For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, May 5, 2026 USDL-26-0684
Technical information: (202) 691-7410 * nls_info@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/nls
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 * PressOffice@bls.gov
LABOR MARKET EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION, PARTNER STATUS,
AND HEALTH FOR THOSE BORN 1980-1984
Americans born in the early 1980s held an average of 9.4 jobs from age 18 through age 38, the
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. These adults held more jobs at younger ages;
they held an average of 5.1 jobs from ages 18 to 23, compared with 2.9 jobs from ages 30 to
38. While ages 18 to 38, both men and women with some college or an associate degree and women
with a bachelor's degree and higher held more jobs than those with other educational
attainments.
These findings are from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997, a nationally
representative survey of about 9,000 men and women who were born during the years 1980 to
1984. These respondents were ages 12 to 17 when first interviewed in 1997 and ages 38 to 44
when interviewed for the 21st time in 2023-24. The survey provides information on work and
non-work experiences, schooling, training, income, assets, health, and other characteristics.
The information provided by respondents is representative of all men and women born in the
early 1980s and living in the United States when the survey began in 1997.
This news release focuses on the employment experiences, educational attainment, training,
partner status, and health of these individuals from their 18th birthday until they turned age
39.
Highlights from the longitudinal survey among this group include:
--Individuals held an average of 9.4 jobs from ages 18 through 38, with over half of these
jobs being held between the ages of 18 and 23. (See table 1.)
--Among individuals who started jobs while ages 18 to 24, the average individual had 61
percent of their jobs end in less than a year, compared with an average of 32 percent
among those who started jobs while ages 25 to 38. In this older age range, job duration is
longer for those with more education. Among individuals with less than a high school
education who started jobs while ages 25 to 38, the average individual had 44 percent of
their jobs end in less than a year, compared with 26 percent among those with a bachelor's
degree and higher. (See table 2.)
--Women with less than a high school diploma were employed an average of 41 percent of weeks
from ages 18 to 38, while men with less than a high school diploma were employed 64
percent of weeks. Among individuals with a bachelor's degree and higher, women were
employed an average of 82 percent of weeks and men were employed an average of 85 percent
of weeks. (See table 3.)
--Individuals were employed for an average of 76 percent of weeks from ages 18 to 38. This
varied across age brackets: from ages 18 to 23 individuals were employed 70 percent of
weeks, from ages 24 to 29 individuals were employed 78 percent of weeks, and from ages 30
to 38 individuals were employed 79 percent of weeks. (See table 4.)
--At their 27th birthday, 32 percent of women had received a bachelor's degree and higher,
compared with 25 percent of men. By their 39th birthday, 40 percent of women held a
bachelor's degree and higher, compared with 31 percent of men. Seventy-seven percent of
women had at least attended some college by age 39, compared with 67 percent of men. (See
table 5.)
--By their 39th birthday, 65 percent of individuals had received training outside of their
regular schooling that offers academic diplomas or degrees. Participation in training
programs varied by education level: 44 percent of those with less than a high school
education participated in training, 61 percent of high school graduates with no college,
71 percent of those with some college or associate degree, and 66 percent of those with a
bachelor's degree and higher. (See table 6.)
--At the time of their 39th birthday, 54 percent of individuals were married, 15 percent
were cohabiting, and 31 percent were single. The percentage of individuals who were married
varied by education; those with higher levels of education were more likely to be married
and less likely to be cohabiting or single than those with lower levels of education. (See
table 7.)
--Men who were single at age 38 were employed 72 percent of the weeks from ages 18 to 38,
compared with 85 percent for those who were married at age 38 and 78 percent for those who
were cohabiting. The percentage of weeks employed varied less by partner status for women;
women who were single at age 38 were employed 71 percent of the weeks from ages 18 to 38,
compared with 74 percent for those who were married and 71 percent for those who were
cohabiting. (See table 8.)
--The percentage of individuals reporting that their health limits the kind or amount of work
they can do increased as they aged. At 27 years of age, 7 percent of individuals reported
that their health limits the kind or amount of work they can do, while at 39 years of age,
11 percent were limited. (See table 9.)
Employment Experiences from Age 18 through Age 38
Americans born in 1980-84 held an average of 9.4 jobs from ages 18 through 38, with over half
of these jobs held from ages 18 to 23. Men held an average of 9.2 jobs, and women held an
average of 9.5 jobs. Women with some college or an associate degree held 10.1 jobs, the most
held regardless of gender. Women with higher levels of educational attainment held more jobs
than women at lower levels. Women with a bachelor's degree held 9.9 jobs from ages 18 through
38, compared with 7.7 jobs for females with less than high school education and 8.3 jobs for
those with a high school diploma. Men with some college or associate degree held 9.6 jobs from
ages 18 through 38, while they held about 9 jobs in the three other educational attainment
categories. (See table 1.) A job is defined as a period of work, including gaps, with a
particular employer. (See the Technical Note for additional information on the definition of
a job.)
Examining employment experiences by smaller age brackets shows individuals held fewer jobs in
each subsequent age bracket. Individuals held an average of 5.1 jobs in the 6-year period from
ages 18 to 23. The number of jobs individuals held dropped to 3.3 jobs in the 6-year period
from ages 24 to 29, and then dropped further to 2.9 jobs from ages 30 to 38. The pattern of
individuals holding fewer jobs as they aged was similar across groupings by sex, race and
ethnicity, and level of educational attainment.
Duration of Employment Relationships
The length of time a worker remained with an employer increased with the age at which the
worker began the job. Of the jobs begun between ages 18 to 24, the average worker had 61
percent of jobs end in less than a year and 95 percent of jobs end in less than 6 years. Among
jobs began when 25 to 38 years old, the average worker had 32 percent of jobs end in less than
a year and 70 percent end in less than 6 years. (See table 2.)
Job duration is also related to education. Seventy percent of the jobs of those with less than
a high school diploma started while aged 18 to 24 ended within a year, compared with 60
percent of jobs started at those ages by the average individual with a bachelor's degree
and higher.
Among individuals with less than a high school diploma who started jobs when they were 25 to
38 years of age, the average individual had 44 percent of these jobs end in less than a year
and 80 percent end in less than 6 years. In comparison, for the average individual with a
bachelor's degree and higher who started jobs at those ages, 26 percent of the jobs ended in
under a year and 64 percent ended in less than 6 years.
Percent of Weeks Employed, Unemployed, and Not in the Labor Force
On average, individuals born in 1980-84 were employed during 76 percent of all the weeks from
age 18 through age 38, unemployed--that is, without a job but seeking work--5 percent of the
weeks, and not in the labor force--that is, neither working nor seeking work--18 percent of
the weeks. (See table 3.)
As a group, individuals with higher levels of educational attainment were employed for a
higher percentage of weeks and unemployed for a lower percentage of weeks than individuals
with lower levels of education. The percentage of weeks not in the labor force decreased with
increases in educational attainment.
Men were more active in the labor market than women from ages 18 to 38. As a group, they spent
less time not in the labor force than women (14 percent compared with 23 percent) and more
time employed (80 percent compared with 73 percent). This pattern is also seen at each level
of educational attainment except among those with a bachelor's degree and higher. Men with a
bachelor's degree and higher spent only slightly more weeks employed as similarly educated
women (85 percent and 82 percent, respectively). (See table 3.)
Employment gaps existed between racial and ethnic groups. On average, White individuals were
employed during 78 percent of the weeks that occurred from age 18 through age 38, Hispanic or
Latino individuals were employed during 76 percent of the weeks, and Black individuals were
employed during 68 percent of the weeks.
The employment gap between White and Black individuals is more pronounced at lower levels of
educational attainment. White high school dropouts spent 56 percent of weeks employed from
ages 18 through 38, while Black dropouts spent 40 percent of weeks employed during these ages.
White and Black college graduates spent a similar percentage of weeks employed (84 percent
compared with 83 percent).
The employment gap between Hispanic or Latino and Black individuals is also more pronounced at
lower levels of educational attainment but does not exist among those with a bachelor's degree
and higher. Hispanic or Latino dropouts spent 61 percent of weeks employed from ages 18
through 38, while Black dropouts spent 40 percent of weeks employed during these ages.
Hispanic or Latino and Black college graduates both spent 83 percent of weeks employed from
ages 18 through 38.
Individuals spent 70 percent of weeks employed from ages 18 to 23, 78 percent of weeks
employed from ages 24 to 29, and 79 percent of weeks employed from ages 30 to 38. Men spent 71
percent of weeks employed from ages 18 to 23; this increased to 82 percent of weeks from ages
24 to 29 and then increased to 85 percent from ages 30 to 38. Women spent 69 percent of weeks
employed from ages 18 to 23; this increased to 74 percent of weeks from ages 24 to 29 and ages
30 to 38. Men were employed a higher percentage of weeks than women within each of these age
spans. (See table 4.)
As these individuals aged, they generally spent less time out of the labor force. Men spent 23
percent of weeks not in the labor force from 18 to 23 years of age, and 11 percent of weeks
out of the labor force from ages 24 to 29 and ages 30 to 38. Women spent 26 percent of weeks
out of the labor force from ages 18 to 23, and 20 percent and 22 percent of weeks out of the
labor force at ages 24 to 29 and ages 30 to 38, respectively. At ages 30 to 38, women were
about twice as likely as men to not be in the labor force.
Employment gaps between racial and ethnic groups also existed within each age bracket
analyzed. Within each age bracket, White workers were employed a higher percentage of weeks
than both Black and Hispanic or Latino workers, and Hispanic or Latino workers were employed a
higher percentage of weeks than Black workers.
Educational Attainment at Age 39
At 39 years of age, 35 percent of individuals had received a bachelor's degree and higher while
36 percent had attended some college or received an associate degree without earning a
bachelor's degree. Twenty-three percent had a high school diploma or General Education
Development (GED) credential and no further schooling. (See table 5.)
Women were more likely than men to have received a bachelor's degree and higher by age 27, and this
gap continued to be seen at age 39. Twenty-five percent of men had earned a bachelor's degree and
higher by age 27, compared with 32 percent of women. By 39 years of age, 31 percent of men had
earned a bachelor's degree and higher, compared to 40 percent of women. In total, 67 percent of men
had either attended some college or received a bachelor's degree and higher by age 39, compared with
77 percent of women.
At age 39, there were large differences in educational attainment among racial and ethnic
groups. Black and Hispanic or Latino individuals were more likely than White individuals to
have dropped out of high school. In comparison, White individuals were more likely to have
ever attended college (74 percent of White individuals, compared to 65 percent of Black
individuals and 62 percent of Hispanic or Latino individuals) and nearly twice as likely to
have received a bachelor's degree and higher by this age. Forty percent of White individuals
had received a bachelor's degree and higher at age 39, compared with 22 percent of both Black
and Hispanic or Latino individuals.
Within each racial and ethnic group examined at age 39, women were more likely to have a
bachelor's degree and higher than men. White women were more likely than White men to have
received a bachelor's degree and higher (45 percent compared with 36 percent), Black women were
more likely than Black men (29 percent compared with 16 percent), and Hispanic or Latino women
were more likely than Hispanic or Latino men (25 percent compared with 19 percent) to have
received a bachelor's degree and higher.
Training Received by Age 39
By 39 years of age, 65 percent of individuals had received training outside of any regular
schooling that offers academic diplomas or degrees. Training programs may make it easier to
find a job, improve job skills, or learn a new job, and include vocational, technical, or
trade, apprenticeship, school based, formal employer training, training at work by outsider,
training outside of work, government, or other training. (See table 6.) (See the Technical
Note for additional information on training compared with regular school.)
Men were more likely than women to have participated in an apprenticeship program (6 percent
compared with 1 percent) or government training program (11 percent compared with 4 percent)
by age 39, while men were less likely to have received school-based training than women (11
percent compared with 17 percent).
Training was more common for people in their twenties compared with their thirties (38 percent
compared with 27 percent). Those with higher levels of educational attainment were generally
more likely to have received any type of training. By their 39th birthday, 44 percent of high
school dropouts had received some type of training, compared with 61 percent of high school
graduates with no college, 71 percent of individuals with some college or an associate degree,
and 66 percent of college graduates.
Partner Status and Employment Experiences
At 27 years of age, 34 percent of Americans born during 1980-84 were married, 21 percent were
cohabiting (unmarried and living with a partner), and 45 percent were single (not married and
not living with a partner). Comparatively, at 39 years of age, 54 percent were married, 15
percent were cohabiting, and 31 percent were single. (See table 7.)
At age 39, those with higher levels of education were more likely to be married and less
likely to be cohabiting than those with lower levels of education. At the time of their 39th
birthday, 32 percent of high school dropouts were married, compared with 44 percent of high
school graduates with no college, 52 percent of individuals with some college or an associate
degree, and 68 percent of college graduates. Twenty-six percent of those with less than a high
school diploma were cohabiting, compared with only 10 percent of those with a bachelor's degree
and higher.
Partner status varied greatly by race and ethnicity. Black individuals were more likely to be
single than either White or Hispanic or Latino individuals. At 39 years of age, 53 percent of
Black individuals were single, compared with 25 percent of White individuals and 33 percent of
Hispanic or Latino individuals. Black individuals were less likely to be married than either
White individuals or Hispanic or Latino individuals (33 percent compared with 61 percent and
49 percent, respectively).
At both ages 27 and 39, women were more likely to be married and less likely to be single than
men. By their 39th birthday, 56 percent of women were married, 30 percent were single, and 14
percent were cohabiting, while 53 percent of men were married, 32 percent were single, and 15
percent were cohabiting.
Compared with individuals who were single at age 39, those who were married worked more weeks
from ages 18 to 38, spent fewer weeks unemployed, and spent fewer weeks not in the labor
force. From ages 18 to 38, single individuals spent 71 percent of weeks employed, 8 percent of
weeks unemployed, and 21 percent of weeks not in the labor force, while those who were married
spent 80 percent of weeks employed, 4 percent of weeks unemployed, and 17 percent of weeks not
in the labor force. Cohabiting individuals spent 75 percent of weeks employed, 7 percent of
weeks unemployed, and 19 percent of weeks not in the labor force. (See table 8.)
Men accounted for most of the variation in employment experiences by partner status. Men
married at age 39 worked more weeks, were unemployed fewer weeks, and were less likely to be
not in the labor force than either single or cohabiting men during ages 18 to 38. Men married
at age 39 spent 85 percent of weeks employed, compared with 72 percent for single men and 78
percent for cohabiting men. Married men spent 4 percent of weeks unemployed, compared with 8
percent for single men and 7 percent for cohabiting men. Married men spent 11 percent of weeks
out of the labor force, compared with 20 percent for single men and 15 percent for cohabiting
men. In contrast, there were limited differences in the employment experiences of women by
partner status. Women who were married at age 39 were employed a slightly higher percentage of
weeks than non-married women (74 percent compared with 71 percent for single and cohabiting
women) during ages 18 to 38 and were unemployed a lower percentage of weeks than either single
or cohabiting women (3 percent compared with 7 percent and 6 percent, respectively).
Married individuals also spent a higher percentage of weeks employed than single individuals
within racial and ethnic groups. The differences were 81 percent compared with 74 percent
among the White population, 74 percent compared with 65 percent among the Black population,
and 78 percent compared with 73 percent among the Hispanic or Latino population.
Health Limits and Work
Individuals in this cohort report whether their health limits the kind or amount of work they
can do; the percentage of individuals reporting such limitations increased as they aged. At 27
years of age, 7 percent of Americans born during 1980-84 were limited in the kind or amount of
work they can do; at 39 years of age, 11 percent were limited. (See table 9.)
At ages 27 and 39, 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 39th birthday, 26 percent of those with less than a high school diploma, 13 percent
of high school graduates with no college, 12 percent of individuals with some college or an
associate degree, and 6 percent of college graduates were limited in the kind or amount of
work they can do.
As they aged, women became more likely than men to report that health limits the kind or
amount of work they can do. At 27 years of age, 7 percent of women and 6 percent of men were
limited in the kind or amount of work they can do; at 39 years of age, 14 percent of women and
8 percent of men were limited in the kind or amount of work they can do.
United States Department of Labor
