Employment-to-population ratio for ages 16 and over, 1979-2027

Year Actual employment Administration goal of 25 million new jobs Age-specific high points  CBO baseline projection 
1979 59.9
1980 59.2
1981 59
1982 57.8
1983 57.9
1984 59.5
1985 60.1
1986 60.7
1987 61.5
1988 62.3
1989 63
1990 62.8
1991 61.7
1992 61.5 
1993 61.7
1994 62.5
1995 62.9
1996 63.2
1997 63.8
1998 64.1
1999 64.3
2000 64.4
2001 63.7
2002 62.7
2003 62.3
2004 62.3
2005 62.7
2006 63.1
2007 63
2008 62.2
2009 59.3
2010 58.5
2011 58.4
2012 58.6
2013 58.6
2014 59
2015 59.3
2016 59.7 59.7 59.7 59.73844
2017 60.10455 59.8 59.92828
2018 60.50909 59.9 59.99178
2019 60.91364 60 59.80045
2020 61.31818 60.1 59.37108
2021 61.72273 60.2 59.09788
2022 62.12727 60.3 58.88157
2023 62.53182  60.4 58.67118
2024 62.93636 60.5 58.47261
2025 63.34091 60.6 58.29248
2026 63.74546 60.7  58.13271
2027 64.15 60.8 58.06227
Economic Policy Institute

Notes: Author’s calculations using the Current Population Survey and CBO January 2017 10-Year Economic Projections. Census 2014 National Population Projections for 2027 are assumed for age groups 16-19, 20-24, 25-54, 55-64, and 65 and over, and the employment high points are defined over the last 50 years.

View the underlying data on epi.org.