Table 3. Percent of weeks individuals were employed, unemployed, or not in the labor force from age 18 through age 38 in 1998-2023 by educational attainment, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Table 3.  Percent of weeks individuals were employed, unemployed, or not in the labor force from age 18
through age 38 in 1998-2023 by educational attainment, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

                                                 Percent of total weeks while ages
                                                        18 to 38 in 1998-2023
            Characteristic
                                          Employed       Unemployed   Not in labor force

Total, ages 18 to 38 in 1998-2023......      76.3            5.3            18.4
 Less than a high school diploma.......      53.4            10.4           36.1
 High school graduates, no college(1)..      71.0            7.4            21.6
 Some college or associate degree......      76.5            5.7            17.8
 Bachelor's degree and higher(2).......      83.3            2.6            14.2

Men....................................      79.8            5.8            14.4
 Less than a high school diploma.......      63.9            11.2           25.0
 High school graduates, no college(1)..      76.2            8.1            15.7
 Some college or associate degree......      81.0            5.9            13.2
 Bachelor's degree and higher(2).......      84.9            2.7            12.4

Women..................................      72.6            4.7            22.7
 Less than a high school diploma.......      40.6            9.6            49.8
 High school graduates, no college(1)..      62.8            6.2            31.0
 Some college or associate degree......      71.9            5.6            22.5
 Bachelor's degree and higher(2).......      81.9            2.5            15.6

White, non-Hispanic....................      78.3            4.3            17.4
 Less than a high school diploma.......      55.9            9.8            34.3
 High school graduates, no college(1)..      74.3            6.2            19.5
 Some college or associate degree......      77.8            4.7            17.4
 Bachelor's degree and higher(2).......      83.6            2.2            14.2

Black, non-Hispanic....................      68.4            9.4            22.2
 Less than a high school diploma.......      40.1            14.6           45.3
 High school graduates, no college(1)..      60.3            11.5           28.2
 Some college or associate degree......      71.4            9.7            18.9
 Bachelor's degree and higher(2).......      82.5            4.6            12.9

Hispanic or Latino.....................      75.6            5.5            18.9
 Less than a high school diploma.......      60.5            8.2            31.3
 High school graduates, no college(1)..      71.7            7.3            21.0
 Some college or associate degree......      78.0            4.8            17.3
 Bachelor's degree and higher(2).......      82.7            3.4            13.9


(1) Includes individuals with a high school diploma or equivalent (General Education
Development (GED)) credential.
(2) Includes individuals with bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and professional degrees
NOTE:  This table excludes individuals who had not yet turned age 39 when interviewed in
2023-24.  The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 consists of young men and women
who were ages 12 to 16 on December 31, 1996. 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. Educational attainment
is determined during the month of the respondent's 39th birthday.