Figure

Unemployment rate for young workers, 16–24 years old, and workers 25+, 1979–2025

date Age 16–24 Age 25+
Jan-1979 11.6% 4.0%
Feb-1979 11.7% 4.0%
Mar-1979 11.6% 4.0%
Apr-1979 11.6% 4.0%
May-1979 11.6% 3.7%
Jun-1979 11.5% 3.8%
Jul-1979 11.6% 3.8%
Aug-1979 12.2% 4.1%
Sep-1979 12.1% 3.9%
Oct-1979 12.1% 4.0%
Nov-1979 11.6% 4.1%
Dec-1979 12.4% 3.9%
Jan-1980 12.6% 4.3%
Feb-1980 12.5% 4.3%
Mar-1980 12.3% 4.5%
Apr-1980 13.1% 5.0%
May-1980 14.7% 5.2%
Jun-1980 14.7% 5.4%
Jul-1980 14.9% 5.6%
Aug-1980 14.7% 5.6%
Sep-1980 14.3% 5.4%
Oct-1980 14.5% 5.4%
Nov-1980 14.4% 5.3%
Dec-1980 13.7% 5.2%
Jan-1981 14.5% 5.3%
Feb-1981 14.6% 5.3%
Mar-1981 14.5% 5.2%
Apr-1981 14.5% 5.0%
May-1981 15.1% 5.2%
Jun-1981 14.9% 5.3%
Jul-1981 14.1% 5.2%
Aug-1981 14.5% 5.2%
Sep-1981 14.9% 5.4%
Oct-1981 15.3% 5.7%
Nov-1981 15.9% 6.0%
Dec-1981 16.1% 6.3%
Jan-1982 16.5% 6.3%
Feb-1982 17.0% 6.5%
Mar-1982 16.9% 6.8%
Apr-1982 17.4% 7.0%
May-1982 17.3% 7.1%
Jun-1982 17.5% 7.3%
Jul-1982 18.0% 7.5%
Aug-1982 18.1% 7.4%
Sep-1982 18.2% 7.9%
Oct-1982 18.5% 8.1%
Nov-1982 19.0% 8.4%
Dec-1982 18.9% 8.6%
Jan-1983 18.5% 8.1%
Feb-1983 18.4% 8.2%
Mar-1983 18.2% 8.1%
Apr-1983 18.0% 8.0%
May-1983 17.7% 8.0%
Jun-1983 17.8% 7.9%
Jul-1983 16.8% 7.3%
Aug-1983 17.3% 7.3%
Sep-1983 16.4% 7.2%
Oct-1983 16.2% 6.8%
Nov-1983 15.4% 6.6%
Dec-1983 14.9% 6.6%
Jan-1984 14.8% 6.2%
Feb-1984 14.3% 6.1%
Mar-1984 14.4% 5.9%
Apr-1984 14.5% 6.0%
May-1984 13.6% 5.7%
Jun-1984 13.2% 5.6%
Jul-1984 13.7% 5.8%
Aug-1984 14.1% 5.7%
Sep-1984 14.0% 5.6%
Oct-1984 13.6% 5.7%
Nov-1984 13.2% 5.6%
Dec-1984 13.7% 5.6%
Jan-1985 13.6% 5.7%
Feb-1985 13.6% 5.6%
Mar-1985 13.6% 5.6%
Apr-1985 13.2% 5.8%
May-1985 13.6% 5.5%
Jun-1985 13.5% 5.8%
Jul-1985 14.2% 5.6%
Aug-1985 13.3% 5.6%
Sep-1985 13.3% 5.6%
Oct-1985 14.1% 5.4%
Nov-1985 13.5% 5.3%
Dec-1985 13.5% 5.4%
Jan-1986 13.0% 5.1%
Feb-1986 13.6% 5.6%
Mar-1986 13.2% 5.6%
Apr-1986 13.7% 5.5%
May-1986 13.7% 5.5%
Jun-1986 13.5% 5.6%
Jul-1986 13.3% 5.5%
Aug-1986 13.1% 5.4%
Sep-1986 13.6% 5.4%
Oct-1986 13.0% 5.5%
Nov-1986 12.8% 5.4%
Dec-1986 13.0% 5.1%
Jan-1987 13.0% 5.1%
Feb-1987 13.1% 5.0%
Mar-1987 12.8% 5.1%
Apr-1987 12.6% 4.9%
May-1987 12.5% 4.8%
Jun-1987 12.3% 4.7%
Jul-1987 11.8% 4.7%
Aug-1987 11.7% 4.7%
Sep-1987 11.8% 4.6%
Oct-1987 11.8% 4.6%
Nov-1987 11.5% 4.5%
Dec-1987 11.2% 4.5%
Jan-1988 11.5% 4.4%
Feb-1988 11.3% 4.4%
Mar-1988 11.8% 4.3%
Apr-1988 11.2% 4.2%
May-1988 11.3% 4.3%
Jun-1988 10.5% 4.2%
Jul-1988 10.8% 4.2%
Aug-1988 11.0% 4.4%
Sep-1988 10.8% 4.2%
Oct-1988 10.8% 4.1%
Nov-1988 10.5% 4.2%
Dec-1988 10.8% 4.1%
Jan-1989 11.8% 4.1%
Feb-1989 10.6% 4.0%
Mar-1989 10.1% 3.9%
Apr-1989 10.6% 4.1%
May-1989 10.4% 4.0%
Jun-1989 11.2% 4.0%
Jul-1989 10.6% 4.0%
Aug-1989 10.9% 4.0%
Sep-1989 11.1% 4.1%
Oct-1989 11.0% 4.1%
Nov-1989 11.3% 4.1%
Dec-1989 11.2% 4.1%
Jan-1990 10.8% 4.1%
Feb-1990 10.7% 4.1%
Mar-1990 10.6% 4.1%
Apr-1990 11.1% 4.2%
May-1990 10.8% 4.2%
Jun-1990 10.4% 4.1%
Jul-1990 10.7% 4.4%
Aug-1990 11.5% 4.5%
Sep-1990 11.7% 4.6%
Oct-1990 11.8% 4.7%
Nov-1990 12.0% 4.9%
Dec-1990 12.0% 5.0%
Jan-1991 12.6% 5.0%
Feb-1991 12.8% 5.3%
Mar-1991 13.1% 5.5%
Apr-1991 12.7% 5.4%
May-1991 13.6% 5.5%
Jun-1991 13.6% 5.5%
Jul-1991 13.8% 5.4%
Aug-1991 13.5% 5.5%
Sep-1991 13.4% 5.5%
Oct-1991 13.9% 5.6%
Nov-1991 13.8% 5.7%
Dec-1991 14.6% 5.8%
Jan-1992 13.9% 5.9%
Feb-1992 14.2% 6.0%
Mar-1992 14.1% 6.1%
Apr-1992 13.6% 6.1%
May-1992 14.4% 6.3%
Jun-1992 15.2% 6.3%
Jul-1992 14.5% 6.3%
Aug-1992 14.2% 6.3%
Sep-1992 14.5% 6.2%
Oct-1992 13.5% 6.1%
Nov-1992 14.3% 6.1%
Dec-1992 14.2% 6.1%
Jan-1993 14.0% 5.8%
Feb-1993 14.1% 5.7%
Mar-1993 13.6% 5.7%
Apr-1993 13.8% 5.7%
May-1993 14.2% 5.6%
Jun-1993 13.7% 5.7%
Jul-1993 13.1% 5.7%
Aug-1993 13.0% 5.5%
Sep-1993 12.6% 5.6%
Oct-1993 13.0% 5.6%
Nov-1993 12.9% 5.4%
Dec-1993 12.5% 5.4%
Jan-1994 13.4% 5.2%
Feb-1994 12.9% 5.3%
Mar-1994 13.1% 5.2%
Apr-1994 13.3% 5.0%
May-1994 12.5% 4.8%
Jun-1994 12.4% 4.8%
Jul-1994 12.4% 4.8%
Aug-1994 12.5% 4.8%
Sep-1994 12.1% 4.7%
Oct-1994 12.0% 4.6%
Nov-1994 11.4% 4.5%
Dec-1994 11.5% 4.3%
Jan-1995 11.4% 4.4%
Feb-1995 11.7% 4.2%
Mar-1995 11.6% 4.2%
Apr-1995 12.0% 4.5%
May-1995 11.9% 4.5%
Jun-1995 12.0% 4.4%
Jul-1995 12.5% 4.4%
Aug-1995 12.5% 4.4%
Sep-1995 12.7% 4.3%
Oct-1995 12.4% 4.2%
Nov-1995 12.0% 4.4%
Dec-1995 12.4% 4.3%
Jan-1996 12.8% 4.3%
Feb-1996 12.2% 4.2%
Mar-1996 12.2% 4.2%
Apr-1996 12.0% 4.3%
May-1996 12.2% 4.3%
Jun-1996 11.8% 4.1%
Jul-1996 12.4% 4.2%
Aug-1996 11.6% 4.0%
Sep-1996 11.4% 4.0%
Oct-1996 11.6% 4.0%
Nov-1996 11.9% 4.1%
Dec-1996 11.8% 4.1%
Jan-1997 12.2% 4.0%
Feb-1997 11.8% 4.0%
Mar-1997 11.7% 3.9%
Apr-1997 11.6% 3.8%
May-1997 11.1% 3.8%
Jun-1997 11.4% 3.8%
Jul-1997 11.2% 3.7%
Aug-1997 11.1% 3.7%
Sep-1997 11.2% 3.7%
Oct-1997 11.0% 3.5%
Nov-1997 10.8% 3.4%
Dec-1997 10.5% 3.6%
Jan-1998 10.9% 3.5%
Feb-1998 10.6% 3.5%
Mar-1998 10.5% 3.6%
Apr-1998 9.7% 3.4%
May-1998 10.3% 3.3%
Jun-1998 10.6% 3.4%
Jul-1998 10.6% 3.4%
Aug-1998 10.8% 3.3%
Sep-1998 11.0% 3.4%
Oct-1998 10.5% 3.4%
Nov-1998 9.8% 3.3%
Dec-1998 9.6% 3.3%
Jan-1999 10.2% 3.2%
Feb-1999 10.1% 3.3%
Mar-1999 9.9% 3.1%
Apr-1999 10.0% 3.3%
May-1999 9.6% 3.1%
Jun-1999 10.0% 3.2%
Jul-1999 9.9% 3.2%
Aug-1999 9.6% 3.2%
Sep-1999 10.2% 3.1%
Oct-1999 10.0% 3.0%
Nov-1999 9.9% 3.0%
Dec-1999 9.6% 2.9%
Jan-2000 9.4% 3.0%
Feb-2000 9.9% 3.0%
Mar-2000 9.6% 3.0%
Apr-2000 9.2% 2.9%
May-2000 9.8% 3.0%
Jun-2000 9.3% 3.0%
Jul-2000 9.3% 3.0%
Aug-2000 9.3% 3.1%
Sep-2000 8.9% 3.0%
Oct-2000 8.9% 2.9%
Nov-2000 9.1% 3.0%
Dec-2000 9.2% 2.9%
Jan-2001 9.6% 3.2%
Feb-2001 9.6% 3.2%
Mar-2001 9.8% 3.2%
Apr-2001 10.2% 3.3%
May-2001 9.9% 3.3%
Jun-2001 10.4% 3.5%
Jul-2001 10.2% 3.5%
Aug-2001 11.2% 3.8%
Sep-2001 10.8% 3.9%
Oct-2001 11.5% 4.2%
Nov-2001 11.6% 4.4%
Dec-2001 12.2% 4.5%
Jan-2002 12.1% 4.5%
Feb-2002 11.8% 4.5%
Mar-2002 12.5% 4.5%
Apr-2002 12.3% 4.8%
May-2002 11.6% 4.8%
Jun-2002 11.8% 4.7%
Jul-2002 12.1% 4.6%
Aug-2002 12.0% 4.6%
Sep-2002 11.7% 4.5%
Oct-2002 11.8% 4.6%
Nov-2002 12.1% 4.7%
Dec-2002 12.1% 4.8%
Jan-2003 12.0% 4.7%
Feb-2003 12.1% 4.8%
Mar-2003 12.0% 4.8%
Apr-2003 12.6% 4.9%
May-2003 12.9% 4.9%
Jun-2003 13.2% 5.1%
Jul-2003 13.0% 4.9%
Aug-2003 12.3% 5.0%
Sep-2003 12.8% 4.9%
Oct-2003 12.2% 4.9%
Nov-2003 12.1% 4.8%
Dec-2003 11.7% 4.6%
Jan-2004 12.0% 4.6%
Feb-2004 11.7% 4.5%
Mar-2004 12.0% 4.7%
Apr-2004 11.6% 4.5%
May-2004 12.1% 4.4%
Jun-2004 12.0% 4.5%
Jul-2004 12.1% 4.4%
Aug-2004 11.5% 4.3%
Sep-2004 11.7% 4.3%
Oct-2004 12.1% 4.2%
Nov-2004 11.5% 4.3%
Dec-2004 11.7% 4.2%
Jan-2005 11.6% 4.1%
Feb-2005 12.4% 4.2%
Mar-2005 11.8% 4.0%
Apr-2005 11.8% 4.0%
May-2005 11.7% 3.9%
Jun-2005 11.1% 4.0%
Jul-2005 10.7% 4.0%
Aug-2005 11.1% 3.8%
Sep-2005 10.8% 4.1%
Oct-2005 10.8% 3.9%
Nov-2005 11.1% 4.0%
Dec-2005 10.5% 3.9%
Jan-2006 10.4% 3.7%
Feb-2006 10.8% 3.7%
Mar-2006 10.5% 3.6%
Apr-2006 10.3% 3.7%
May-2006 10.0% 3.7%
Jun-2006 10.4% 3.6%
Jul-2006 10.9% 3.7%
Aug-2006 10.7% 3.6%
Sep-2006 10.6% 3.5%
Oct-2006 10.6% 3.3%
Nov-2006 10.6% 3.5%
Dec-2006 10.0% 3.5%
Jan-2007 10.3% 3.7%
Feb-2007 9.9% 3.6%
Mar-2007 10.0% 3.4%
Apr-2007 10.3% 3.5%
May-2007 9.9% 3.5%
Jun-2007 10.6% 3.5%
Jul-2007 10.5% 3.7%
Aug-2007 10.7% 3.6%
Sep-2007 11.2% 3.6%
Oct-2007 10.7% 3.7%
Nov-2007 10.8% 3.7%
Dec-2007 11.7% 3.8%
Jan-2008 11.7% 3.8%
Feb-2008 11.4% 3.8%
Mar-2008 11.4% 4.0%
Apr-2008 11.0% 4.0%
May-2008 13.0% 4.1%
Jun-2008 12.9% 4.3%
Jul-2008 13.5% 4.5%
Aug-2008 13.1% 4.9%
Sep-2008 13.5% 4.9%
Oct-2008 13.6% 5.3%
Nov-2008 14.0% 5.6%
Dec-2008 14.8% 6.1%
Jan-2009 15.0% 6.6%
Feb-2009 16.0% 7.1%
Mar-2009 16.5% 7.4%
Apr-2009 16.7% 7.7%
May-2009 17.6% 8.0%
Jun-2009 18.0% 8.1%
Jul-2009 17.9% 8.1%
Aug-2009 18.1% 8.3%
Sep-2009 18.4% 8.4%
Oct-2009 19.1% 8.6%
Nov-2009 19.2% 8.4%
Dec-2009 18.8% 8.4%
Jan-2010 18.8% 8.3%
Feb-2010 18.7% 8.4%
Mar-2010 18.8% 8.5%
Apr-2010 19.5% 8.4%
May-2010 18.1% 8.3%
Jun-2010 18.2% 8.1%
Jul-2010 18.4% 8.0%
Aug-2010 17.7% 8.2%
Sep-2010 17.9% 8.2%
Oct-2010 18.7% 8.1%
Nov-2010 18.5% 8.4%
Dec-2010 17.9% 8.0%
Jan-2011 18.1% 7.7%
Feb-2011 17.7% 7.6%
Mar-2011 17.6% 7.6%
Apr-2011 17.6% 7.7%
May-2011 17.3% 7.7%
Jun-2011 17.1% 7.9%
Jul-2011 17.3% 7.7%
Aug-2011 17.4% 7.7%
Sep-2011 17.3% 7.7%
Oct-2011 16.7% 7.6%
Nov-2011 17.0% 7.3%
Dec-2011 16.7% 7.2%
Jan-2012 16.1% 7.0%
Feb-2012 16.5% 7.0%
Mar-2012 16.2% 6.9%
Apr-2012 16.6% 6.8%
May-2012 16.1% 6.9%
Jun-2012 16.2% 7.0%
Jul-2012 16.3% 6.9%
Aug-2012 16.7% 6.7%
Sep-2012 15.5% 6.6%
Oct-2012 16.0% 6.5%
Nov-2012 15.9% 6.4%
Dec-2012 16.5% 6.5%
Jan-2013 16.8% 6.5%
Feb-2013 16.3% 6.3%
Mar-2013 16.1% 6.2%
Apr-2013 16.3% 6.2%
May-2013 16.3% 6.1%
Jun-2013 16.0% 6.2%
Jul-2013 15.4% 6.0%
Aug-2013 15.7% 5.9%
Sep-2013 15.1% 6.0%
Oct-2013 14.8% 6.0%
Nov-2013 14.1% 5.9%
Dec-2013 13.4% 5.6%
Jan-2014 14.1% 5.3%
Feb-2014 14.5% 5.4%
Mar-2014 14.6% 5.4%
Apr-2014 13.0% 5.2%
May-2014 13.3% 5.2%
Jun-2014 13.1% 5.0%
Jul-2014 13.5% 5.0%
Aug-2014 13.2% 5.0%
Sep-2014 13.8% 4.7%
Oct-2014 12.6% 4.7%
Nov-2014 12.5% 4.8%
Dec-2014 12.2% 4.5%
Jan-2015 12.0% 4.6%
Feb-2015 11.8% 4.5%
Mar-2015 12.5% 4.4%
Apr-2015 11.8% 4.5%
May-2015 12.3% 4.5%
Jun-2015 11.9% 4.2%
Jul-2015 11.5% 4.2%
Aug-2015 11.1% 4.1%
Sep-2015 11.2% 4.1%
Oct-2015 11.0% 4.1%
Nov-2015 11.2% 4.2%
Dec-2015 11.1% 4.0%
Jan-2016 10.0% 4.0%
Feb-2016 10.5% 4.0%
Mar-2016 10.7% 4.1%
Apr-2016 11.0% 4.1%
May-2016 10.4% 3.9%
Jun-2016 10.5% 4.0%
Jul-2016 10.6% 3.9%
Aug-2016 10.2% 4.1%
Sep-2016 10.4% 4.2%
Oct-2016 10.6% 4.0%
Nov-2016 10.3% 3.9%
Dec-2016 10.0% 3.9%
Jan-2017 10.0% 3.9%
Feb-2017 9.8% 3.9%
Mar-2017 9.0% 3.7%
Apr-2017 9.3% 3.6%
May-2017 8.7% 3.7%
Jun-2017 9.1% 3.6%
Jul-2017 8.9% 3.6%
Aug-2017 8.9% 3.7%
Sep-2017 9.1% 3.5%
Oct-2017 9.2% 3.4%
Nov-2017 9.8% 3.4%
Dec-2017 9.1% 3.4%
Jan-2018 9.2% 3.3%
Feb-2018 9.0% 3.4%
Mar-2018 8.3% 3.3%
Apr-2018 8.4% 3.3%
May-2018 8.6% 3.1%
Jun-2018 8.8% 3.2%
Jul-2018 8.6% 3.1%
Aug-2018 8.2% 3.1%
Sep-2018 8.4% 3.0%
Oct-2018 8.5% 3.1%
Nov-2018 8.3% 3.1%
Dec-2018 8.9% 3.2%
Jan-2019 9.3% 3.2%
Feb-2019 9.1% 3.1%
Mar-2019 8.6% 3.1%
Apr-2019 8.3% 2.9%
May-2019 8.5% 2.9%
Jun-2019 7.9% 3.0%
Jul-2019 8.4% 3.0%
Aug-2019 8.3% 2.9%
Sep-2019 7.9% 2.8%
Oct-2019 7.9% 2.9%
Nov-2019 8.1% 2.9%
Dec-2019 8.4% 2.9%
Jan-2020 8.6% 2.9%
Feb-2020 7.8% 2.9%
Mar-2020 10.1% 3.6%
Apr-2020 27.5% 13.0%
May-2020 25.1% 11.5%
Jun-2020 20.4% 9.7%
Jul-2020 18.3% 9.0%
Aug-2020 14.7% 7.5%
Sep-2020 13.5% 7.0%
Oct-2020 11.8% 6.1%
Nov-2020 11.6% 6.0%
Dec-2020 12.6% 5.9%
Jan-2021 11.4% 5.6%
Feb-2021 10.9% 5.6%
Mar-2021 11.0% 5.3%
Apr-2021 11.2% 5.3%
May-2021 10.0% 5.1%
Jun-2021 9.7% 5.3%
Jul-2021 9.5% 4.8%
Aug-2021 9.6% 4.5%
Sep-2021 8.7% 4.1%
Oct-2021 8.3% 3.9%
Nov-2021 8.3% 3.6%
Dec-2021 8.2% 3.3%
Jan-2022 8.4% 3.4%
Feb-2022 8.2% 3.2%
Mar-2022 8.4% 2.9%
Apr-2022 8.2% 3.0%
May-2022 7.8% 3.0%
Jun-2022 8.1% 3.0%
Jul-2022 7.8% 2.8%
Aug-2022 7.8% 3.0%
Sep-2022 8.2% 2.8%
Oct-2022 7.9% 3.0%
Nov-2022 8.2% 3.0%
Dec-2022 8.3% 2.8%
Jan-2023 8.1% 2.8%
Feb-2023 8.1% 2.9%
Mar-2023 7.5% 2.9%
Apr-2023 6.6% 2.9%
May-2023 7.4% 3.1%
Jun-2023 7.6% 3.0%
Jul-2023 8.1% 2.8%
Aug-2023 8.6% 3.0%
Sep-2023 8.4% 3.1%
Oct-2023 8.8% 3.1%
Nov-2023 8.0% 3.1%
Dec-2023 8.0% 3.2%
Jan-2024 7.3% 3.2%
Feb-2024 8.8% 3.2%
Mar-2024 8.8% 3.1%
Apr-2024 8.3% 3.2%
May-2024 9.3% 3.2%
Jun-2024 8.9% 3.3%
Jul-2024 9.1% 3.5%
Aug-2024 9.7% 3.4%
Sep-2024 9.2% 3.3%
Oct-2024 9.5% 3.4%
Nov-2024 9.4% 3.5%
Dec-2024 9.0% 3.4%
Jan-2025 9.0% 3.3%
Feb-2025 9.7% 3.4%
Mar-2025 9.4% 3.3%
Apr-2025 9.6% 3.4%
May-2025 9.7% 3.4%
Jun-2025 10.0% 3.3%
Jul-2025 10.0% 3.4%
Aug-2025 10.5% 3.4%
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Economic Policy Institute

Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions.

Source: Authors' analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics' Current Population Survey public data.

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