Figure B
The future of the U.S. labor force is in the hands of young workers of color: Black, Hispanic, and AAPI combined population share of total population by age group, 1989–2025
| Year | Total working population | 16 to 24 | 25 to 54 | 55 to 64 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 22.4% | 27.3% | 22.0% | 17.2% |
| 1990 | 24.1% | 29.6% | 23.6% | 17.4% |
| 1991 | 24.5% | 30.4% | 23.9% | 17.9% |
| 1992 | 24.8% | 30.5% | 24.3% | 18.3% |
| 1993 | 25.0% | 30.8% | 24.5% | 18.6% |
| 1994 | 25.0% | 31.0% | 24.4% | 18.7% |
| 1995 | 24.9% | 30.9% | 24.3% | 19.0% |
| 1996 | 26.4% | 32.8% | 25.7% | 20.1% |
| 1997 | 27.0% | 33.0% | 26.5% | 20.3% |
| 1998 | 27.3% | 33.4% | 27.0% | 20.0% |
| 1999 | 27.7% | 33.5% | 27.5% | 20.3% |
| 2000 | 29.0% | 35.9% | 28.8% | 20.4% |
| 2001 | 29.4% | 35.9% | 29.4% | 20.5% |
| 2002 | 29.7% | 35.8% | 29.9% | 20.5% |
| 2003 | 30.5% | 35.9% | 31.1% | 21.0% |
| 2004 | 30.8% | 36.3% | 31.4% | 21.2% |
| 2005 | 31.3% | 36.5% | 32.1% | 21.5% |
| 2006 | 31.7% | 36.8% | 32.7% | 21.9% |
| 2007 | 32.4% | 37.3% | 33.5% | 22.3% |
| 2008 | 32.7% | 37.4% | 33.9% | 22.9% |
| 2009 | 33.1% | 37.8% | 34.3% | 23.3% |
| 2010 | 33.5% | 38.9% | 34.7% | 23.6% |
| 2011 | 33.9% | 39.9% | 35.0% | 24.0% |
| 2012 | 35.5% | 42.4% | 36.6% | 25.1% |
| 2013 | 36.1% | 43.0% | 37.3% | 25.8% |
| 2014 | 36.6% | 43.3% | 37.9% | 26.4% |
| 2015 | 37.3% | 43.7% | 38.7% | 27.1% |
| 2016 | 38.0% | 44.2% | 39.4% | 27.7% |
| 2017 | 38.3% | 44.6% | 39.9% | 28.0% |
| 2018 | 39.1% | 45.1% | 40.7% | 28.7% |
| 2019 | 39.6% | 45.4% | 41.3% | 29.3% |
| 2020 | 40.0% | 45.8% | 41.6% | 30.0% |
| 2021 | 40.3% | 46.0% | 41.8% | 30.7% |
| 2022 | 40.8% | 46.5% | 42.2% | 31.4% |
| 2023 | 41.7% | 47.4% | 42.9% | 32.3% |
| 2024 | 42.3% | 48.1% | 43.5% | 33.2% |
| 2025 | 43.5% | 49.4% | 44.6% | 34.2% |
Source: Author's analysis of Economic Policy Institute, State of Working America Data Library, "Working age population - Share of working age population," 2026.
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