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Underemployment highest for those with the least education: Underemployment rate of workers age 16 and older by education, 1994–2017

Date Less than high school High school Some college Bachelors degree or higher
1994-01-01 23.7% 12.7% 9.7% 5.4%
1994-02-01 22.6% 12.7% 9.5% 5.1%
1994-03-01 22.8% 12.6% 9.5% 5.2%
1994-04-01 23.4% 12.2% 9.1% 4.9%
1994-05-01 22.8% 12.0% 9.2% 4.9%
1994-06-01 23.1% 11.7% 8.9% 5.0%
1994-07-01 22.7% 11.4% 8.7% 4.9%
1994-08-01 22.3% 11.5% 8.7% 4.8%
1994-09-01 22.3% 11.1% 8.8% 4.8%
1994-10-01 21.7% 11.1% 8.8% 4.7%
1994-11-01 21.1% 11.0% 8.6% 4.8%
1994-12-01 20.3% 10.8% 8.4% 5.0%
1995-01-01 21.1% 11.2% 8.0% 4.9%
1995-02-01 21.1% 10.7% 7.5% 5.1%
1995-03-01 20.7% 10.7% 8.1% 5.1%
1995-04-01 20.3% 11.0% 8.2% 5.2%
1995-05-01 21.0% 10.8% 8.6% 5.2%
1995-06-01 20.7% 11.1% 8.3% 5.0%
1995-07-01 21.9% 11.1% 8.1% 4.6%
1995-08-01 22.8% 10.8% 8.3% 4.8%
1995-09-01 21.6% 11.1% 8.2% 4.7%
1995-10-01 22.1% 10.5% 8.1% 5.0%
1995-11-01 21.8% 10.9% 8.3% 4.9%
1995-12-01 21.3% 11.1% 8.0% 4.7%
1996-01-01 20.7% 10.5% 7.9% 4.6%
1996-02-01 21.0% 10.4% 8.1% 4.8%
1996-03-01 21.1% 10.7% 7.8% 4.6%
1996-04-01 21.2% 10.6% 8.1% 4.2%
1996-05-01 21.4% 10.7% 7.9% 4.6%
1996-06-01 20.5% 10.5% 7.8% 4.4%
1996-07-01 20.5% 10.5% 7.8% 4.7%
1996-08-01 20.7% 10.2% 7.7% 4.5%
1996-09-01 19.9% 10.4% 7.4% 4.7%
1996-10-01 19.7% 10.7% 7.5% 4.3%
1996-11-01 19.8% 10.4% 7.7% 4.4%
1996-12-01 20.3% 10.6% 7.5% 4.4%
1997-01-01 20.0% 10.4% 7.7% 4.3%
1997-02-01 20.4% 10.4% 7.6% 3.9%
1997-03-01 20.1% 9.9% 7.5% 4.1%
1997-04-01 20.3% 9.8% 7.4% 4.1%
1997-05-01 20.0% 9.7% 7.1% 4.0%
1997-06-01 20.0% 9.6% 7.1% 3.8%
1997-07-01 19.0% 9.6% 7.0% 3.8%
1997-08-01 18.8% 9.9% 6.7% 4.0%
1997-09-01 19.3% 9.5% 6.9% 3.9%
1997-10-01 18.2% 9.4% 6.8% 4.0%
1997-11-01 18.7% 9.3% 6.7% 3.7%
1997-12-01 18.6% 9.2% 6.9% 3.7%
1998-01-01 18.3% 9.4% 7.0% 3.7%
1998-02-01 17.7% 9.4% 6.6% 3.6%
1998-03-01 18.0% 9.6% 6.9% 3.5%
1998-04-01 17.2% 8.8% 6.1% 3.5%
1998-05-01 16.9% 9.1% 6.8% 3.3%
1998-06-01 17.3% 9.0% 6.3% 3.6%
1998-07-01 17.7% 9.2% 6.8% 3.4%
1998-08-01 17.5% 9.0% 5.8% 3.7%
1998-09-01 16.9% 8.7% 6.7% 3.4%
1998-10-01 17.5% 8.6% 6.2% 3.4%
1998-11-01 17.0% 8.5% 6.0% 3.5%
1998-12-01 16.9% 8.5% 5.7% 3.4%
1999-01-01 16.9% 8.6% 6.1% 3.4%
1999-02-01 16.4% 8.4% 6.2% 3.6%
1999-03-01 16.6% 8.2% 6.0% 3.5%
1999-04-01 17.1% 8.4% 6.2% 3.5%
1999-05-01 16.6% 8.2% 6.1% 3.6%
1999-06-01 17.1% 8.3% 5.6% 3.6%
1999-07-01 16.2% 8.6% 5.9% 3.7%
1999-08-01 16.0% 8.1% 6.1% 3.3%
1999-09-01 16.5% 8.2% 6.0% 3.1%
1999-10-01 16.2% 7.7% 5.9% 3.3%
1999-11-01 15.7% 8.0% 5.5% 3.3%
1999-12-01 15.5% 8.0% 5.6% 3.4%
2000-01-01 15.7% 7.8% 5.5% 3.4%
2000-02-01 16.0% 7.3% 6.0% 3.1%
2000-03-01 15.9% 7.9% 5.7% 3.2%
2000-04-01 15.2% 7.7% 5.6% 2.9%
2000-05-01 16.4% 8.0% 5.6% 3.2%
2000-06-01 15.1% 7.8% 5.7% 3.2%
2000-07-01 15.7% 7.8% 5.7% 3.3%
2000-08-01 15.6% 8.0% 5.4% 3.4%
2000-09-01 15.5% 8.0% 5.2% 3.1%
2000-10-01 15.5% 7.9% 5.0% 2.9%
2000-11-01 16.3% 8.0% 5.4% 3.0%
2000-12-01 15.7% 7.9% 5.4% 3.0%
2001-01-01 16.3% 8.2% 6.0% 3.2%
2001-02-01 16.8% 8.2% 5.6% 3.2%
2001-03-01 16.2% 8.3% 5.6% 3.5%
2001-04-01 16.5% 8.3% 5.7% 3.6%
2001-05-01 16.8% 8.6% 5.9% 3.6%
2001-06-01 17.0% 8.9% 6.3% 3.8%
2001-07-01 17.2% 9.0% 6.2% 4.0%
2001-08-01 16.8% 9.3% 6.5% 4.3%
2001-09-01 18.2% 9.8% 7.0% 4.5%
2001-10-01 18.5% 10.4% 7.8% 4.8%
2001-11-01 19.1% 10.6% 7.9% 4.8%
2001-12-01 19.6% 10.8% 8.1% 4.9%
2002-01-01 19.2% 10.8% 8.0% 4.9%
2002-02-01 19.5% 10.6% 7.9% 4.9%
2002-03-01 19.8% 11.0% 7.9% 4.5%
2002-04-01 19.9% 11.2% 8.1% 4.8%
2002-05-01 19.6% 10.9% 8.3% 4.9%
2002-06-01 18.4% 10.9% 8.1% 4.9%
2002-07-01 19.5% 10.9% 8.3% 4.9%
2002-08-01 19.4% 11.0% 8.6% 4.6%
2002-09-01 18.0% 10.8% 8.5% 5.0%
2002-10-01 19.4% 10.3% 8.3% 5.3%
2002-11-01 19.7% 10.9% 8.5% 5.1%
2002-12-01 20.2% 10.9% 8.7% 5.0%
2003-01-01 20.4% 11.2% 8.6% 5.3%
2003-02-01 19.9% 11.5% 8.8% 5.3%
2003-03-01 19.9% 11.5% 8.9% 5.2%
2003-04-01 19.9% 11.7% 9.0% 5.4%
2003-05-01 20.0% 11.7% 9.1% 5.3%
2003-06-01 20.8% 12.0% 8.7% 5.2%
2003-07-01 20.1% 11.6% 9.6% 5.2%
2003-08-01 20.8% 11.2% 9.1% 5.3%
2003-09-01 20.3% 11.7% 9.2% 5.4%
2003-10-01 20.5% 11.3% 9.0% 5.4%
2003-11-01 19.7% 11.3% 8.9% 5.5%
2003-12-01 19.4% 11.3% 8.4% 5.5%
2004-01-01 20.6% 11.0% 8.7% 5.3%
2004-02-01 19.6% 10.4% 8.6% 5.2%
2004-03-01 19.9% 11.6% 8.8% 5.2%
2004-04-01 19.6% 11.3% 8.6% 5.1%
2004-05-01 20.3% 11.1% 8.3% 5.1%
2004-06-01 19.4% 10.8% 8.3% 4.9%
2004-07-01 19.8% 10.8% 8.3% 4.9%
2004-08-01 19.3% 10.7% 8.2% 4.8%
2004-09-01 19.7% 10.5% 8.2% 4.7%
2004-10-01 20.0% 10.9% 8.4% 5.0%
2004-11-01 19.4% 10.7% 8.3% 4.7%
2004-12-01 19.5% 10.5% 8.1% 4.7%
2005-01-01 19.0% 10.5% 8.2% 4.6%
2005-02-01 19.3% 10.6% 8.1% 4.5%
2005-03-01 19.2% 10.4% 8.0% 4.5%
2005-04-01 19.4% 10.1% 7.8% 4.5%
2005-05-01 18.9% 10.1% 7.8% 4.5%
2005-06-01 17.6% 10.6% 7.8% 4.4%
2005-07-01 18.9% 10.2% 7.5% 4.3%
2005-08-01 19.2% 10.1% 7.6% 4.2%
2005-09-01 19.5% 10.6% 7.6% 4.5%
2005-10-01 18.2% 9.8% 7.8% 4.2%
2005-11-01 18.5% 10.1% 7.6% 4.0%
2005-12-01 17.9% 10.0% 7.6% 4.2%
2006-01-01 17.4% 10.0% 7.1% 4.0%
2006-02-01 17.2% 9.8% 7.4% 4.2%
2006-03-01 17.1% 9.4% 7.3% 4.1%
2006-04-01 16.8% 9.6% 7.4% 4.0%
2006-05-01 17.0% 9.6% 7.2% 4.0%
2006-06-01 17.3% 9.9% 7.5% 4.1%
2006-07-01 17.7% 10.0% 7.5% 4.0%
2006-08-01 17.2% 10.0% 7.5% 4.0%
2006-09-01 16.6% 9.5% 7.3% 3.9%
2006-10-01 16.9% 9.9% 7.1% 3.9%
2006-11-01 16.8% 9.8% 7.2% 3.8%
2006-12-01 16.3% 9.7% 7.0% 3.8%
2007-01-01 17.3% 9.6% 7.1% 4.1%
2007-02-01 17.4% 9.5% 7.0% 3.7%
2007-03-01 17.1% 9.4% 7.1% 3.7%
2007-04-01 18.3% 9.5% 7.3% 3.9%
2007-05-01 17.5% 9.8% 7.3% 4.0%
2007-06-01 17.5% 9.8% 7.2% 4.0%
2007-07-01 17.1% 10.0% 7.4% 4.2%
2007-08-01 17.5% 10.3% 7.4% 4.2%
2007-09-01 18.1% 10.5% 7.2% 4.1%
2007-10-01 17.3% 10.3% 7.4% 4.2%
2007-11-01 18.3% 10.5% 7.1% 4.2%
2007-12-01 19.2% 10.9% 7.9% 3.9%
2008-01-01 19.6% 10.7% 7.8% 4.2%
2008-02-01 19.6% 10.4% 7.9% 4.1%
2008-03-01 19.8% 11.4% 7.7% 4.1%
2008-04-01 19.6% 11.7% 8.0% 4.2%
2008-05-01 21.2% 11.9% 8.5% 4.5%
2008-06-01 21.9% 12.1% 8.6% 4.8%
2008-07-01 22.9% 12.7% 9.2% 4.8%
2008-08-01 23.6% 13.2% 9.7% 5.1%
2008-09-01 23.9% 13.8% 10.3% 5.0%
2008-10-01 25.5% 14.6% 10.6% 5.8%
2008-11-01 26.7% 15.6% 11.5% 6.3%
2008-12-01 28.5% 16.7% 12.3% 6.9%
2009-01-01 28.3% 17.2% 12.2% 7.3%
2009-02-01 28.9% 18.5% 13.6% 7.9%
2009-03-01 30.4% 19.6% 14.1% 8.1%
2009-04-01 30.7% 19.8% 14.5% 8.3%
2009-05-01 32.0% 21.0% 14.8% 8.4%
2009-06-01 30.9% 20.0% 15.2% 8.4%
2009-07-01 31.6% 19.8% 15.1% 8.4%
2009-08-01 32.2% 20.5% 15.9% 8.3%
2009-09-01 32.8% 21.1% 15.9% 8.6%
2009-10-01 34.2% 21.9% 16.6% 8.6%
2009-11-01 33.4% 21.2% 16.6% 8.9%
2009-12-01 34.1% 21.3% 16.5% 9.1%
2010-01-01 31.9% 19.9% 15.3% 8.8%
2010-02-01 32.4% 20.6% 15.5% 9.1%
2010-03-01 32.5% 21.0% 15.6% 8.8%
2010-04-01 32.1% 21.7% 16.1% 9.0%
2010-05-01 31.9% 21.7% 14.9% 8.6%
2010-06-01 30.7% 21.1% 15.3% 8.1%
2010-07-01 30.7% 20.0% 16.0% 8.3%
2010-08-01 32.2% 20.5% 16.1% 8.0%
2010-09-01 32.8% 20.6% 17.1% 8.8%
2010-10-01 33.1% 21.0% 16.4% 8.7%
2010-11-01 32.2% 20.7% 16.4% 8.9%
2010-12-01 32.1% 20.5% 16.3% 8.7%
2011-01-01 31.2% 19.9% 14.8% 8.1%
2011-02-01 30.9% 19.7% 15.1% 8.1%
2011-03-01 30.4% 19.8% 14.6% 8.4%
2011-04-01 31.9% 20.0% 15.1% 8.4%
2011-05-01 31.0% 20.1% 15.1% 8.2%
2011-06-01 31.2% 20.6% 15.3% 8.1%
2011-07-01 30.9% 19.8% 15.5% 8.0%
2011-08-01 31.2% 19.9% 15.6% 8.3%
2011-09-01 30.7% 20.8% 16.3% 8.2%
2011-10-01 29.7% 20.2% 15.6% 8.3%
2011-11-01 28.6% 19.3% 15.5% 8.1%
2011-12-01 29.6% 18.5% 15.6% 7.6%
2012-01-01 29.4% 18.4% 14.6% 8.1%
2012-02-01 29.3% 17.6% 14.4% 7.9%
2012-03-01 28.4% 17.3% 14.6% 7.8%
2012-04-01 28.0% 17.7% 14.8% 7.8%
2012-05-01 29.8% 18.3% 14.5% 7.6%
2012-06-01 28.9% 18.1% 14.4% 8.0%
2012-07-01 28.7% 18.2% 14.4% 7.9%
2012-08-01 28.7% 18.3% 14.0% 7.9%
2012-09-01 28.2% 18.9% 13.9% 7.8%
2012-10-01 28.6% 17.9% 14.1% 7.7%
2012-11-01 28.7% 18.0% 13.5% 7.8%
2012-12-01 28.4% 17.6% 14.2% 7.9%
2013-01-01 27.8% 17.8% 14.5% 7.3%
2013-02-01 27.7% 17.8% 14.2% 7.5%
2013-03-01 27.6% 17.3% 13.7% 7.3%
2013-04-01 27.8% 17.4% 13.5% 7.6%
2013-05-01 27.1% 17.1% 13.5% 7.8%
2013-06-01 26.7% 17.6% 14.1% 7.7%
2013-07-01 26.6% 17.0% 13.4% 7.7%
2013-08-01 26.2% 17.2% 13.3% 7.0%
2013-09-01 26.1% 17.1% 13.2% 7.4%
2013-10-01 26.2% 16.9% 13.4% 7.7%
2013-11-01 24.3% 16.6% 13.4% 6.6%
2013-12-01 25.0% 16.7% 12.9% 6.8%
2014-01-01 24.1% 15.5% 12.8% 6.9%
2014-02-01 23.9% 15.9% 12.5% 6.6%
2014-03-01 24.3% 15.8% 12.6% 7.2%
2014-04-01 23.2% 15.5% 12.4% 6.5%
2014-05-01 23.8% 15.4% 12.2% 6.4%
2014-06-01 23.9% 15.1% 11.9% 6.6%
2014-07-01 24.3% 15.2% 11.9% 6.4%
2014-08-01 23.1% 15.3% 11.7% 6.3%
2014-09-01 22.5% 14.5% 12.0% 6.2%
2014-10-01 22.0% 14.5% 11.1% 6.5%
2014-11-01 22.8% 14.4% 11.0% 6.2%
2014-12-01 22.6% 13.8% 11.1% 6.1%
2015-01-01 22.1% 14.1% 11.0% 6.0%
2015-02-01 20.8% 14.1% 10.9% 5.9%
2015-03-01 21.2% 14.1% 10.7% 5.7%
2015-04-01 20.9% 13.9% 10.5% 5.8%
2015-05-01 20.8% 14.4% 10.3% 5.6%
2015-06-01 20.6% 13.9% 10.0% 5.4%
2015-07-01 19.9% 13.9% 9.9% 5.5%
2015-08-01 20.2% 13.5% 9.8% 5.3%
2015-09-01 20.0% 13.1% 9.5% 5.4%
2015-10-01 19.5% 12.9% 9.7% 5.1%
2015-11-01 18.8% 13.5% 9.6% 5.2%
2015-12-01 18.4% 13.5% 9.2% 5.4%
2016-01-01 19.0% 13.0% 9.4% 5.3%
2016-02-01 18.0% 12.5% 9.6% 5.1%
2016-03-01 18.6% 12.8% 9.7% 5.3%
2016-04-01 18.6% 12.8% 9.7% 5.1%
2016-05-01 19.7% 12.9% 9.4% 5.1%
2016-06-01 19.4% 12.7% 9.1% 5.2%
2016-07-01 18.6% 12.5% 9.5% 5.3%
2016-08-01 18.2% 12.2% 9.5% 5.5%
2016-09-01 19.8% 12.4% 9.4% 5.3%
2016-10-01 19.2% 13.0% 8.6% 5.2%
2016-11-01 18.8% 12.3% 8.7% 5.1%
2016-12-01 18.8% 12.2% 8.7% 5.1%
2017-01-01 19.2% 12.5% 8.7% 5.0%
2017-02-01 19.3% 12.1% 8.9% 4.9%
2017-03-01 17.3% 11.8% 8.4% 5.0%
2017-04-01 18.0% 11.2% 8.2% 4.7%
2017-05-01 15.8% 11.2% 8.2% 4.7%
2017-06-01 16.7% 11.3% 8.2% 5.0%
2017-07-01 17.6% 11.4% 7.9% 4.8%
2017-08-01 15.4% 11.4% 8.2% 4.9%
2017-09-01 15.6% 11.0% 8.0% 4.5%
2017-10-01 14.7% 10.6% 8.0% 4.4%
2017-11-01 15.2% 10.3% 8.0% 4.5%
2017-12-01 15.3% 10.6% 8.0% 4.7%
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Note: Shaded areas denote recessions. Underemployment is measured to correspond to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' U-6 measure as "total unemployed, plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force."  Underemployment is seasonally adjusted.

Source: EPI analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics  basic CPS monthly microdata

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