An official website of the United States government
For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Wednesday, August 16, 2017 USDL-17-1128 Technical information: (202) 691-6378 * cpsinfo@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/cps Media contact: (202) 691-5902 * PressOffice@bls.gov EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG YOUTH -- SUMMER 2017 From April to July 2017, the number of employed youth 16 to 24 years old increased by 1.9 million to 20.9 million, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This year, 54.8 percent of young people were employed in July, up by 1.6 percentage points from a year earlier. (The month of July typically is the summertime peak in youth employment.) The unemployment rate for youth was 9.6 percent in July, down by 1.9 percentage points from July 2016. (Because this analysis focuses on the seasonal changes in youth employment and unemployment that occur each spring and summer, the data are not seasonally adjusted.) Labor Force The youth labor force--16- to 24-year-olds working or actively looking for work--grows sharply between April and July each year. During these months, large numbers of high school and college students search for or take summer jobs, and many graduates enter the labor market to look for or begin permanent employment. This summer, the youth labor force grew by 2.4 million, or 11.6 percent, to a total of 23.1 million in July. (See table 1.) The labor force participation rate for all youth was 60.6 percent in July, little different from a year earlier. (The labor force participation rate is the proportion of the civilian noninstitutional population that is working or looking and available for work.) (See table 2.) The summer labor force participation rate of youth has held fairly steady since July 2010, after trending downward for the prior two decades. The summer youth labor force participation rate peaked at 77.5 percent in July 1989. The July 2017 labor force participation rate for 16- to 24-year-old men, at 62.3 percent, continued to be higher than the rate for young women, at 58.8 percent. The rate for young women edged up from last July, while the rate for young men was essentially unchanged. Whites had the highest youth labor force participation rate in July 2017 at 62.1 percent. The rate was 55.9 percent for Blacks, 47.4 percent for Asians, and 56.6 percent for Hispanics. The rate for Asians increased by 4.3 percentage points from last July, while the rates for Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics showed little change. Employment In July 2017, there were 20.9 million employed 16- to 24-year-olds, slightly higher than the summer before. Between April and July 2017, the number of employed youth rose by 1.9 million, in line with the change between April and July 2016. The employment- population ratio for youth--the proportion of the 16- to 24-year-old civilian noninstitutional population with a job--was 54.8 percent in July 2017, an increase of 1.6 percentage points from the prior year. (See tables 1 and 2.) The July 2017 employment-population ratios for young women (53.4 percent), Blacks (46.9 percent), and Asians (42.7 percent) increased over the year. The ratio for young men edged up to 56.1 percent. The ratios for young Whites (57.2 percent) and Hispanics (50.9 percent) were little different from the summer before. In July 2017, the largest percentage of employed youth worked in the leisure and hospitality industry (26 percent), which includes food services. An additional 19 percent of employed youth worked in the retail trade industry, and 12 percent worked in education and health services. (See table 3.) Unemployment Unemployment among youth rose by 458,000 from April to July 2017, compared with an increase of 611,000 for the same period in 2016. In July 2017, the youth unemployment rate, at 9.6 percent, was 1.9 percentage points lower than last July. This represents the lowest summer youth unemployment rate since July 2000. The number of unemployed youth, at 2.2 million in July 2017, declined by 431,000 from a year earlier. Of the 2.2 million unemployed 16- to 24-year-olds, 1.6 million were looking for full-time work in July 2017, down 305,000 from July 2016. (See tables 1 and 2.) In July 2017, the unemployment rates for both young men (10.1 percent) and women (9.1 percent) were lower than the summer before. The July 2017 rates for young Whites (8.0 percent) and Blacks (16.2 percent) declined over the year, while the rates for young Asians (9.9 percent) and Hispanics (10.1 percent) showed little change. (See table 2.)
Technical Note The estimates in this release were obtained from the Current Population Survey (CPS), a national sample survey of about 60,000 eligible households conducted monthly for the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) by the U.S. Census Bureau. The data in this release relate to the employment status of youth (16- to 24-year-olds) during the months of April-July. This period was selected as being the most representative time frame in which to measure the full summertime transition from school to work. July is the peak summer month of youth employment. Beginning in January of each year, data reflect revised population controls used in the CPS. Additional information about population controls is available on the BLS website at www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm#pop. 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. Reliability of the estimates Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both sampling and nonsampling error. When a sample, rather than the entire population, is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample estimates may differ from the true population values they represent. The component of this difference that occurs because samples differ by chance is known as sampling error, and its variability is measured by the standard error of the estimate. There is about a 90-percent chance, or level of confidence, that an estimate based on a sample will differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the true population value because of sampling error. BLS analyses are generally conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence. The CPS data also are affected by nonsampling error. Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including the failure to sample a segment of the population, inability to obtain information for all respondents in the sample, inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide correct information, and errors made in the collection or processing of the data. More information on the reliability of data from the CPS and estimating standard errors is available online at www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm#reliability. Definitions The principal definitions used in this release are described briefly below. Employed. Employed persons are all those who, during the survey reference week (which is generally the week including the 12th day of the month), (a) did any work at all as paid employees; (b) worked in their own business, profession, or on their own farm; (c) worked 15 hours or more as unpaid workers in a family member's business. Persons who were temporarily absent from their jobs because of illness, bad weather, vacation, labor dispute, or another reason also are counted as employed. Unemployed. The unemployed are those who had no employment during the reference week, were available for work at that time, and had made specific efforts to find employment sometime during the 4-week period ending with the reference week. Persons who were waiting to be recalled to a job from which they had been laid off need not have been looking for work to be classified as unemployed. Looking for full-time work refers to 35 hours or more per week; part-time work refers to fewer than 35 hours per week. Civilian labor force. This group comprises all persons classified as employed or unemployed. Unemployment rate. The unemployment rate is the number of unemployed persons as a percent of the civilian labor force. Labor force participation rate. The labor force participation rate is the labor force as a percent of the population. Employment-population ratio. The employment-population ratio is the employed as a percent of the population. Not in the labor force. Included in this group are all persons in the civilian noninstitutional population who are neither employed nor unemployed. Industry and class of worker. This information applies to the job held during the reference week. Persons with two or more jobs are classified in the job at which they worked the greatest number of hours. Persons are classified using the 2012 Census industry classification system. The class-of-worker breakdown assigns workers to the following categories: Private and government wage and salary workers, unincorporated self-employed workers, and unpaid family workers. Wage and salary workers. Included in this group are persons who receive wages, salary, commissions, tips, or pay in kind from a private employer or from a government entity. Self-employed workers. Included in this group are those who work for profit or fees in their own unincorporated business, profession, trade, or farm. Only unincorporated self-employed are included in the self-employed category. Self-employed persons whose businesses are incorporated are included with private wage and salary workers. Unpaid family workers. Included in this group are persons working without pay for 15 hours a week or more on a farm or in a business operated by a family member in their household.
Employment status, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity |
April | May | June | July | April-July changes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number | Percent | |||||
TOTAL |
||||||
Civilian noninstitutional population |
38,197 | 38,181 | 38,166 | 38,152 | -45 | -0.1 |
Civilian labor force |
20,708 | 20,899 | 22,720 | 23,107 | 2,399 | 11.6 |
Participation rate |
54.2 | 54.7 | 59.5 | 60.6 | 6.4 | 11.8 |
Employed |
18,948 | 19,070 | 20,330 | 20,890 | 1,942 | 10.2 |
Employment-population ratio |
49.6 | 49.9 | 53.3 | 54.8 | 5.2 | 10.5 |
Unemployed |
1,759 | 1,829 | 2,389 | 2,217 | 458 | 26.0 |
Looking for full-time work |
1,098 | 1,253 | 1,748 | 1,607 | 509 | 46.4 |
Looking for part-time work |
662 | 576 | 641 | 610 | -52 | -7.9 |
Unemployment rate |
8.5 | 8.8 | 10.5 | 9.6 | 1.1 | 12.9 |
Not in labor force |
17,489 | 17,282 | 15,447 | 15,045 | -2,444 | -14.0 |
Men |
||||||
Civilian noninstitutional population |
19,247 | 19,237 | 19,228 | 19,219 | -28 | -0.1 |
Civilian labor force |
10,647 | 10,840 | 11,785 | 11,983 | 1,336 | 12.5 |
Participation rate |
55.3 | 56.3 | 61.3 | 62.3 | 7.0 | 12.7 |
Employed |
9,633 | 9,790 | 10,447 | 10,773 | 1,140 | 11.8 |
Employment-population ratio |
50.0 | 50.9 | 54.3 | 56.1 | 6.1 | 12.2 |
Unemployed |
1,014 | 1,050 | 1,338 | 1,210 | 196 | 19.3 |
Looking for full-time work |
700 | 755 | 1,028 | 944 | 244 | 34.9 |
Looking for part-time work |
315 | 295 | 309 | 266 | -49 | -15.6 |
Unemployment rate |
9.5 | 9.7 | 11.4 | 10.1 | 0.6 | 6.3 |
Not in labor force |
8,600 | 8,397 | 7,444 | 7,236 | -1,364 | -15.9 |
Women |
||||||
Civilian noninstitutional population |
18,950 | 18,943 | 18,938 | 18,932 | -18 | -0.1 |
Civilian labor force |
10,060 | 10,059 | 10,935 | 11,124 | 1,064 | 10.6 |
Participation rate |
53.1 | 53.1 | 57.7 | 58.8 | 5.7 | 10.7 |
Employed |
9,315 | 9,281 | 9,883 | 10,117 | 802 | 8.6 |
Employment-population ratio |
49.2 | 49.0 | 52.2 | 53.4 | 4.2 | 8.5 |
Unemployed |
745 | 778 | 1,051 | 1,007 | 262 | 35.2 |
Looking for full-time work |
398 | 498 | 720 | 663 | 265 | 66.6 |
Looking for part-time work |
347 | 281 | 332 | 344 | -3 | -0.9 |
Unemployment rate |
7.4 | 7.7 | 9.6 | 9.1 | 1.7 | 23.0 |
Not in labor force |
8,889 | 8,884 | 8,003 | 7,808 | -1,081 | -12.2 |
White |
||||||
Civilian noninstitutional population |
28,085 | 28,068 | 28,053 | 28,038 | -47 | -0.2 |
Civilian labor force |
15,708 | 15,773 | 17,218 | 17,423 | 1,715 | 10.9 |
Participation rate |
55.9 | 56.2 | 61.4 | 62.1 | 6.2 | 11.1 |
Employed |
14,527 | 14,601 | 15,610 | 16,031 | 1,504 | 10.4 |
Employment-population ratio |
51.7 | 52.0 | 55.6 | 57.2 | 5.5 | 10.6 |
Unemployed |
1,181 | 1,172 | 1,608 | 1,392 | 211 | 17.9 |
Looking for full-time work |
734 | 808 | 1,163 | 974 | 240 | 32.7 |
Looking for part-time work |
447 | 364 | 446 | 418 | -29 | -6.5 |
Unemployment rate |
7.5 | 7.4 | 9.3 | 8.0 | 0.5 | 6.7 |
Not in labor force |
12,377 | 12,295 | 10,835 | 10,615 | -1,762 | -14.2 |
Black or African American |
||||||
Civilian noninstitutional population |
5,769 | 5,762 | 5,756 | 5,749 | -20 | -0.3 |
Civilian labor force |
2,953 | 3,033 | 3,170 | 3,214 | 261 | 8.8 |
Participation rate |
51.2 | 52.6 | 55.1 | 55.9 | 4.7 | 9.2 |
Employed |
2,542 | 2,589 | 2,673 | 2,694 | 152 | 6.0 |
Employment-population ratio |
44.1 | 44.9 | 46.4 | 46.9 | 2.8 | 6.3 |
Unemployed |
411 | 444 | 497 | 520 | 109 | 26.5 |
Looking for full-time work |
282 | 314 | 386 | 412 | 130 | 46.1 |
Looking for part-time work |
129 | 130 | 112 | 108 | -21 | -16.3 |
Unemployment rate |
13.9 | 14.6 | 15.7 | 16.2 | 2.3 | 16.5 |
Not in labor force |
2,816 | 2,729 | 2,586 | 2,535 | -281 | -10.0 |
Asian |
||||||
Civilian noninstitutional population |
2,262 | 2,249 | 2,248 | 2,208 | -54 | -2.4 |
Civilian labor force |
881 | 909 | 973 | 1,047 | 166 | 18.8 |
Participation rate |
38.9 | 40.4 | 43.3 | 47.4 | 8.5 | 21.9 |
Employed |
813 | 844 | 860 | 944 | 131 | 16.1 |
Employment-population ratio |
35.9 | 37.5 | 38.2 | 42.7 | 6.8 | 18.9 |
Unemployed |
68 | 65 | 114 | 103 | 35 | 51.5 |
Looking for full-time work |
39 | 28 | 70 | 70 | 31 | 79.5 |
Looking for part-time work |
30 | 38 | 44 | 33 | 3 | 10.0 |
Unemployment rate |
7.8 | 7.2 | 11.7 | 9.9 | 2.1 | 26.9 |
Not in labor force |
1,381 | 1,340 | 1,275 | 1,162 | -219 | -15.9 |
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity |
||||||
Civilian noninstitutional population |
8,512 | 8,520 | 8,527 | 8,535 | 23 | 0.3 |
Civilian labor force |
4,440 | 4,561 | 4,676 | 4,835 | 395 | 8.9 |
Participation rate |
52.2 | 53.5 | 54.8 | 56.6 | 4.4 | 8.4 |
Employed |
4,066 | 4,188 | 4,198 | 4,347 | 281 | 6.9 |
Employment-population ratio |
47.8 | 49.2 | 49.2 | 50.9 | 3.1 | 6.5 |
Unemployed |
374 | 373 | 478 | 488 | 114 | 30.5 |
Looking for full-time work |
225 | 258 | 358 | 353 | 128 | 56.9 |
Looking for part-time work |
149 | 115 | 120 | 135 | -14 | -9.4 |
Unemployment rate |
8.4 | 8.2 | 10.2 | 10.1 | 1.7 | 20.2 |
Not in labor force |
4,073 | 3,959 | 3,851 | 3,700 | -373 | -9.2 |
NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (White, Black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data. |
Employment status, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity |
July 2014 |
July 2015 |
July 2016 |
July 2017 |
---|---|---|---|---|
TOTAL |
||||
Civilian noninstitutional population |
38,735 | 38,589 | 38,450 | 38,152 |
Civilian labor force |
23,437 | 23,162 | 23,104 | 23,107 |
Participation rate |
60.5 | 60.0 | 60.1 | 60.6 |
Employed |
20,085 | 20,333 | 20,456 | 20,890 |
Employment-population ratio |
51.9 | 52.7 | 53.2 | 54.8 |
Unemployed |
3,353 | 2,829 | 2,648 | 2,217 |
Looking for full-time work |
2,460 | 2,134 | 1,912 | 1,607 |
Looking for part-time work |
893 | 695 | 736 | 610 |
Unemployment rate |
14.3 | 12.2 | 11.5 | 9.6 |
Not in labor force |
15,298 | 15,426 | 15,346 | 15,045 |
Men |
||||
Civilian noninstitutional population |
19,527 | 19,442 | 19,380 | 19,219 |
Civilian labor force |
12,335 | 12,011 | 12,094 | 11,983 |
Participation rate |
63.2 | 61.8 | 62.4 | 62.3 |
Employed |
10,470 | 10,488 | 10,638 | 10,773 |
Employment-population ratio |
53.6 | 53.9 | 54.9 | 56.1 |
Unemployed |
1,865 | 1,523 | 1,455 | 1,210 |
Looking for full-time work |
1,437 | 1,195 | 1,169 | 944 |
Looking for part-time work |
428 | 328 | 286 | 266 |
Unemployment rate |
15.1 | 12.7 | 12.0 | 10.1 |
Not in labor force |
7,191 | 7,431 | 7,287 | 7,236 |
Women |
||||
Civilian noninstitutional population |
19,208 | 19,147 | 19,069 | 18,932 |
Civilian labor force |
11,102 | 11,151 | 11,010 | 11,124 |
Participation rate |
57.8 | 58.2 | 57.7 | 58.8 |
Employed |
9,614 | 9,846 | 9,818 | 10,117 |
Employment-population ratio |
50.1 | 51.4 | 51.5 | 53.4 |
Unemployed |
1,488 | 1,306 | 1,193 | 1,007 |
Looking for full-time work |
1,023 | 939 | 743 | 663 |
Looking for part-time work |
465 | 367 | 450 | 344 |
Unemployment rate |
13.4 | 11.7 | 10.8 | 9.1 |
Not in labor force |
8,106 | 7,996 | 8,059 | 7,808 |
White |
||||
Civilian noninstitutional population |
28,718 | 28,488 | 28,297 | 28,038 |
Civilian labor force |
18,137 | 17,735 | 17,734 | 17,423 |
Participation rate |
63.2 | 62.3 | 62.7 | 62.1 |
Employed |
15,917 | 15,903 | 15,981 | 16,031 |
Employment-population ratio |
55.4 | 55.8 | 56.5 | 57.2 |
Unemployed |
2,220 | 1,832 | 1,754 | 1,392 |
Looking for full-time work |
1,612 | 1,308 | 1,222 | 974 |
Looking for part-time work |
607 | 524 | 532 | 418 |
Unemployment rate |
12.2 | 10.3 | 9.9 | 8.0 |
Not in labor force |
10,581 | 10,754 | 10,562 | 10,615 |
Black or African American |
||||
Civilian noninstitutional population |
5,973 | 5,916 | 5,850 | 5,749 |
Civilian labor force |
3,160 | 3,337 | 3,149 | 3,214 |
Participation rate |
52.9 | 56.4 | 53.8 | 55.9 |
Employed |
2,376 | 2,645 | 2,499 | 2,694 |
Employment-population ratio |
39.8 | 44.7 | 42.7 | 46.9 |
Unemployed |
784 | 691 | 650 | 520 |
Looking for full-time work |
591 | 604 | 533 | 412 |
Looking for part-time work |
192 | 87 | 117 | 108 |
Unemployment rate |
24.8 | 20.7 | 20.6 | 16.2 |
Not in labor force |
2,813 | 2,580 | 2,701 | 2,535 |
Asian |
||||
Civilian noninstitutional population |
2,044 | 2,148 | 2,212 | 2,208 |
Civilian labor force |
936 | 957 | 954 | 1,047 |
Participation rate |
45.8 | 44.6 | 43.1 | 47.4 |
Employed |
834 | 855 | 859 | 944 |
Employment-population ratio |
40.8 | 39.8 | 38.8 | 42.7 |
Unemployed |
102 | 102 | 95 | 103 |
Looking for full-time work |
70 | 68 | 65 | 70 |
Looking for part-time work |
32 | 34 | 30 | 33 |
Unemployment rate |
10.9 | 10.7 | 10.0 | 9.9 |
Not in labor force |
1,109 | 1,191 | 1,258 | 1,162 |
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity |
||||
Civilian noninstitutional population |
8,313 | 8,406 | 8,497 | 8,535 |
Civilian labor force |
4,675 | 4,728 | 4,776 | 4,835 |
Participation rate |
56.2 | 56.2 | 56.2 | 56.6 |
Employed |
3,903 | 4,127 | 4,235 | 4,347 |
Employment-population ratio |
47.0 | 49.1 | 49.8 | 50.9 |
Unemployed |
772 | 601 | 540 | 488 |
Looking for full-time work |
560 | 458 | 385 | 353 |
Looking for part-time work |
212 | 143 | 155 | 135 |
Unemployment rate |
16.5 | 12.7 | 11.3 | 10.1 |
Not in labor force |
3,637 | 3,679 | 3,721 | 3,700 |
NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (White, Black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data. |
Industry and class of worker | Total | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino ethnicity | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
July 2016 |
July 2017 |
July 2016 |
July 2017 |
July 2016 |
July 2017 |
July 2016 |
July 2017 |
July 2016 |
July 2017 |
|
Total employed |
20,456 | 20,890 | 15,981 | 16,031 | 2,499 | 2,694 | 859 | 944 | 4,235 | 4,347 |
Agriculture and related industries |
320 | 336 | 302 | 306 | 5 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 74 | 105 |
Nonagricultural industries |
20,136 | 20,555 | 15,678 | 15,724 | 2,493 | 2,680 | 855 | 940 | 4,162 | 4,242 |
Private wage and salary workers(1) |
18,359 | 18,794 | 14,314 | 14,395 | 2,245 | 2,449 | 774 | 862 | 3,893 | 3,992 |
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction |
39 | 32 | 25 | 26 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 3 |
Construction |
991 | 1,061 | 934 | 965 | 24 | 44 | 8 | 9 | 304 | 368 |
Manufacturing |
1,408 | 1,361 | 1,092 | 1,062 | 172 | 161 | 71 | 72 | 261 | 273 |
Durable goods |
792 | 820 | 653 | 683 | 75 | 83 | 41 | 37 | 136 | 140 |
Nondurable goods |
616 | 540 | 439 | 380 | 97 | 79 | 30 | 35 | 124 | 134 |
Wholesale trade |
252 | 290 | 209 | 236 | 20 | 28 | 4 | 15 | 58 | 70 |
Retail trade |
3,756 | 3,978 | 2,871 | 2,996 | 500 | 570 | 173 | 190 | 781 | 907 |
Transportation and utilities |
434 | 595 | 278 | 380 | 100 | 157 | 30 | 17 | 81 | 144 |
Information |
278 | 305 | 237 | 199 | 20 | 46 | 20 | 31 | 59 | 57 |
Financial activities |
762 | 721 | 581 | 556 | 78 | 89 | 57 | 36 | 145 | 115 |
Professional and business services |
1,690 | 1,724 | 1,324 | 1,328 | 189 | 217 | 99 | 96 | 399 | 317 |
Education and health services |
2,607 | 2,466 | 1,951 | 1,848 | 391 | 379 | 133 | 108 | 497 | 442 |
Leisure and hospitality |
5,213 | 5,403 | 4,072 | 4,107 | 638 | 680 | 138 | 242 | 1,104 | 1,141 |
Other services |
929 | 858 | 741 | 691 | 98 | 78 | 40 | 46 | 190 | 155 |
Government wage and salary workers |
1,395 | 1,491 | 1,042 | 1,096 | 221 | 210 | 68 | 72 | 177 | 213 |
Federal |
158 | 194 | 112 | 107 | 23 | 45 | 14 | 20 | 8 | 24 |
State |
510 | 541 | 366 | 392 | 82 | 67 | 36 | 31 | 58 | 71 |
Local |
728 | 756 | 563 | 597 | 116 | 98 | 18 | 20 | 111 | 118 |
Self-employed, unincorporated, and unpaid family workers |
382 | 270 | 322 | 233 | 28 | 21 | 14 | 6 | 91 | 37 |
Footnotes |
||||||||||
NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (White, Black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data. |