18.6% |
| Aug-1990 | 9.6% | 18.5% |
| Sep-1990 | 9.7% | 18.5% |
| Oct-1990 | 9.8% | 18.8% |
| Nov-1990 | 9.9% | 18.9% |
| Dec-1990 | 10.0% | 19.2% |
| Jan-1991 | 10.3% | 19.6% |
| Feb-1991 | 10.8% | 20.2% |
| Mar-1991 | 11.0% | 20.6% |
| Apr-1991 | 11.1% | 20.9% |
| May-1991 | 11.4% | 21.2% |
| Jun-1991 | 11.8% | 21.6% |
| Jul-1991 | 12.1% | 22.0% |
| Aug-1991 | 12.3% | 22.3% |
| Sep-1991 | 12.5% | 22.6% |
| Oct-1991 | 12.6% | 23.0% |
| Nov-1991 | 12.7% | 23.4% |
| Dec-1991 | 12.9% | 23.6% |
| Jan-1992 | 12.9% | 23.8% |
| Feb-1992 | 12.9% | 23.7% |
| Mar-1992 | 12.9% | 23.8% |
| Apr-1992 | 13.0% | 24.0% |
| May-1992 | 13.2% | 24.4% |
| Jun-1992 | 13.4% | 24.7% |
| Jul-1992 | 13.4% | 24.8% |
| Aug-1992 | 13.4% | 25.0% |
| Sep-1992 | 13.4% | 25.0% |
| Oct-1992 | 13.3% | 24.9% |
| Nov-1992 | 13.4% | 24.9% |
| Dec-1992 | 13.4% | 24.9% |
| Jan-1993 | 13.3% | 25.0% |
| Feb-1993 | 13.2% | 25.0% |
| Mar-1993 | 13.2% | 25.1% |
| Apr-1993 | 13.2% | 25.1% |
| May-1993 | 13.1% | 25.0% |
| Jun-1993 | 12.8% | 24.7% |
| Jul-1993 | 12.8% | 24.8% |
| Aug-1993 | 12.7% | 24.7% |
| Sep-1993 | 12.6% | 24.6% |
| Oct-1993 | 12.6% | 24.8% |
| Nov-1993 | 12.5% | 24.6% |
| Dec-1993 | 12.4% | 24.6% |
| Jan-1994 | 12.3% | 24.4% |
| Feb-1994 | 12.3% | 24.3% |
| Mar-1994 | 12.3% | 24.2% |
| Apr-1994 | 12.1% | 23.9% |
| May-1994 | 12.0% | 23.7% |
| Jun-1994 | 11.8% | 23.6% |
| Jul-1994 | 11.7% | 23.0% |
| Aug-1994 | 11.6% | 22.9% |
| Sep-1994 | 11.6% | 22.7% |
| Oct-1994 | 11.5% | 22.5% |
| Nov-1994 | 11.4% | 22.4% |
| Dec-1994 | 11.2% | 22.2% |
| Jan-1995 | 11.1% | 22.0% |
| Feb-1995 | 10.8% | 21.7% |
| Mar-1995 | 10.7% | 21.6% |
| Apr-1995 | 10.7% | 21.5% |
| May-1995 | 10.8% | 21.3% |
| Jun-1995 | 11.0% | 21.4% |
| Jul-1995 | 11.0% | 21.5% |
| Aug-1995 | 10.9% | 21.3% |
| Sep-1995 | 11.1% | 21.3% |
| Oct-1995 | 11.2% | 21.2% |
| Nov-1995 | 11.2% | 21.1% |
| Dec-1995 | 11.3% | 21.2% |
| Jan-1996 | 11.5% | 21.2% |
| Feb-1996 | 11.6% | 21.2% |
| Mar-1996 | 11.6% | 21.0% |
| Apr-1996 | 11.5% | 20.9% |
| May-1996 | 11.6% | 21.0% |
| Jun-1996 | 11.5% | 20.9% |
| Jul-1996 | 11.5% | 20.8% |
| Aug-1996 | 11.5% | 20.8% |
| Sep-1996 | 11.5% | 20.8% |
| Oct-1996 | 11.5% | 20.9% |
| Nov-1996 | 11.6% | 20.8% |
| Dec-1996 | 11.6% | 20.8% |
| Jan-1997 | 11.7% | 21.0% |
| Feb-1997 | 11.7% | 21.2% |
| Mar-1997 | 11.6% | 21.1% |
| Apr-1997 | 11.6% | 21.3% |
| May-1997 | 11.5% | 21.0% |
| Jun-1997 | 11.5% | 20.9% |
| Jul-1997 | 11.4% | 20.6% |
| Aug-1997 | 11.5% | 20.7% |
| Sep-1997 | 11.4% | 20.5% |
| Oct-1997 | 11.4% | 20.4% |
| Nov-1997 | 11.3% | 20.3% |
| Dec-1997 | 11.1% | 20.0% |
| Jan-1998 | 10.9% | 19.7% |
| Feb-1998 | 10.9% | 19.4% |
| Mar-1998 | 10.8% | 19.2% |
| Apr-1998 | 10.6% | 19.1% |
| May-1998 | 10.6% | 19.3% |
| Jun-1998 | 10.6% | 19.2% |
| Jul-1998 | 10.4% | 18.9% |
| Aug-1998 | 10.3% | 18.7% |
| Sep-1998 | 10.3% | 18.6% |
| Oct-1998 | 10.1% | 18.3% |
| Nov-1998 | 9.9% | 18.2% |
| Dec-1998 | 9.8% | 18.0% |
| Jan-1999 | 9.7% | 17.9% |
| Feb-1999 | 9.7% | 17.8% |
| Mar-1999 | 9.6% | 17.8% |
| Apr-1999 | 9.6% | 17.7% |
| May-1999 | 9.5% | 17.4% |
| Jun-1999 | 9.3% | 17.2% |
| Jul-1999 | 9.3% | 17.2% |
| Aug-1999 | 9.2% | 17.1% |
| Sep-1999 | 9.2% | 17.1% |
| Oct-1999 | 9.3% | 17.0% |
| Nov-1999 | 9.5% | 17.1% |
| Dec-1999 | 9.6% | 17.1% |
| Jan-2000 | 9.6% | 17.0% |
| Feb-2000 | 9.5% | 16.8% |
| Mar-2000 | 9.6% | 16.8% |
| Apr-2000 | 9.6% | 16.7% |
| May-2000 | 9.6% | 16.8% |
| Jun-2000 | 9.7% | 16.7% |
| Jul-2000 | 9.6% | 16.6% |
| Aug-2000 | 9.7% | 16.7% |
| Sep-2000 | 9.6% | 16.5% |
| Oct-2000 | 9.5% | 16.5% |
| Nov-2000 | 9.5% | 16.5% |
| Dec-2000 | 9.5% | 16.5% |
| Jan-2001 | 9.5% | 16.6% |
| Feb-2001 | 9.5% | 16.6% |
| Mar-2001 | 9.5% | 16.5% |
| Apr-2001 | 9.5% | 16.6% |
| May-2001 | 9.5% | 16.5% |
| Jun-2001 | 9.5% | 16.6% |
| Jul-2001 | 9.6% | 16.7% |
| Aug-2001 | 9.6% | 16.7% |
| Sep-2001 | 9.9% | 17.2% |
| Oct-2001 | 10.1% | 17.5% |
| Nov-2001 | 10.3% | 18.0% |
| Dec-2001 | 10.6% | 18.5% |
| Jan-2002 | 10.7% | 18.7% |
| Feb-2002 | 11.1% | 19.1% |
| Mar-2002 | 11.4% | 19.5% |
| Apr-2002 | 11.6% | 19.8% |
| May-2002 | 11.9% | 20.2% |
| Jun-2002 | 12.1% | 20.4% |
| Jul-2002 | 12.3% | 20.9% |
| Aug-2002 | 12.5% | 21.1% |
| Sep-2002 | 12.4% | 21.3% |
| Oct-2002 | 12.4% | 21.1% |
| Nov-2002 | 12.4% | 21.1% |
| Dec-2002 | 12.2% | 20.9% |
| Jan-2003 | 12.4% | 21.2% |
| Feb-2003 | 12.4% | 21.3% |
| Mar-2003 | 12.3% | 21.3% |
| Apr-2003 | 12.2% | 21.4% |
| May-2003 | 12.4% | 21.5% |
| Jun-2003 | 12.5% | 21.5% |
| Jul-2003 | 12.5% | 21.7% |
| Aug-2003 | 12.6% | 21.8% |
| Sep-2003 | 12.7% | 21.9% |
| Oct-2003 | 12.8% | 22.2% |
| Nov-2003 | 13.0% | 22.4% |
| Dec-2003 | 13.0% | 22.4% |
| Jan-2004 | 12.9% | 22.3% |
| Feb-2004 | 12.7% | 22.2% |
| Mar-2004 | 12.8% | 22.3% |
| Apr-2004 | 12.8% | 22.2% |
| May-2004 | 12.6% | 22.2% |
| Jun-2004 | 12.5% | 22.2% |
| Jul-2004 | 12.5% | 22.0% |
| Aug-2004 | 12.3% | 21.9% |
| Sep-2004 | 12.3% | 21.8% |
| Oct-2004 | 12.3% | 21.8% |
| Nov-2004 | 12.1% | 21.7% |
| Dec-2004 | 12.1% | 21.7% |
| Jan-2005 | 12.1% | 21.6% |
| Feb-2005 | 12.2% | 21.5% |
| Mar-2005 | 12.1% | 21.5% |
| Apr-2005 | 12.1% | 21.5% |
| May-2005 | 12.2% | 21.4% |
| Jun-2005 | 12.3% | 21.4% |
| Jul-2005 | 12.2% | 21.4% |
| Aug-2005 | 12.3% | 21.5% |
| Sep-2005 | 12.2% | 21.4% |
| Oct-2005 | 12.0% | 21.1% |
| Nov-2005 | 11.8% | 20.7% |
| Dec-2005 | 11.7% | 20.4% |
| Jan-2006 | 11.7% | 20.4% |
| Feb-2006 | 11.7% | 20.3% |
| Mar-2006 | 11.5% | 20.1% |
| Apr-2006 | 11.6% | 20.1% |
| May-2006 | 11.5% | 20.0% |
| Jun-2006 | 11.4% | 19.9% |
| Jul-2006 | 11.4% | 19.8% |
| Aug-2006 | 11.4% | 19.8% |
| Sep-2006 | 11.4% | 19.7% |
| Oct-2006 | 11.5% | 19.9% |
| Nov-2006 | 11.6% | 20.1% |
| Dec-2006 | 11.7% | 20.3% |
| Jan-2007 | 11.6% | 20.3% |
| Feb-2007 | 11.5% | 20.2% |
| Mar-2007 | 11.4% | 20.2% |
| Apr-2007 | 11.2% | 20.1% |
| May-2007 | 11.2% | 20.1% |
| Jun-2007 | 11.2% | 20.0% |
| Jul-2007 | 11.2% | 20.2% |
| Aug-2007 | 11.2% | 20.1% |
| Sep-2007 | 11.1% | 20.1% |
| Oct-2007 | 11.1% | 19.9% |
| Nov-2007 | 11.0% | 19.9% |
| Dec-2007 | 11.2% | 20.1% |
| Jan-2008 | 11.3% | 20.2% |
| Feb-2008 | 11.4% | 20.4% |
| Mar-2008 | 11.8% | 20.8% |
| Apr-2008 | 11.8% | 21.1% |
| May-2008 | 12.0% | 21.5% |
| Jun-2008 | 12.1% | 21.8% |
| Jul-2008 | 12.4% | 22.3% |
| Aug-2008 | 12.6% | 22.5% |
| Sep-2008 | 12.9% | 22.9% |
| Oct-2008 | 13.2% | 23.5% |
| Nov-2008 | 13.5% | 24.1% |
| Dec-2008 | 13.7% | 24.7% |
| Jan-2009 | 14.2% | 25.4% |
| Feb-2009 | 14.8% | 26.3% |
| Mar-2009 | 15.1% | 27.1% |
| Apr-2009 | 15.6% | 27.9% |
| May-2009 | 16.0% | 28.7% |
| Jun-2009 | 16.5% | 29.5% |
| Jul-2009 | 16.9% | 30.3% |
| Aug-2009 | 17.5% | 31.3% |
| Sep-2009 | 17.8% | 32.0% |
| Oct-2009 | 18.4% | 32.8% |
| Nov-2009 | 18.9% | 33.5% |
| Dec-2009 | 19.3% | 33.9% |
| Jan-2010 | 19.5% | 34.2% |
| Feb-2010 | 19.6% | 34.6% |
| Mar-2010 | 19.7% | 34.7% |
| Apr-2010 | 19.9% | 34.8% |
| May-2010 | 19.8% | 34.7% |
| Jun-2010 | 19.8% | 34.7% |
| Jul-2010 | 19.6% | 34.5% |
| Aug-2010 | 19.5% | 34.4% |
| Sep-2010 | 19.5% | 34.5% |
| Oct-2010 | 19.3% | 34.4% |
| Nov-2010 | 19.2% | 34.5% |
| Dec-2010 | 19.0% | 34.4% |
| Jan-2011 | 18.9% | 34.4% |
| Feb-2011 | 18.8% | 34.2% |
| Mar-2011 | 18.9% | 34.3% |
| Apr-2011 | 18.8% | 34.4% |
| May-2011 | 18.9% | 34.5% |
| Jun-2011 | 18.8% | 34.6% |
| Jul-2011 | 19.0% | 35.0% |
| Aug-2011 | 19.0% | 35.1% |
| Sep-2011 | 18.9% | 35.0% |
| Oct-2011 | 18.8% | 35.0% |
| Nov-2011 | 18.8% | 34.8% |
| Dec-2011 | 18.8% | 34.7% |
| Jan-2012 | 18.7% | 34.6% |
| Feb-2012 | 18.6% | 34.6% |
| Mar-2012 | 18.5% | 34.3% |
| Apr-2012 | 18.5% | 34.1% |
| May-2012 | 18.5% | 34.0% |
| Jun-2012 | 18.5% | 33.8% |
| Jul-2012 | 18.2% | 33.3% |
| Aug-2012 | 18.1% | 33.2% |
| Sep-2012 | 18.0% | 33.1% |
| Oct-2012 | 18.0% | 33.0% |
| Nov-2012 | 17.9% | 32.9% |
| Dec-2012 | 17.8% | 32.8% |
| Jan-2013 | 17.7% | 32.8% |
| Feb-2013 | 17.5% | 32.6% |
| Mar-2013 | 17.3% | 32.4% |
| Apr-2013 | 17.1% | 32.2% |
| May-2013 | 16.9% | 32.1% |
| Jun-2013 | 17.0% | 32.2% |
| Jul-2013 | 16.8% | 32.1% |
| Aug-2013 | 16.9% | 31.9% |
| Sep-2013 | 16.9% | 31.8% |
| Oct-2013 | 16.9% | 31.7% |
| Nov-2013 | 16.6% | 31.4% |
| Dec-2013 | 16.2% | 31.1% |
| Jan-2014 | 16.0% | 30.8% |
| Feb-2014 | 15.9% | 30.7% |
| Mar-2014 | 16.0% | 30.7% |
| Apr-2014 | 15.8% | 30.4% |
| May-2014 | 15.6% | 30.1% |
| Jun-2014 | 15.2% | 29.7% |
| Jul-2014 | 15.2% | 29.6% |
| Aug-2014 | 14.7% | 29.2% |
| Sep-2014 | 14.5% | 28.8% |
| Oct-2014 | 14.2% | 28.4% |
| Nov-2014 | 14.2% | 28.4% |
| Dec-2014 | 14.2% | 28.1% |
| Jan-2015 | 14.2% | 27.9% |
| Feb-2015 | 14.0% | 27.6% |
| Mar-2015 | 13.8% | 27.3% |
| Apr-2015 | 13.6% | 27.1% |
| May-2015 | 13.5% | 27.0% |
| Jun-2015 | 13.4% | 26.7% |
| Jul-2015 | 13.1% | 26.2% |
| Aug-2015 | 13.0% | 26.0% |
| Sep-2015 | 12.7% | 25.7% |
| Oct-2015 | 12.6% | 25.5% |
| Nov-2015 | 12.4% | 25.1% |
| Dec-2015 | 12.5% | 25.1% |
| Jan-2016 | 12.4% | 24.9% |
| Feb-2016 | 12.3% | 24.6% |
| Mar-2016 | 12.3% | 24.3% |
| Apr-2016 | 12.3% | 24.1% |
| May-2016 | 12.2% | 23.8% |
| Jun-2016 | 12.2% | 23.8% |
| Jul-2016 | 12.2% | 23.8% |
| Aug-2016 | 12.0% | 23.4% |
| Sep-2016 | 12.1% | 23.3% |
| Oct-2016 | 12.0% | 23.1% |
| Nov-2016 | 12.0% | 23.1% |
| Dec-2016 | 11.7% | 22.8% |
| Jan-2017 | 11.6% | 22.5% |
| Feb-2017 | 11.5% | 22.4% |
| Mar-2017 | 11.2% | 22.0% |
| Apr-2017 | 10.9% | 21.8% |
| May-2017 | 10.8% | 21.6% |
| Jun-2017 | 10.5% | 21.0% |
| Jul-2017 | 10.2% | 20.5% |
| Aug-2017 | 10.2% | 20.5% |
| Sep-2017 | 10.0% | 20.4% |
| Oct-2017 | 9.8% | 20.0% |
| Nov-2017 | 9.7% | 19.7% |
| Dec-2017 | 9.7% | 19.7% |
| Jan-2018 | 9.7% | 19.7% |
| Feb-2018 | 9.6% | 19.4% |
| Mar-2018 | 9.5% | 19.4% |
| Apr-2018 | 9.6% | 19.3% |
| May-2018 | 9.6% | 19.4% |
| Jun-2018 | 9.7% | 19.4% |
| Jul-2018 | 9.7% | 19.4% |
| Aug-2018 | 9.6% | 19.2% |
| Sep-2018 | 9.5% | 19.0% |
| Oct-2018 | 9.7% | 19.3% |
| Nov-2018 | 9.4% | 19.2% |
| Dec-2018 | 9.2% | 18.9% |
| Jan-2019 | 9.2% | 19.0% |
| Feb-2019 | 9.2% | 19.0% |
| Mar-2019 | 9.3% | 19.1% |
Notes: This series is based on 12-month moving pools of data. The most recent data point uses pooled data from March 2018 through February 2019. Shaded areas denote recessions.
Source: EPI analysis of Current Population Survey basic monthly microdata from the U.S. Census Bureau (EPI 2019)