Young high school graduates recovered much faster in pandemic business cycle compared with the Great Recession: Unemployment and underemployment for high school graduates (ages 18–21) not enrolled in further schooling, 2000–2024
| Date | Unemployment rate | Underemployment rate |
|---|---|---|
| Jan-1995 | 13.5% | 25.5% |
| Feb-1995 | 13.2% | 25.3% |
| Mar-1995 | 13.1% | 25.1% |
| Apr-1995 | 13.1% | 25.1% |
| May-1995 | 13.2% | 24.9% |
| Jun-1995 | 13.4% | 25.0% |
| Jul-1995 | 13.4% | 25.1% |
| Aug-1995 | 13.4% | 24.8% |
| Sep-1995 | 13.5% | 24.9% |
| Oct-1995 | 13.6% | 24.7% |
| Nov-1995 | 13.6% | 24.6% |
| Dec-1995 | 13.8% | 24.8% |
| Jan-1996 | 14.0% | 24.8% |
| Feb-1996 | 14.3% | 24.8% |
| Mar-1996 | 14.2% | 24.5% |
| Apr-1996 | 14.1% | 24.4% |
| May-1996 | 14.2% | 24.5% |
| Jun-1996 | 14.0% | 24.2% |
| Jul-1996 | 14.0% | 24.2% |
| Aug-1996 | 14.0% | 24.1% |
| Sep-1996 | 14.0% | 24.1% |
| Oct-1996 | 14.0% | 24.2% |
| Nov-1996 | 14.1% | 24.1% |
| Dec-1996 | 14.2% | 24.1% |
| Jan-1997 | 14.2% | 24.3% |
| Feb-1997 | 14.2% | 24.5% |
| Mar-1997 | 14.1% | 24.5% |
| Apr-1997 | 14.1% | 24.6% |
| May-1997 | 13.9% | 24.3% |
| Jun-1997 | 14.0% | 24.2% |
| Jul-1997 | 13.9% | 23.9% |
| Aug-1997 | 13.9% | 23.9% |
| Sep-1997 | 13.8% | 23.7% |
| Oct-1997 | 13.7% | 23.6% |
| Nov-1997 | 13.6% | 23.3% |
| Dec-1997 | 13.4% | 23.0% |
| Jan-1998 | 13.1% | 22.6% |
| Feb-1998 | 13.0% | 22.3% |
| Mar-1998 | 12.9% | 22.1% |
| Apr-1998 | 12.7% | 21.9% |
| May-1998 | 12.7% | 22.1% |
| Jun-1998 | 12.6% | 21.9% |
| Jul-1998 | 12.4% | 21.6% |
| Aug-1998 | 12.3% | 21.4% |
| Sep-1998 | 12.2% | 21.3% |
| Oct-1998 | 12.0% | 20.9% |
| Nov-1998 | 11.8% | 20.8% |
| Dec-1998 | 11.7% | 20.6% |
| Jan-1999 | 11.7% | 20.6% |
| Feb-1999 | 11.6% | 20.5% |
| Mar-1999 | 11.4% | 20.5% |
| Apr-1999 | 11.4% | 20.3% |
| May-1999 | 11.3% | 20.0% |
| Jun-1999 | 11.1% | 19.8% |
| Jul-1999 | 11.2% | 19.9% |
| Aug-1999 | 11.1% | 19.8% |
| Sep-1999 | 11.1% | 19.8% |
| Oct-1999 | 11.2% | 19.7% |
| Nov-1999 | 11.4% | 19.8% |
| Dec-1999 | 11.5% | 19.7% |
| Jan-2000 | 11.40% | 19.60% |
| Feb-2000 | 11.40% | 19.40% |
| Mar-2000 | 11.50% | 19.40% |
| Apr-2000 | 11.50% | 19.30% |
| May-2000 | 11.50% | 19.30% |
| Jun-2000 | 11.60% | 19.30% |
| Jul-2000 | 11.50% | 19.10% |
| Aug-2000 | 11.60% | 19.10% |
| Sep-2000 | 11.40% | 18.90% |
| Oct-2000 | 11.30% | 19.00% |
| Nov-2000 | 11.30% | 18.90% |
| Dec-2000 | 11.30% | 18.90% |
| Jan-2001 | 11.30% | 19.00% |
| Feb-2001 | 11.30% | 19.10% |
| Mar-2001 | 11.20% | 18.90% |
| Apr-2001 | 11.30% | 19.10% |
| May-2001 | 11.30% | 19.00% |
| Jun-2001 | 11.40% | 19.20% |
| Jul-2001 | 11.50% | 19.30% |
| Aug-2001 | 11.60% | 19.40% |
| Sep-2001 | 11.90% | 19.90% |
| Oct-2001 | 12.20% | 20.40% |
| Nov-2001 | 12.50% | 21.00% |
| Dec-2001 | 12.80% | 21.60% |
| Jan-2002 | 13.10% | 21.80% |
| Feb-2002 | 13.50% | 22.30% |
| Mar-2002 | 13.90% | 22.90% |
| Apr-2002 | 14.20% | 23.20% |
| May-2002 | 14.50% | 23.50% |
| Jun-2002 | 14.70% | 23.90% |
| Jul-2002 | 15.10% | 24.40% |
| Aug-2002 | 15.20% | 24.70% |
| Sep-2002 | 15.30% | 24.90% |
| Oct-2002 | 15.20% | 24.70% |
| Nov-2002 | 15.20% | 24.70% |
| Dec-2002 | 15.00% | 24.50% |
| Jan-2003 | 15.20% | 24.90% |
| Feb-2003 | 15.20% | 24.90% |
| Mar-2003 | 15.10% | 24.90% |
| Apr-2003 | 15.10% | 25.00% |
| May-2003 | 15.30% | 25.20% |
| Jun-2003 | 15.50% | 25.30% |
| Jul-2003 | 15.60% | 25.70% |
| Aug-2003 | 15.70% | 25.90% |
| Sep-2003 | 15.80% | 26.00% |
| Oct-2003 | 16.00% | 26.40% |
| Nov-2003 | 16.30% | 26.50% |
| Dec-2003 | 16.30% | 26.60% |
| Jan-2004 | 16.10% | 26.50% |
| Feb-2004 | 15.90% | 26.40% |
| Mar-2004 | 16.00% | 26.50% |
| Apr-2004 | 16.00% | 26.40% |
| May-2004 | 15.90% | 26.40% |
| Jun-2004 | 15.60% | 26.50% |
| Jul-2004 | 15.60% | 26.10% |
| Aug-2004 | 15.40% | 25.90% |
| Sep-2004 | 15.40% | 25.80% |
| Oct-2004 | 15.30% | 25.80% |
| Nov-2004 | 15.10% | 25.70% |
| Dec-2004 | 15.00% | 25.60% |
| Jan-2005 | 15.00% | 25.50% |
| Feb-2005 | 15.10% | 25.40% |
| Mar-2005 | 15.10% | 25.40% |
| Apr-2005 | 15.20% | 25.40% |
| May-2005 | 15.20% | 25.40% |
| Jun-2005 | 15.40% | 25.40% |
| Jul-2005 | 15.20% | 25.40% |
| Aug-2005 | 15.30% | 25.50% |
| Sep-2005 | 15.20% | 25.40% |
| Oct-2005 | 15.00% | 25.00% |
| Nov-2005 | 14.80% | 24.60% |
| Dec-2005 | 14.60% | 24.40% |
| Jan-2006 | 14.70% | 24.40% |
| Feb-2006 | 14.70% | 24.30% |
| Mar-2006 | 14.60% | 24.10% |
| Apr-2006 | 14.70% | 24.20% |
| May-2006 | 14.60% | 24.00% |
| Jun-2006 | 14.40% | 23.80% |
| Jul-2006 | 14.50% | 23.70% |
| Aug-2006 | 14.50% | 23.70% |
| Sep-2006 | 14.50% | 23.70% |
| Oct-2006 | 14.60% | 24.00% |
| Nov-2006 | 14.70% | 24.20% |
| Dec-2006 | 14.80% | 24.40% |
| Jan-2007 | 14.60% | 24.30% |
| Feb-2007 | 14.40% | 24.20% |
| Mar-2007 | 14.30% | 24.20% |
| Apr-2007 | 14.10% | 24.10% |
| May-2007 | 14.00% | 24.10% |
| Jun-2007 | 14.10% | 24.10% |
| Jul-2007 | 14.10% | 24.20% |
| Aug-2007 | 14.10% | 24.10% |
| Sep-2007 | 14.00% | 24.10% |
| Oct-2007 | 14.00% | 23.90% |
| Nov-2007 | 13.90% | 23.90% |
| Dec-2007 | 14.1% | 24.1% |
| Jan-2008 | 14.30% | 24.30% |
| Feb-2008 | 14.50% | 24.70% |
| Mar-2008 | 14.90% | 25.20% |
| Apr-2008 | 15.00% | 25.50% |
| May-2008 | 15.20% | 25.90% |
| Jun-2008 | 15.40% | 26.30% |
| Jul-2008 | 15.80% | 26.90% |
| Aug-2008 | 16.00% | 27.20% |
| Sep-2008 | 16.50% | 27.70% |
| Oct-2008 | 16.80% | 28.40% |
| Nov-2008 | 17.20% | 29.10% |
| Dec-2008 | 17.50% | 29.80% |
| Jan-2009 | 18.10% | 30.70% |
| Feb-2009 | 18.80% | 31.70% |
| Mar-2009 | 19.30% | 32.60% |
| Apr-2009 | 19.90% | 33.60% |
| May-2009 | 20.50% | 34.60% |
| Jun-2009 | 21.20% | 35.60% |
| Jul-2009 | 21.80% | 36.60% |
| Aug-2009 | 22.60% | 37.90% |
| Sep-2009 | 23.10% | 38.80% |
| Oct-2009 | 24.00% | 39.80% |
| Nov-2009 | 24.70% | 40.60% |
| Dec-2009 | 25.20% | 41.20% |
| Jan-2010 | 25.60% | 41.60% |
| Feb-2010 | 25.90% | 42.00% |
| Mar-2010 | 26.00% | 42.20% |
| Apr-2010 | 26.20% | 42.30% |
| May-2010 | 26.10% | 42.20% |
| Jun-2010 | 26.10% | 42.10% |
| Jul-2010 | 26.00% | 41.90% |
| Aug-2010 | 25.80% | 41.80% |
| Sep-2010 | 25.90% | 41.90% |
| Oct-2010 | 25.60% | 41.70% |
| Nov-2010 | 25.40% | 41.90% |
| Dec-2010 | 25.30% | 41.90% |
| Jan-2011 | 25.20% | 41.90% |
| Feb-2011 | 25.00% | 41.60% |
| Mar-2011 | 25.10% | 41.70% |
| Apr-2011 | 24.90% | 41.70% |
| May-2011 | 24.90% | 41.80% |
| Jun-2011 | 24.90% | 41.90% |
| Jul-2011 | 25.10% | 42.40% |
| Aug-2011 | 25.10% | 42.50% |
| Sep-2011 | 24.90% | 42.30% |
| Oct-2011 | 24.80% | 42.30% |
| Nov-2011 | 24.80% | 42.10% |
| Dec-2011 | 24.70% | 41.90% |
| Jan-2012 | 24.50% | 41.60% |
| Feb-2012 | 24.40% | 41.50% |
| Mar-2012 | 24.20% | 40.90% |
| Apr-2012 | 24.20% | 40.70% |
| May-2012 | 24.20% | 40.60% |
| Jun-2012 | 24.30% | 40.40% |
| Jul-2012 | 24.00% | 40.00% |
| Aug-2012 | 23.90% | 39.90% |
| Sep-2012 | 23.80% | 39.90% |
| Oct-2012 | 23.80% | 39.80% |
| Nov-2012 | 23.70% | 39.80% |
| Dec-2012 | 23.60% | 39.80% |
| Jan-2013 | 23.50% | 39.80% |
| Feb-2013 | 23.30% | 39.70% |
| Mar-2013 | 23.20% | 39.80% |
| Apr-2013 | 23.00% | 39.60% |
| May-2013 | 22.80% | 39.50% |
| Jun-2013 | 22.90% | 39.60% |
| Jul-2013 | 22.60% | 39.40% |
| Aug-2013 | 22.70% | 39.20% |
| Sep-2013 | 22.70% | 39.00% |
| Oct-2013 | 22.60% | 38.90% |
| Nov-2013 | 22.30% | 38.60% |
| Dec-2013 | 21.70% | 38.10% |
| Jan-2014 | 21.40% | 37.70% |
| Feb-2014 | 21.20% | 37.60% |
| Mar-2014 | 21.30% | 37.50% |
| Apr-2014 | 21.00% | 37.10% |
| May-2014 | 20.80% | 36.80% |
| Jun-2014 | 20.30% | 36.50% |
| Jul-2014 | 20.20% | 36.30% |
| Aug-2014 | 19.70% | 36.00% |
| Sep-2014 | 19.40% | 35.40% |
| Oct-2014 | 19.00% | 35.00% |
| Nov-2014 | 18.90% | 34.80% |
| Dec-2014 | 18.90% | 34.50% |
| Jan-2015 | 18.80% | 34.20% |
| Feb-2015 | 18.60% | 33.90% |
| Mar-2015 | 18.30% | 33.60% |
| Apr-2015 | 18.00% | 33.30% |
| May-2015 | 17.80% | 33.10% |
| Jun-2015 | 17.60% | 32.70% |
| Jul-2015 | 17.30% | 32.30% |
| Aug-2015 | 17.10% | 32.00% |
| Sep-2015 | 16.80% | 31.80% |
| Oct-2015 | 16.60% | 31.50% |
| Nov-2015 | 16.40% | 31.10% |
| Dec-2015 | 16.50% | 31.00% |
| Jan-2016 | 16.30% | 30.80% |
| Feb-2016 | 16.10% | 30.40% |
| Mar-2016 | 16.00% | 30.00% |
| Apr-2016 | 16.10% | 29.80% |
| May-2016 | 16.00% | 29.50% |
| Jun-2016 | 16.00% | 29.50% |
| Jul-2016 | 15.90% | 29.30% |
| Aug-2016 | 15.70% | 28.80% |
| Sep-2016 | 15.80% | 28.80% |
| Oct-2016 | 15.70% | 28.70% |
| Nov-2016 | 15.70% | 28.60% |
| Dec-2016 | 15.40% | 28.20% |
| Jan-2017 | 15.10% | 27.90% |
| Feb-2017 | 15.10% | 27.80% |
| Mar-2017 | 14.70% | 27.30% |
| Apr-2017 | 14.30% | 27.10% |
| May-2017 | 14.1% | 26.70% |
| Jun-2017 | 13.80% | 26.20% |
| Jul-2017 | 13.50% | 25.70% |
| Aug-2017 | 13.50% | 25.80% |
| Sep-2017 | 13.30% | 25.50% |
| Oct-2017 | 13.00% | 25.10% |
| Nov-2017 | 12.90% | 24.80% |
| Dec-2017 | 12.90% | 24.70% |
| Jan-2018 | 12.80% | 24.60% |
| Feb-2018 | 12.60% | 24.30% |
| Mar-2018 | 12.60% | 24.30% |
| Apr-2018 | 12.70% | 24.20% |
| May-2018 | 12.70% | 24.30% |
| Jun-2018 | 12.70% | 24.20% |
| Jul-2018 | 12.70% | 24.1% |
| Aug-2018 | 12.50% | 23.80% |
| Sep-2018 | 12.40% | 23.60% |
| Oct-2018 | 12.60% | 23.90% |
| Nov-2018 | 12.30% | 23.80% |
| Dec-2018 | 12.00% | 23.60% |
| Jan-2019 | 12.00% | 23.60% |
| Feb-2019 | 12.10% | 23.70% |
| Mar-2019 | 12.20% | 23.90% |
| Apr-2019 | 12.20% | 23.80% |
| May-2019 | 12.20% | 23.60% |
| Jun-2019 | 12.30% | 23.70% |
| Jul-2019 | 12.20% | 23.60% |
| Aug-2019 | 12.20% | 23.60% |
| Sep-2019 | 12.30% | 23.60% |
| Oct-2019 | 12.20% | 23.40% |
| Nov-2019 | 12.40% | 23.40% |
| Dec-2019 | 12.80% | 23.70% |
| Jan-2020 | 13.00% | 23.70% |
| Feb-2020 | 13.0% | 23.8% |
| Mar-2020 | 13.20% | 24.10% |
| Apr-2020 | 14.40% | 25.50% |
| May-2020 | 15.30% | 26.90% |
| Jun-2020 | 16.10% | 27.90% |
| Jul-2020 | 17.10% | 29.20% |
| Aug-2020 | 17.70% | 29.70% |
| Sep-2020 | 18.20% | 30.30% |
| Oct-2020 | 18.30% | 30.40% |
| Nov-2020 | 18.50% | 30.60% |
| Dec-2020 | 18.70% | 30.90% |
| Jan-2021 | 18.70% | 31.00% |
| Feb-2021 | 18.80% | 31.10% |
| Mar-2021 | 19.00% | 31.10% |
| Apr-2021 | 17.90% | 29.80% |
| May-2021 | 17.10% | 28.40% |
| Jun-2021 | 16.50% | 27.40% |
| Jul-2021 | 15.50% | 26.40% |
| Aug-2021 | 15.10% | 25.80% |
| Sep-2021 | 14.50% | 24.90% |
| Oct-2021 | 14.30% | 24.50% |
| Nov-2021 | 14.10% | 24.30% |
| Dec-2021 | 13.70% | 23.7% |
| Jan-2022 | 13.30% | 23.10% |
| Feb-2022 | 13.0% | 22.70% |
| Mar-2022 | 12.70% | 22.20% |
| Apr-2022 | 12.50% | 21.90% |
| May-2022 | 12.30% | 21.60% |
| Jun-2022 | 12.00% | 21.10% |
| Jul-2022 | 11.80% | 20.70% |
| Aug-2022 | 11.60% | 20.70% |
| Sep-2022 | 11.60% | 20.70% |
| Oct-2022 | 11.60% | 20.60% |
| Nov-2022 | 11.40% | 20.20% |
| Dec-2022 | 11.40% | 20.20% |
| Jan-2023 | 11.50% | 20.30% |
| Feb-2023 | 11.60% | 20.40% |
| Mar-2023 | 11.40% | 20.30% |
| Apr-2023 | 11.20% | 20.20% |
| May-2023 | 11.20% | 20.20% |
| Jun-2023 | 11.10% | 20.20% |
| Jul-2023 | 11.40% | 20.50% |
| Aug-2023 | 11.40% | 20.60% |
| Sep-2023 | 11.40% | 20.60% |
| Oct-2023 | 11.50% | 20.80% |
| Nov-2023 | 11.50% | 21.00% |
| Dec-2023 | 11.50% | 21.10% |
| Jan-2024 | 11.60% | 21.20% |
| Feb-2024 | 11.60% | 21.50% |
| Mar-2024 | 11.70% | 21.50% |
Notes: This series is based on 12-month moving averages. The most recent data point uses pooled data from April 2023 through March 2024. Data sample includes only those high school graduates ages 18–21 who have not attained a college degree and who are not enrolled in further schooling. Shaded areas indicate recessions.
Source: EPI analysis of the Current Population Survey basic monthly microdata, EPI Current Population Survey Extracts, Version 1.0.51 (2024), https://microdata.epi.org.