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Unemployment rate 3.2 percent for those 55 years of age and older
January 12, 2016
In December 2015, the unemployment rate was 5.0 percent for the third month in a row. The rate by age ranged from 3.2 percent for those age 55 and over to 16.1 percent for teenagers (16 to 19 years).
Unemployment rate and number of unemployed persons, by sex and age, December 2015
Characteristic
Unemployment rate
Number of unemployed persons
Total
5.0
7,904,000
16 to 19 years
16.1
938,000
20 to 24 years
9.4
1,460,000
25 to 34 years
5.3
1,853,000
35 to 44 years
4.0
1,320,000
45 to 54 years
3.6
1,226,000
55 years and over
3.2
1,132,000
Men
5.2
4,330,000
16 to 19 years
17.7
522,000
20 to 24 years
10.3
824,000
25 to 34 years
5.6
1,050,000
35 to 44 years
3.9
678,000
45 to 54 years
3.5
616,000
55 years and over
3.5
650,000
Women
4.8
3,574,000
16 to 19 years
14.4
416,000
20 to 24 years
8.5
636,000
25 to 34 years
5.0
803,000
35 to 44 years
4.2
642,000
45 to 54 years
3.8
610,000
55 years and over
3.1
520,000
Note: Component data will not necessarily sum to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
Overall, men's unemployment rates were higher than women's. The largest differences between men's and women's unemployment rates were among 16- to 19-year-olds and 20- to 24-year-olds.
There were 4.3 million jobless men seeking employment in December 2015, compared with 3.6 million women. There were 1.1 million unemployed men age 25 to 34, compared with 800,000 women.
United States Department of Labor
