For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, August 31, 2021 USDL-21-1567
Technical information: nls_info@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/nls
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 * PressOffice@bls.gov
NUMBER OF JOBS, LABOR MARKET EXPERIENCE, MARITAL STATUS, AND HEALTH:
RESULTS FROM A NATIONAL LONGITUDINAL SURVEY
Individuals born in the latter years of the baby boom (1957-64) held an average of 12.4 jobs from ages
18 to 54, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nearly half of these jobs were held from
ages 18 to 24.
These findings are from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979, a survey of 9,964 men and
women who were ages 14 to 22 when first interviewed in 1979 and ages 53 to 62 when interviewed most
recently in 2018-19. These respondents were born in the years 1957 to 1964, the latter years of the
baby boom that occurred in the United States from 1946 to 1964. The survey spans 39 years and provides
information on work and nonwork experiences, education, training, income and assets, health, and other
characteristics. The information provided by respondents, who were interviewed annually from 1979 to
1994 and biennially since 1994, can be considered representative of all men and women born in the late
1950s and early 1960s and living in the United States when the survey began in 1979.
This release of the latest data from the longitudinal survey focuses on the number of jobs held, job
duration, labor force participation, earnings growth, marital status, and health. Highlights from the
survey include:
--Individuals born from 1957 to 1964 held an average of 12.4 jobs from ages 18 to 54. These baby
boomers held an average of 5.6 jobs while ages 18 to 24. The average fell to 4.5 jobs from ages
25 to 34; to 2.9 jobs from ages 35 to 44; and to 2.1 jobs from ages 45 to 54. Jobs that span more
than one age group were counted once in each age group, so the overall average number of jobs
held from ages 18 to 54 is less than the sum of the number of jobs across the individual age
groups. (See table 1.)
--Although job duration tended to be longer the older a worker was when starting the job, these
baby boomers continued to have short-duration jobs. Among individuals who started jobs while ages
35 to 44, the average individual had 26 percent of their jobs end in less than a year, and 61
percent end in fewer than 5 years. (See table 2.)
--On average, individuals were employed during 78 percent of the weeks from ages 18 to 54.
Generally, men spent a larger percent of weeks employed than did women (84 percent versus 72
percent). Women spent twice as much time out of the labor force (24 percent of weeks) as men
(12 percent of weeks). (See table 3.)
--The average annual percent growth in inflation-adjusted hourly earnings was highest during a
worker's late teens and early twenties. Growth rates in earnings generally were higher for
workers with a bachelor's degree or higher than for workers with less education. (See table 5.)
--At the time of their 54th birthday, 65 percent of individuals were married and 35 percent were
not married. The percent of individuals who were married varied by education; those with a
bachelor's degree or higher were more likely to be married than those with less education.
(See table 6.)
--Men who were not married at age 54 were employed 76 percent of the weeks from ages 35 to 54,
compared with 91 percent for those who were married. The percentage of weeks employed was similar
for not married and married women at age 54 (75 percent and 76 percent, respectively).
(See table 7.)
--The percent of individuals reporting that their health limits the kind or amount of work they can
do increased as they aged. At 24 years of age, 4 percent of individuals reported that their
health limits the kind or amount of work they can do; at 34 years of age, 5 percent were limited;
at 44 years of age, 10 percent were limited; and at 54 years of age, 20 percent were limited.
(See table 8.)
Number of Jobs Held
Individuals held an average of 12.4 jobs from ages 18 to 54, with nearly half of these jobs held
before age 25. In this news release, a job is defined as an uninterrupted period of work with a
particular employer. (See the Technical Note for additional information on the definition of a job.)
On average, men held 12.6 jobs and women held 12.3 jobs from ages 18 to 54. Men held 5.8 jobs from
ages 18 to 24, compared with 2.1 jobs from ages 45 to 54. The reduction in the average number of jobs
held in successive age groups was similar for women. (See table 1.)
On average, men without a high school diploma held 13.8 jobs from ages 18 to 54, while men with a
bachelor's degree and higher held 11.9 jobs between these ages. In contrast, women without a high
school diploma held 10.0 jobs from ages 18 to 54, while women with a bachelor's degree and higher
held 13.1 jobs between these ages.
From ages 18 to 24, White persons held more jobs than Black persons, and Hispanic or Latino persons.
On average, White persons held 5.8 jobs between the ages of 18 and 24, while Black persons held 4.8
jobs and Hispanic or Latino persons held 5.0 jobs. Each of these groups held between 4.3 and 4.6 jobs
from ages 25 to 34; between 2.9 and 3.1 jobs from ages 35 to 44; and between 2.1 and 2.2 jobs from
ages 45 to 54.
Duration of Employment Relationships
The length of time a worker remains with an employer increased with the age at which the worker
began the job. Of the jobs that workers began when they were 18 to 24 years of age, the average
worker had 61 percent of those jobs end in less than a year and 87 percent of jobs end in fewer than
5 years. Among jobs started by 35 to 44 year-olds, the average worker had 26 percent of jobs end in
less than a year, and 61 percent end in fewer than 5 years. (See table 2.)
Percent of Weeks Employed, Unemployed, and Not in the Labor Force
On average, the youngest baby boomers (born 1957-64) were employed during 78 percent of all the
weeks from ages 18 to 54. They were unemployed--that is, without jobs but seeking work--5 percent of
the weeks. They were not in the labor force--that is, neither working nor seeking work--18 percent of
the weeks. (See table 3.)
The amount of time spent employed differed substantially between those without a high school diploma
and those who had graduated from high school or attained higher levels of education. Individuals
with less than a high school diploma (as of the 2018-19 survey) spent 58 percent of weeks employed
and 35 percent of weeks out of the labor force from ages 18 to 54. By comparison, high school
graduates spent 76 percent of weeks employed and 19 percent of weeks out of the labor force, while
those with a bachelor's degree and higher spent 85 percent of weeks employed and 13 percent of weeks
out of the labor force.
White high school graduates with no college were employed a higher percentage of weeks and out of
the labor force a smaller percentage of weeks than Black, and Hispanic or Latino high school
graduates with no college. Between the ages of 18 and 54, White high school graduates with no
college spent 78 percent of weeks employed and 17 percent of weeks out of the labor force, while
Black high school graduates with no college spent 65 percent of weeks employed and 25 percent of
weeks out of the labor force, and Hispanic or Latino high school graduates with no college spent 72
percent of weeks employed and 22 percent of weeks out of the labor force. Among those with a
bachelor's degree and higher, however, there was little difference among racial and ethnic groups in
labor market attachment; each group spent between 83 percent and 85 percent of weeks employed.
The amount of time spent in the labor force differs by sex, with women at every educational level
spending fewer weeks in the labor force than men. Overall, men were out of the labor force 12 percent
of weeks from ages 18 to 54; at these same ages, women were out of the labor force 24 percent of
weeks. Women's labor force participation increased with their education level. Women without a high
school diploma spent nearly half (49 percent) of all weeks between ages 18 to 54 out of the labor
force, while those with a high school diploma were out of the labor force 26 percent of weeks, those
with some college were out of the labor force 22 percent of weeks, and women with a bachelor's degree
and higher were out of the labor force only 18 percent of weeks. Among men, those without a high
school diploma were out of the labor force about 24 percent of weeks, while men in the remaining three
education categories were out of the labor force only 9 percent to 12 percent of weeks. (See table 3.)
While on average women spent fewer weeks in the labor force than men, the labor force participation
patterns of men and women were fairly similar. For both men and women, time spent out of the labor
force was greatest between the ages of 18 and 24, reflecting the transition from education and
training to the work force. For women, time spent out of the labor force decreased from 30 percent of
weeks between the ages of 18 and 24; to 25 percent of weeks between the ages of 25 and 34; to 21
percent of weeks between the ages of 35 and 44; and then increased to 23 percent of weeks between the
ages of 45 and 54. Men were out of the labor force 18 percent of weeks between the ages of 18 to 24,
and then fewer than 9 percent of weeks from ages 25 to 44; from ages 45 to 54, they increased their
time out of the labor force to 13 percent of weeks. While the percent of weeks out of the labor force
followed a similar trend, within each age range, women spent more weeks out of the labor force than
men. (See table 4.)
The percentage of weeks in which women were employed increased from 63 percent in the 18 to 24 age
group to a peak of 76 percent in the 35 to 44 age group and then decreased to 73 percent in the 45
to 54 age group. Following a similar pattern, the percentage of weeks in which men were employed
increased from 73 percent in the 18 to 24 age group to a peak of 88 percent in both the 25 to 34 and
the 35 to 44 age categories. The percent of weeks employed then dipped to 83 percent in the 45 to 54
age group. (See table 4.)
Percent Growth in Real Earnings
The inflation-adjusted earnings of workers born in the latter years of the baby boom (1957-64)
increased most rapidly while they were young. Hourly earnings grew by an average of 6.4 percent per
year from ages 18 to 24. The earnings growth rate slowed to 3.2 percent annually from ages 25 to 34
and then to 1.8 percent annually from ages 35 to 44. From ages 45 to 54, earnings were stagnant
(0.0 percent). (See table 5.)
In every age category, growth rates of inflation-adjusted hourly earnings generally were higher for
workers with more education. Earnings growth for 18 to 24 year-olds with less than a high school
diploma was 2.8 percent, while those with a bachelor's degree and higher saw their earnings grow by 9.2
percent at the same ages. On average, 45 to 54 year-olds with less than a high school diploma
experienced negative earnings growth (-0.7 percent), while at the same ages earnings among those with
a bachelor's degree and higher increased by 0.5 percent. This pattern in earnings growth reflects, in
part, the state of the U.S. economy during the years in which survey participants were in each age
group. (See table 5.)
Marital Status and Employment Experiences
At 24 years of age, 44 percent of Americans born during 1957-64 were married. At 34 years of age, 68
percent were married; at 44 years of age, 70 percent were married; and at 54 years of age, 65 percent
were married. (See table 6.)
At age 24, those with lower levels of education were more likely to be married than those with higher
levels of education. The opposite was true at older ages. At ages 34, 44, and 54, those with higher
levels of education were more likely to be married than those with lower levels of education. At the
time of their 44th birthday, 54 percent of those with less than a high school diploma, 67 percent of
high school graduates with no college, 69 percent of individuals with some college or an associate
degree, and 78 percent of college graduates were married.
At age 24, women were significantly more likely than men to be married. By their 24th birthday, 50
percent of women were married, while 37 percent of men were married. At age 24, women at each level
of educational attainment were also more likely than men to be married. At ages 34, 44, and 54, the
percentages of women and men who were married were very similar, ranging between 66 percent and 69
percent for men and 63 percent and 70 percent for women.
Marital status varied by race and ethnicity. Black persons were more likely to be not married than
either White persons or Hispanic or Latino persons. At 44 years of age, 51 percent of Black persons
were not married, compared with 27 percent of White persons and 35 percent of Hispanic or Latino
persons.
Compared with individuals who were not married at age 34, those who were married worked more weeks
from ages 18 to 34, spent fewer weeks unemployed, and spent fewer weeks not in the labor force.
From ages 18 to 34, not married individuals spent 72 percent of weeks employed, 7 percent of weeks
unemployed, and 21 percent of weeks not in the labor force, while those who were married spent 78
percent of weeks employed, 4 percent of weeks unemployed, and 18 percent of weeks not in the labor
force. Similar relationships were observed at older ages. (See table 7.)
At age 54, those who were married worked more weeks from ages 35 to 54 compared with individuals
who were not married, spent fewer weeks unemployed, and spent fewer weeks not in the labor force.
From ages 35 to 54, not married individuals spent 75 percent of weeks employed, 5 percent of weeks
unemployed, and 20 percent of weeks not in the labor force, while those who were married spent 83
percent of weeks employed, 3 percent of weeks unemployed, and 14 percent of weeks not in the labor
force. (See table 7.)
At age 54, men had different employment experiences by marital status. From ages 35 to 54, married
men worked more weeks, were unemployed fewer weeks, and were less likely to be not in the labor
force than not married men. Married men spent 91 percent of weeks employed, compared with 76 percent
for not married men. They spent 3 percent of weeks unemployed, compared with 6 percent for not
married men. Married men spent 7 percent of weeks out of the labor force, compared with 18 percent
for not married men. In contrast, there were limited differences in women's employment experiences by
marital status from ages 35 to 54, with both married and non-married women spending about the same
percentage of weeks employed (76 percent for married women and 75 percent for not married women).
At age 54, married individuals also worked more weeks than not married individuals within racial and
ethnic groups. Among White persons, those who were married spent a higher percentage of weeks employed
from ages 35 to 54 than those who were not married (84 percent versus 78 percent). Among Black
persons, those who were married also spent a higher percentage of weeks employed than those who were
not married (80 percent versus 68 percent). Among Hispanic or Latino persons, those who were married
spent a higher percentage of weeks employed than those who were not married (80 percent versus 70
percent).
Health Limits and Work
Individuals in this cohort report whether their health limits the kind or amount of work they can do;
the percent of individuals reporting such limitations increased as they aged. At 24 years of age, 4
percent of Americans born during 1957-64 were limited in the kind or amount of work they can do; at
34 years of age, 5 percent were limited; at 44 years of age, 10 percent were limited; and at 54 years
of age, 20 percent were limited in the kind or amount of work they can do. (See table 8.)
At ages 24, 34, 44, and 54, those with lower levels of education were generally more likely to be
limited in the kind or amount of work they can do than those with higher levels of education. By
their 54th birthday, 47 percent of those with less than a high school diploma, 24 percent of high
school graduates with no college, 20 percent of individuals with some college or an associate degree,
and 9 percent of college graduates were limited in the kind or amount of work they can do.
Women were more likely than men to report that health limits the kind or amount of work they can do.
At 24 years of age, 5 percent of women and 2 percent of men were limited in the kind or amount of work
they can do; at 34 years of age, 6 percent of women and 4 percent of men were limited; at 44 years of
age, 13 percent of women and 8 percent of men were limited; and at 54 years of age, 23 percent of
women and 17 percent of men were limited in the kind or amount of work they can do.
Limitations in the kind or amount of work individuals can do varied by race and ethnicity. Black
persons were more likely to report being limited than either White persons or Hispanic or Latino
persons. At 54 years of age, 28 percent of Black persons were limited in the kind or amount of work
they can do, compared with 18 percent of White persons and 22 percent of Hispanic or Latino persons.
Additional data are available at www.bls.gov/nls/y79supp.htm.
Technical Note
The estimates in this release were obtained using data from the first 28 rounds of the
National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79). This survey is conducted by the
National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago and the Center for Human
Resource Research at The Ohio State University under the direction and sponsorship of
the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Sample
The NLSY79 is a nationally representative sample of 12,686 young men and women who were
14 to 22 years of age when first surveyed in 1979. This survey sample was initially
composed of three subsamples:
--A cross-sectional sample of 6,111 youths that was designed to represent the
noninstitutionalized, civilian population of young people living in the U.S.
in 1979 and born between Jan. 1, 1957, and Dec. 31, 1964.
--A supplemental sample of 5,295 youths designed to oversample noninstitutionalized,
civilian Black, Hispanic or Latino, and economically disadvantaged nonblack, non-
Hispanic or Latino youths living in the U.S. in 1979 and born between Jan. 1, 1957,
and Dec. 31, 1964.
--A military sample of 1,280 youths born between Jan. 1, 1957, and Dec. 31, 1961, and
enlisted in the Army, Air Force, Navy, or Marine Corps as of September 30, 1978.
In 1985, the military sample was discontinued, and, in 1991, the economically disadvantaged
nonblack, non-Hispanic youths were dropped from the supplemental sample. As a result,
the NLSY79 sample now includes 9,964 individuals from the cross-sectional sample and
the Black and Hispanic or Latino supplemental samples. (This sample size is not adjusted
for sample members who have died.)
Individuals were surveyed annually from 1979 to 1994 and biennially since 1994. In 2018-19,
6,878 individuals responded to the survey, for a retention rate of 69 percent (representing
a 77 percent response rate among those sample members who are still living). Only these
individuals are included in the estimates in this release. All results are weighted using
the 2018-19 survey weights that correct for the oversampling, interview nonresponse, and
permanent attrition from the survey. When weighted, the estimates represent all persons
born in the years 1957 to 1964 and living in the U.S. when the survey began in 1979. Not
represented by the survey are U.S. immigrants who were born from 1957 to 1964 and moved
to the U.S. after 1979.
Work history data
The total number of jobs that people hold during their work life is an easy concept to
understand but a difficult one to measure. Reliable estimates require a survey that
interviews the same people over the course of their entire work life and also keeps
track of all the jobs they ever held. The NLSY79 tracks the number of jobs that people
have held, but most of the respondents in this survey are still working and have more
years of work life ahead of them. As the cohort continues to age, more complete information
will become available.
A unique feature of the NLSY79 is that it collects the beginning and ending dates of
all jobs held by a respondent so that a longitudinal history can be constructed of each
respondent's work experiences. The NLSY79 work history data provide a week-by-week work
record of each respondent from Jan. 1, 1978, through the most recent survey date. These
data contain information on the respondent's labor force status each week, the usual
hours worked per week at all jobs, and earnings for all jobs. If a respondent worked
at more than one job in any week, hours and earnings are obtained for additional jobs.
When a respondent who missed one or more consecutive survey rounds is interviewed again,
he or she is asked to provide information about all time since the last interview.
Interaction between time and age in a longitudinal survey
Because the NLSY79 is a longitudinal survey, meaning the same people are surveyed over
time, the ages of the respondents change with each survey round. It is important to
keep in mind this inherent link between the calendar years and the ages of the
respondents. For example, table 5 reports earnings growth from age 45 to age 54. The
youngest respondents in the sample (birth year 1964) were these ages during 2009-18,
whereas the oldest respondents (birth year 1957) were these ages during 2002-11.
Although participants in the NLSY79 were ages 53 to 62 during the 2018-19 interviews,
this release covers only the period while the respondents were ages 18 to 54. The
reason for not including older ages is that the sample sizes were still too small to
provide statistically reliable estimates for age groups older than 54. As the NLSY79
continues to be administered and the respondents age, subsequent rounds of the survey
will enable analyses to be conducted for older age groups.
As with age, the educational attainment of individuals may change from year to year.
In the tables and analysis presented in this report, educational attainment is defined
as of the 2018-19 survey. This definition is used even when data on age and educational
attainment are presented together. For example, table 1 reports the number of jobs
held during different age categories. Suppose that a respondent had completed a bachelor's
degree at age 54. That respondent would be included in the “Bachelor's degree and higher”
educational category in all age categories shown on the table, even though he or she
did not have a bachelor's degree at any point from age 18 to age 53.
Definitions
Job. A job is defined as an uninterrupted period of work with a particular employer.
Jobs are therefore employer-based, not position-based. If a respondent indicates that
he or she left a job but in a subsequent survey returned to the same job, it is counted
as a new job. For example, if an individual worked in a retail establishment during
the summer, quit at the end of summer, and then resumed working for the same employer
the following spring, this sequence would count as two jobs, rather than one. For
self-employed workers, each “new” job is defined by the individuals themselves.
Unemployment. If respondents indicate a gap between employers, they are asked how many
of those weeks they spent searching for employment or on layoff. For that number of
weeks, they are considered unemployed. For the remaining weeks, they are coded as not
in the labor force. No probing for intensity of job search is done.
Usual earnings. Respondents can report earnings over any time frame (hour, day, week,
month, year). For those who do not report an hourly wage, one is constructed using
usual hours worked over that time frame. Wages greater than $100 per hour and less
than $1 per hour (in 1979 dollars) were not included in the analysis of earnings growth
because the reported earnings levels were almost certainly in error. For the same reason,
individuals who had inflation-adjusted earnings growth greater than 100 percent were
not included in the analysis.
Marital Status. Marital status is determined for the interview date in which the
respondent first turned a specific age (54, for example). If not interviewed at that
age, then marital status is determined for the prior age.
Health limits kind or amount of work can do: Health limit is determined for the
interview date in which the respondent first turned a specific age (54, for example).
If not interviewed at that age, then health limit is determined for the prior age.
Race and ethnicity groups. In this release, the findings are reported for non-Hispanic
White persons, non-Hispanic Black persons, and Hispanic or Latino persons. These three
groups are mutually exclusive but not exhaustive. Other race groups, which are included
in the overall totals, are not shown separately because their representation in the
survey sample is not sufficiently large to provide statistically reliable estimates.
In other BLS publications, estimates usually are published for White persons, Black
persons, and Hispanic or Latino persons, but these groups are not mutually exclusive.
The term Hispanic or Latino is considered to be an ethnicity group, and Hispanic or
Latino persons can be of any race. Most other BLS publications include Hispanic or
Latino persons in the White and Black race groups in addition to the Hispanic or Latino
ethnicity group.
Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon
request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339
Table 1. Number of jobs held by individuals from ages 18 through 54 in 1978-2018 by
educational attainment, sex, race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, and age
Average number of jobs for individuals ages 18 to 54
in 1978-2018
Characteristic
Ages 18 Ages 25 Ages 35 Ages 45
Total (1) to 24(2) to 34 to 44 to 54(3)
Total ................................. 12.4 5.6 4.5 2.9 2.1
Less than a high school diploma ...... 12.1 5.1 4.6 2.8 1.7
High school graduates, no college (4). 12.1 5.2 4.4 2.9 2.0
Some college or associate degree ..... 13.1 5.8 4.7 3.1 2.3
Bachelor's degree and higher (5) ..... 12.5 6.2 4.4 2.8 2.3
Men ................................... 12.6 5.8 4.7 2.9 2.1
Less than a high school diploma ...... 13.8 6.1 5.4 3.1 1.7
High school graduates, no college (4). 12.6 5.7 4.7 2.8 2.0
Some college or associate degree ..... 13.2 5.9 5.0 3.0 2.3
Bachelor's degree and higher (5) ..... 11.9 5.9 4.3 2.9 2.2
Women ................................. 12.3 5.4 4.2 2.9 2.1
Less than a high school diploma ...... 10.0 3.8 3.4 2.4 1.6
High school graduates, no college (4). 11.5 4.6 4.0 2.9 2.0
Some college or associate degree ..... 13.0 5.6 4.5 3.1 2.4
Bachelor's degree and higher (5) ..... 13.1 6.6 4.5 2.8 2.3
White non-Hispanic .................... 12.5 5.8 4.5 2.9 2.1
Less than a high school diploma ...... 12.6 5.5 4.7 2.9 1.7
High school graduates, no college (4). 12.1 5.4 4.3 2.8 2.0
Some college or associate degree ..... 13.4 6.0 4.8 3.0 2.4
Bachelor's degree and higher (5) ..... 12.5 6.3 4.4 2.8 2.2
Black non-Hispanic .................... 12.1 4.8 4.6 3.1 2.1
Less than a high school diploma ...... 10.7 3.7 4.3 2.5 1.5
High school graduates, no college (4). 11.9 4.6 4.7 3.1 2.0
Some college or associate degree ..... 12.1 4.8 4.6 3.3 2.2
Bachelor's degree and higher (5) ..... 13.2 5.7 4.7 3.2 2.7
Hispanic or Latino .................... 12.1 5.0 4.3 3.0 2.2
Less than a high school diploma ...... 11.5 4.5 4.3 2.9 1.9
High school graduates, no college (4). 12.0 4.9 4.2 3.0 2.1
Some college or associate degree ..... 12.8 5.4 4.5 3.2 2.4
Bachelor's degree and higher (5) ..... 11.4 5.2 4.4 2.7 2.1
(1) Jobs held in more than one age category were counted in each, but only once in the total
column. The total excludes individuals who turned age 18 before January 1, 1978, or who had not
yet turned age 55 when interviewed in 2018-19.
(2) This category excludes individuals who turned age 18 before January 1, 1978.
(3) This category excludes individuals who had not yet turned age 55 when interviewed
in 2018-19.
(4) Includes individuals with a high school diploma or equivalent.
(5) Includes individuals with bachelor's, master's, professional, or doctoral degrees.
Note: The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 consists of men and women who were
born in the years 1957-64 and were ages 14 to 22 when first interviewed in 1979. These
individuals were ages 53 to 62 in 2018-19. Educational attainment is defined as of the
2018-19 survey. Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity groups are mutually exclusive but
not exhaustive. Other race groups, which are included in the overall totals, are not
shown separately because their representation in the survey sample is not sufficiently
large to provide statistically reliable estimates.
Table 2. Duration of employment relationships with a single employer for all jobs started
from ages 18 through 54 in 1978-2018 by age at start of job, sex, race, and Hispanic or
Latino ethnicity
Cumulative percent distribution of duration Percent
of completed employment relationships of jobs
Age at the start of job ongoing
and characteristic Less than Less than Less than Less than Less than in 2018
1 year 2 years 5 years 10 years 15 years
Ages 18 to 24 (1)....... 60.8 74.6 86.9 92.5 94.8 2.0
Men .................. 60.7 74.4 86.6 92.5 94.6 2.1
Women ................ 61.0 74.8 87.3 92.6 94.9 2.0
White non-Hispanic ... 60.0 73.8 86.4 92.0 94.4 2.2
Black non-Hispanic ... 65.9 79.2 90.0 94.9 96.3 1.3
Hispanic or Latino ... 60.7 74.1 86.9 93.6 95.6 1.7
Ages 25 to 34 .......... 41.9 57.5 74.2 84.3 89.0 5.9
Men .................. 40.1 55.6 71.5 81.7 86.8 7.1
Women ................ 43.6 59.4 76.9 86.9 91.2 4.6
White non-Hispanic ... 40.4 55.9 73.0 83.3 88.3 6.3
Black non-Hispanic ... 48.5 64.8 79.9 88.4 91.9 3.7
Hispanic or Latino ... 45.1 60.5 76.0 86.2 90.3 5.1
Ages 35 to 44 .......... 25.6 40.5 60.9 (*) (*) 14.3
Men .................. 23.3 38.5 59.1 (*) (*) 15.7
Women ................ 27.7 42.4 62.7 (*) (*) 12.9
White non-Hispanic ... 24.4 39.0 59.1 (*) (*) 15.5
Black non-Hispanic ... 30.4 47.3 68.7 (*) (*) 9.6
Hispanic or Latino ... 28.5 43.1 65.1 (*) (*) 11.0
Ages 45 to 54 (2)....... 21.5 34.7 (*) (*) (*) 32.6
Men .................. 18.3 32.1 (*) (*) (*) 34.7
Women ................ 24.7 37.3 (*) (*) (*) 30.5
White non-Hispanic ... 20.8 33.5 (*) (*) (*) 34.2
Black non-Hispanic ... 24.9 39.9 (*) (*) (*) 26.3
Hispanic or Latino ... 23.0 37.5 (*) (*) (*) 27.8
(*) Estimates are not presented for these categories because most sample members were not yet
old enough at the time of the 2018-19 survey to have completed jobs of these durations.
(1) This category excludes individuals who turned age 18 before January 1, 1978.
(2) This category excludes individuals who had not yet turned age 55 when interviewed
in 2018-19.
Note: The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 consists of men and women who were
born in the years 1957-64 and were ages 14 to 22 when first interviewed in 1979. These
individuals were ages 53 to 62 in 2018-19. Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity groups
are mutually exclusive but not exhaustive. Other race groups, which are included in the
overall totals, are not shown separately because their representation in the survey
sample is not sufficiently large to provide statistically reliable estimates.
Table 3. Percent of weeks individuals were employed, unemployed, or not in the labor
force from ages 18 through 54 in 1978-2018 by educational attainment, sex, race, and
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity
Percent of total weeks while
ages 18 to 54 in 1978-2018
Characteristic
Not in
Employed Unemployed labor force
Total, ages 18 to 54 in 1978-2018........... 77.8 4.5 17.7
Less than a high school diploma .......... 58.2 7.1 34.7
High school graduates, no college (1)..... 75.9 5.7 18.5
Some college or associate degree ......... 78.8 4.3 16.9
Bachelor's degree and higher (2) ......... 84.6 2.3 13.0
Men ........................................ 83.5 4.9 11.7
Less than a high school diploma .......... 68.3 8.2 23.6
High school graduates, no college (1)..... 81.7 6.1 12.2
Some college or associate degree ......... 85.5 4.3 10.2
Bachelor's degree and higher (2) ......... 89.1 2.4 8.5
Women ...................................... 71.9 4.1 24.0
Less than a high school diploma .......... 45.3 5.7 49.0
High school graduates, no college (1)..... 68.9 5.2 25.9
Some college or associate degree ......... 73.4 4.3 22.3
Bachelor's degree and higher (2) ......... 80.2 2.3 17.5
White non-Hispanic ......................... 79.7 3.8 16.5
Less than a high school diploma .......... 61.5 6.0 32.5
High school graduates, no college (1)..... 78.4 4.8 16.8
Some college or associate degree ......... 79.9 3.7 16.4
Bachelor's degree and higher (2) ......... 84.7 2.1 13.1
Black non-Hispanic ......................... 69.4 8.0 22.6
Less than a high school diploma .......... 47.7 10.5 41.8
High school graduates, no college (1)..... 65.1 9.6 25.3
Some college or associate degree ......... 74.3 6.8 19.0
Bachelor's degree and higher (2) ......... 83.3 4.6 12.0
Hispanic or Latino ........................ 72.3 5.4 22.2
Less than a high school diploma .......... 55.1 8.0 36.9
High school graduates, no college (1)..... 71.9 6.1 22.0
Some college or associate degree ......... 78.6 4.1 17.3
Bachelor's degree and higher (2) ......... 84.5 2.6 12.9
(1) Includes individuals with a high school diploma or equivalent.
(2) Includes individuals with bachelor's, master's, professional, or doctoral degrees.
Note: This table excludes individuals who turned age 18 before January 1, 1978, and who had not yet turned age 55
when interviewed in 2018-19.
The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 consists of men and women who were born in the years 1957-64 and
were ages 14 to 22 when first interviewed in 1979. These individuals were ages 53 to 62 in 2018-19. Educational
attainment is defined as of the 2018-19 survey. Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity groups are mutually exclusive
but not exhaustive. Other race groups, which are included in the overall totals, are not shown separately because their
representation in the survey sample is not sufficiently large to provide statistically reliable estimates.
Table 4. Percent of weeks individuals were employed, unemployed, or not in the labor
force from ages 18 through 54 in 1978-2018 by age, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino
ethnicity
Percent of total weeks
Age and characteristic Not in
labor
Employed Unemployed force
Total, ages 18 to 54 in 1978-2018 (1) .............. 77.8 4.5 17.7
Ages 18 to 24 in 1978-1988 (2) ................... 68.2 7.9 23.8
Ages 25 to 34 in 1982-1998 ....................... 79.8 4.1 16.1
Ages 35 to 44 in 1992-2008 ....................... 82.1 3.2 14.7
Ages 45 to 54 in 2002-2018 (3) ................... 78.1 4.0 17.9
Men, ages 18 to 54 in 1978-2018 (1) .............. 83.5 4.9 11.7
Ages 18 to 24 in 1978-1988 (2) ................... 72.9 9.0 18.2
Ages 25 to 34 in 1982-1998 ....................... 88.0 4.6 7.4
Ages 35 to 44 in 1992-2008 ....................... 88.1 3.4 8.4
Ages 45 to 54 in 2002-2018 (3) ................... 82.7 4.2 13.1
Women, ages 18 to 54 in 1978-2018 (1) .............. 71.9 4.1 24.0
Ages 18 to 24 in 1978-1988 (2) ................... 63.4 6.9 29.7
Ages 25 to 34 in 1982-1998 ....................... 71.3 3.6 25.1
Ages 35 to 44 in 1992-2008 ....................... 75.9 3.0 21.1
Ages 45 to 54 in 2002-2018 (3) ................... 73.4 3.8 22.8
White non-Hispanic, ages 18 to 54 in 1978-2018 (1) . 79.7 3.8 16.5
Ages 18 to 24 in 1978-1988 (2) ................... 70.8 7.0 22.2
Ages 25 to 34 in 1982-1998 ....................... 81.8 3.3 14.8
Ages 35 to 44 in 1992-2008 ....................... 83.5 2.6 13.8
Ages 45 to 54 in 2002-2018 (3) ................... 80.0 3.4 16.6
Black non-Hispanic, ages 18 to 54 in 1978-2018 (1) . 69.4 8.0 22.6
Ages 18 to 24 in 1978-1988 (2) ................... 56.1 13.2 30.7
Ages 25 to 34 in 1982-1998 ....................... 71.4 8.1 20.5
Ages 35 to 44 in 1992-2008 ....................... 76.0 6.1 18.0
Ages 45 to 54 in 2002-2018 (3) ................... 69.6 7.1 23.3
Hispanic or Latino, ages 18 to 54 in 1978-2018 (1) . 72.3 5.4 22.2
Ages 18 to 24 in 1978-1988 (2) ................... 63.0 8.4 28.5
Ages 25 to 34 in 1982-1998 ....................... 73.2 4.9 22.0
Ages 35 to 44 in 1992-2008 ....................... 77.9 4.3 17.8
Ages 45 to 54 in 2002-2018 (3) ................... 74.0 4.8 21.2
(1) This category excludes individuals who turned age 18 before January 1, 1978,
or who had not yet turned age 55 when interviewed in 2018-19.
(2) This category excludes individuals who turned age 18 before January 1, 1978.
(3) This category excludes individuals who had not yet turned age 55 when
interviewed in 2018-19.
Note: The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 consists of men and women who were
born in the years 1957-64 and were ages 14 to 22 when first interviewed in 1979.
These individuals were ages 53 to 62 in 2018-19. Race and Hispanic or Latino
ethnicity groups are mutually exclusive but not exhaustive. Other race groups,
which are included in the overall totals, are not shown separately because their
representation in the survey sample is not sufficiently large to provide
statistically reliable estimates.
Table 5. Average annual percent growth in inflation-adjusted hourly earnings from
1978-2018 by educational attainment, sex, race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, and
age
Average annual percent growth in
hourly earnings
Characteristic Ages 18 Ages 25 Ages 35 Ages 45
to 24(1) to 34 to 44 to 54(2)
Total ..................................... 6.4 3.2 1.8 0.0
Less than a high school diploma ......... 2.8 1.8 0.5 -0.7
High school graduates, no college (3).... 5.1 2.1 1.6 -0.4
Some college or associate degree ........ 6.2 3.1 1.7 0.0
Bachelor's degree and higher (4)......... 9.2 5.1 2.3 0.5
Men ....................................... 7.0 3.6 1.7 -0.1
Less than a high school diploma ......... 3.0 1.9 0.2 -1.5
High school graduates, no college (3).... 5.5 2.2 1.5 -0.4
Some college or associate degree ........ 7.9 3.9 1.7 0.2
Bachelor's degree and higher (4)......... 9.7 6.0 2.5 0.5
Women ..................................... 5.9 2.8 1.8 0.0
Less than a high school diploma ......... 2.6 1.6 1.0 0.7
High school graduates, no college (3).... 4.6 2.1 1.6 -0.5
Some college or associate degree ........ 4.9 2.4 1.8 -0.1
Bachelor's degree and higher (4)......... 8.8 4.2 2.1 0.6
White non-Hispanic ........................ 6.8 3.3 1.8 0.0
Less than a high school diploma ......... 3.5 2.0 0.3 -0.7
High school graduates, no college (3).... 5.4 2.1 1.6 -0.5
Some college or associate degree ........ 6.2 3.1 1.8 0.1
Bachelor's degree and higher (4)......... 9.5 5.1 2.3 0.6
Black non-Hispanic ........................ 4.3 2.9 1.4 0.0
Less than a high school diploma ......... 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.2
High school graduates, no college (3).... 3.1 2.1 1.5 0.0
Some college or associate degree ........ 6.1 3.1 1.3 -0.1
Bachelor's degree and higher (4)......... 6.2 5.5 1.8 0.1
Hispanic or Latino ........................ 5.7 2.6 1.9 -0.2
Less than a high school diploma ......... 1.8 2.1 1.6 -1.5
High school graduates, no college (3).... 5.9 2.0 1.0 -0.3
Some college or associate degree ........ 6.1 2.6 2.4 -0.2
Bachelor's degree and higher (4)......... 9.0 4.6 3.9 1.0
(1) This category excludes individuals who turned age 18 before January 1, 1978.
(2) This category excludes individuals who had not yet turned age 55 when
interviewed in 2018-19.
(3) Includes individuals with a high school diploma or equivalent.
(4) Includes individuals with bachelor's, master's, professional, or doctoral degrees.
Note: The CPI-U-RS was used to adjust hourly earnings to constant dollars, prior to calculating the
growth rates.
The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 consists of men and women who were born in the years
1957-64 and were ages 14 to 22 when first interviewed in 1979. These individuals were ages 53 to 62 in
2018-19. Educational attainment is defined as of the 2018-19 survey. Race and Hispanic or Latino
ethnicity groups are mutually exclusive but not exhaustive. Other race groups, which are included in the
overall totals, are not shown separately because their representation in the survey sample is not sufficiently
large to provide statistically reliable estimates.
Table 6. Marital status at age 24, age 34, age 44, and age 54 by educational attainment, sex, race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity
Characteristic Percent of individuals
Age 24 (in 1980-1989) Age 34 (in 1990-1998) (3) Age 44 (in 2000-2009) Age 54 (in 2010-2019)
Not Married Married Not Married Married Not Married Married Not Married Married
Total ................................... 56.5 43.5 32.5 67.5 30.4 69.6 35.2 64.8
Less than a high school diploma........ 51.4 48.6 42.8 57.2 46.5 53.5 49.5 50.5
High school graduates, no college (1).. 50.5 49.5 34.1 65.9 33.2 66.8 37.3 62.7
Some college or associate degree....... 53.9 46.1 33.1 66.9 31.2 68.8 38.8 61.2
Bachelor's degree and higher (2)....... 68.7 31.3 27.2 72.8 22.1 77.9 25.4 74.6
Men ..................................... 62.8 37.2 33.9 66.1 30.7 69.3 33.6 66.4
Less than a high school diploma........ 55.6 44.4 45.9 54.1 46.7 53.3 49.2 50.8
High school graduates, no college (1).. 57.9 42.1 37.3 62.7 34.7 65.3 37.3 62.7
Some college or associate degree....... 61.5 38.5 33.6 66.4 31.5 68.5 37.7 62.3
Bachelor's degree and higher (2)....... 73.4 26.6 25.3 74.7 19.8 80.3 20.4 79.6
Women ................................... 49.9 50.1 31.1 68.9 30.2 69.8 36.7 63.3
Less than a high school diploma ....... 45.5 54.5 38.6 61.4 46.2 53.8 50.0 50.0
High school graduates, no college (1).. 41.8 58.2 30.4 69.6 31.6 68.4 37.4 62.6
Some college or associate degree ...... 47.3 52.7 32.8 67.2 30.9 69.1 39.8 60.2
Bachelor's degree and higher (2)....... 64.1 35.9 29.0 71.0 24.4 75.6 30.3 69.7
White non-Hispanic ...................... 54.1 45.9 28.5 71.5 26.5 73.5 31.0 69.0
Less than a high school diploma ....... 44.2 55.8 36.7 63.3 42.5 57.5 45.2 54.8
High school graduates, no college (1).. 46.2 53.8 29.3 70.7 28.6 71.4 32.6 67.4
Some college or associate degree ...... 51.1 48.9 28.6 71.4 26.7 73.3 34.3 65.7
Bachelor's degree and higher (2)....... 68.2 31.8 25.9 74.1 20.9 79.1 24.0 76.0
Black non-Hispanic ...................... 71.2 28.8 54.8 45.2 51.0 49.0 55.0 45.0
Less than a high school diploma ....... 79.8 20.2 70.7 29.3 68.0 32.0 67.0 33.0
High school graduates, no college (1).. 71.7 28.3 56.2 43.8 53.8 46.2 56.6 43.4
Some college or associate degree ...... 66.0 34.0 54.9 45.1 50.1 49.9 57.8 42.2
Bachelor's degree and higher (2)....... 74.1 25.9 42.1 57.9 35.5 64.5 39.5 60.5
Hispanic or Latino ...................... 53.3 46.7 34.0 66.0 35.2 64.8 44.0 56.0
Less than a high school diploma........ 46.4 53.6 35.5 64.5 35.6 64.4 47.6 52.4
High school graduates, no college (1).. 49.0 51.0 37.7 62.3 40.1 59.9 47.9 52.1
Some college or associate degree ...... 55.4 44.6 32.2 67.8 35.5 64.5 43.5 56.5
Bachelor's degree and higher (2)....... 68.6 31.4 25.8 74.2 21.1 78.9 29.2 70.8
(1) Includes individuals with a high school diploma or equivalent.
(2) Includes individuals with bachelor's, master's, professional, or doctoral degrees.
(3) Interviews were not conducted in 1999.
Note: The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 consists of men and women who were born in the years 1957-64 and were ages 14 to 22 when first
interviewed in 1979. These individuals were ages 53 to 62 in 2018-19. Educational attainment is determined as of the 2018-19 survey. Marital
status is determined for the interview date in which the respondent first turned age 24, age 34, age 44, or age 54. If not interviewed at that
age, then marital status is determined for the prior age. Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity groups are mutually exclusive but not exhaustive.
Other race groups, which are included in the overall totals, are not shown separately because their representation in the survey sample is not
sufficiently large to provide statistically reliable estimates.
Table 7. Percent of weeks individuals were employed, unemployed, or not in the labor force from ages 18 through 54 in 1979-2018 by marital status, educational attainment,
sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity
Characteristic Percent of total weeks while ages 18 to 34 in 1979-1998 Percent of total weeks while ages 35 to 54 in 1992-2018
Not Married at age 34 Married at age 34 Not Married at age 54 Married at age 54
Not in Not in Not in Not in
Employed Unemployed labor force Employed Unemployed labor force Employed Unemployed labor force Employed Unemployed labor force
Total ................................. 71.8 7.4 20.7 77.8 4.4 17.8 75.4 5.1 19.5 83.4 2.5 14.1
Less than a high school diploma ...... 54.3 10.8 34.9 62.0 7.6 30.4 56.2 6.3 37.5 62.2 4.7 33.1
High school graduates, no college (1). 70.3 8.7 20.9 77.4 5.5 17.1 70.4 6.1 23.5 82.5 2.9 14.6
Some college or associate degree ..... 74.7 7.0 18.4 79.0 4.1 16.9 78.9 4.9 16.2 82.8 2.7 14.5
Bachelor's degree and higher (2)...... 78.8 4.0 17.2 80.4 2.6 17.0 89.4 2.9 7.8 88.3 1.6 10.0
Men ................................... 75.6 8.5 15.9 85.7 4.7 9.6 76.2 5.8 18.0 90.6 2.6 6.8
Less than a high school diploma ...... 65.1 13.4 21.5 77.0 9.2 13.9 62.2 7.4 30.4 71.3 5.3 23.4
High school graduates, no college (1). 75.3 9.7 15.0 87.4 6.0 6.6 70.4 7.1 22.5 89.8 2.8 7.4
Some college or associate degree...... 78.9 7.4 13.8 88.4 3.9 7.7 80.9 5.1 14.0 90.5 2.4 7.2
Bachelor's degree and higher (2)...... 78.2 4.5 17.3 83.4 2.6 14.0 92.7 2.8 4.5 95.4 1.9 2.7
Women ................................. 67.1 6.2 26.7 70.4 4.1 25.5 74.6 4.5 20.9 75.6 2.5 21.9
Less than a high school diploma ...... 39.1 7.3 53.6 44.8 5.8 49.4 48.4 4.8 46.8 49.5 3.7 46.7
High school graduates, no college (1). 62.9 7.3 29.8 66.8 5.0 28.2 70.3 5.1 24.6 74.4 3.1 22.6
Some college or associate degree ..... 71.1 6.6 22.3 71.8 4.2 24.0 77.3 4.8 17.9 75.9 3.0 21.1
Bachelor's degree and higher (2)...... 79.3 3.5 17.1 77.7 2.6 19.7 87.0 3.0 10.0 80.5 1.4 18.1
White non-Hispanic .................... 76.8 6.0 17.3 78.8 4.0 17.2 78.1 4.4 17.6 83.9 2.3 13.8
Less than a high school diploma ...... 62.2 9.8 28.0 64.3 7.5 28.2 59.9 4.4 35.7 63.2 4.5 32.3
High school graduates, no college (1). 76.9 6.9 16.2 78.6 5.0 16.5 72.8 5.3 21.8 83.5 2.5 14.0
Some college or associate degree ..... 78.3 5.8 15.9 80.1 3.7 16.2 80.4 4.6 15.0 82.5 2.5 15.0
Bachelor's degree and higher (2)...... 79.5 3.6 16.9 80.4 2.4 17.1 89.9 2.4 7.6 88.1 1.5 10.4
Black non-Hispanic .................... 58.4 11.8 29.8 72.8 7.9 19.3 68.4 7.2 24.3 80.0 4.7 15.3
Less than a high school diploma ...... 38.6 12.9 48.5 59.3 10.0 30.7 47.4 8.9 43.7 57.4 7.5 35.1
High school graduates, no college (1). 54.6 13.7 31.6 70.4 10.0 19.7 64.4 8.2 27.4 75.5 5.6 18.9
Some college or associate degree ..... 65.7 10.1 24.2 73.6 6.9 19.5 75.1 5.8 19.1 83.9 4.1 12.1
Bachelor's degree and higher (2)...... 74.4 7.1 18.5 79.5 4.6 16.0 86.0 5.7 8.3 90.1 2.9 7.0
Hispanic or Latino .................... 64.2 8.1 27.7 72.4 4.7 22.9 70.1 6.1 23.8 80.2 3.3 16.5
Less than a high school diploma ...... 47.7 11.7 40.6 52.9 6.7 40.4 57.4 8.7 33.9 61.3 3.4 35.3
High school graduates, no college (1). 62.1 9.1 28.8 74.2 5.2 20.7 66.9 6.3 26.9 79.5 4.5 16.0
Some college or associate degree ..... 77.2 5.1 17.7 75.8 4.0 20.2 77.2 5.2 17.5 84.3 2.5 13.1
Bachelor's degree and higher (2)...... 72.9 3.8 23.3 82.1 2.6 15.3 88.1 2.7 9.2 91.3 1.8 6.9
(1) Includes individuals with a high school diploma or equivalent.
(2) Includes individuals with bachelor's, master's, professional, or doctoral degrees.
Note: The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 consists of men and women who were born in the years 1957-64 and were ages 14 to 22 when first interviewed in 1979. These individuals were ages 53 to 62 in 2018-19.
Educational attainment is determined as of the 2018-19 survey. Marital status is determined for the interview date in which the respondent first turned age 34 or age 54. If not interviewed at that age, then the
marital status is determined using the data from the prior age. Other race groups, which are included in the overall totals, are not shown separately because their representation in the survey sample is not
sufficiently large to provide statistically reliable estimates.
Table 8. Percent of individuals whose health limits the kind or amount of work they can do by age,
educational attainment, sex, race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity
Characteristic Percent of individuals
Age 24 Age 34 Age 44 Age 54
(in 1980-1989) (in 1990-1998) (3) (in 2000-2009) (in 2010-2019)
Total ................................... 3.5 4.9 10.3 19.9
Less than a high school diploma ....... 5.1 5.8 23.0 46.9
High school graduates, no college (1).. 3.8 5.1 12.2 23.9
Some college or associate degree ...... 3.2 5.9 10.3 19.7
Bachelor's degree and higher (2)....... 3.1 3.6 4.7 8.5
Men ..................................... 2.3 3.8 7.9 16.7
Less than a high school diploma ....... 1.7 5.3 19.0 42.2
High school graduates, no college (1).. 2.6 4.4 10.0 20.0
Some college or associate degree ...... 1.6 3.6 7.1 15.3
Bachelor's degree and higher (2)....... 2.6 2.8 2.4 6.3
Women ................................... 4.8 6.0 12.7 23.2
Less than a high school diploma........ 9.8 6.6 28.2 52.9
High school graduates, no college (1).. 5.1 5.9 14.7 28.1
Some college or associate degree ...... 4.5 7.9 12.9 23.5
Bachelor's degree and higher (2)....... 3.6 4.3 6.9 10.7
White non-Hispanic ...................... 3.4 4.8 9.4 18.4
Less than a high school diploma ....... 5.1 6.2 23.1 48.1
High school graduates, no college (1).. 3.8 5.0 11.3 22.2
Some college or associate degree ...... 3.0 5.7 9.6 18.6
Bachelor's degree and higher (2)....... 3.1 3.6 4.6 8.4
Black non-Hispanic ...................... 4.4 5.8 15.2 28.0
Less than a high school diploma ....... 6.9 5.5 28.1 53.7
High school graduates, no college (1).. 4.0 5.6 16.7 31.9
Some college or associate degree ...... 4.6 7.2 14.1 25.5
Bachelor's degree and higher (2)....... 3.8 4.1 5.9 9.0
Hispanic or Latino ...................... 2.6 4.1 10.7 21.8
Less than a high school diploma ....... 2.9 4.4 16.0 34.1
High school graduates, no college (1).. 3.3 5.1 12.6 24.0
Some college or associate degree ...... 1.9 4.4 7.8 17.5
Bachelor's degree and higher (2)....... 2.1 0.5 5.3 10.6
(1) Includes individuals with a high school diploma or equivalent.
(2) Includes individuals with bachelor's, master's, professional, or doctoral degrees.
(3) Interviews were not conducted in 1999.
Note: The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 consists of men and women who were born in the years 1957-64 and were ages 14 to 22 when first interviewed in 1979.
These individuals were ages 53 to 62 in 2018-19. Educational attainment is determined as of the 2018-19 survey. Health limit is determined for the interview date in
which the respondent first turned age 24, age 34, age 44, or age 54. If not interviewed at that age, then health limit is determined using data from the prior age.
Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity groups are mutually exclusive but not exhaustive. Other race groups, which are included in the overall totals, are not shown
separately because their representation in the survey sample is not sufficiently large to provide statistically reliable estimates.
United States Department of Labor
