Table 1. Number of jobs held by individuals from ages 18 through 56 in 1978-2020 by educational attainment, sex, race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, and age
Table 1. Number of jobs held by individuals from ages 18 through 56 in 1978-2020 by
educational attainment, sex, race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, and age
Average number of jobs for individuals ages 18 to 56
in 1978-2020
Characteristic
Ages 18 Ages 25 Ages 35 Ages 45
Total (1) to 24(2) to 34 to 44 to 56(3)
Total ................................. 12.7 5.6 4.5 2.9 2.3
Less than a high school diploma ...... 12.6 5.1 4.7 2.9 1.9
High school graduates, no college (4). 12.3 5.2 4.4 2.9 2.2
Some college or associate degree ..... 13.2 5.7 4.7 3.1 2.6
Bachelor's degree and higher (5) ..... 12.8 6.2 4.4 2.8 2.5
Men ................................... 12.8 5.8 4.7 2.9 2.3
Less than a high school diploma ...... 14.1 6.2 5.6 3.1 1.9
High school graduates, no college (4). 12.7 5.7 4.7 2.8 2.2
Some college or associate degree ..... 13.4 5.9 4.9 3.0 2.5
Bachelor's degree and higher (5) ..... 12.1 5.9 4.2 2.8 2.4
Women ................................. 12.5 5.4 4.3 2.9 2.4
Less than a high school diploma ...... 10.4 3.7 3.4 2.5 1.8
High school graduates, no college (4). 11.7 4.7 4.0 2.9 2.1
Some college or associate degree ..... 13.1 5.6 4.5 3.1 2.6
Bachelor's degree and higher (5) ..... 13.4 6.5 4.5 2.8 2.5
White non-Hispanic .................... 12.7 5.8 4.5 2.8 2.4
Less than a high school diploma ...... 13.3 5.6 4.9 3.0 1.9
High school graduates, no college (4). 12.3 5.4 4.3 2.8 2.2
Some college or associate degree ..... 13.5 6.0 4.7 3.0 2.6
Bachelor's degree and higher (5) ..... 12.7 6.3 4.4 2.8 2.4
Black non-Hispanic .................... 12.3 4.8 4.7 3.2 2.3
Less than a high school diploma ...... 10.8 3.8 4.4 2.6 1.5
High school graduates, no college (4). 12.3 4.6 4.8 3.2 2.2
Some college or associate degree ..... 12.2 4.8 4.6 3.4 2.5
Bachelor's degree and higher (5) ..... 13.4 5.6 4.6 3.2 2.8
Hispanic or Latino .................... 12.2 5.1 4.3 3.0 2.4
Less than a high school diploma ...... 11.6 4.5 4.3 2.8 2.1
High school graduates, no college (4). 11.9 5.0 4.1 2.9 2.2
Some college or associate degree ..... 13.1 5.4 4.5 3.2 2.7
Bachelor's degree and higher (5) ..... 12.5 5.4 4.4 2.8 2.4
(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 57 when interviewed in 2020-21.
(2) This category excludes individuals who turned age 18 before January 1, 1978.
(3) This category excludes individuals who had not yet turned age 57 when interviewed
in 2020-21.
(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 55 to 64 in 2020-21. Educational attainment is defined as of the
2020-21 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.
Last Modified Date: August 22, 2023
United States Department of Labor
