The .gov means it's official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information,
make sure you're on a federal government site.
The site is secure. The
https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any
information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.
From April to July 2017, the labor force of 16- to 24-year-olds grew by 2.4 million, or 11.6 percent, to 23.1 million. Over the same period, the number of employed 16- to 24-year-olds increased by 1.9 million to 20.9 million. The youth labor force—those 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.
Civilian labor force and employment of 16- to 24-year-olds, January 2007 to July 2017, not seasonally adjusted
Month
Labor force, total
Employed, total
Labor force, men
Employed, men
Labor force, women
Employed, women
Jan 2007
21,770,000
19,407,000
11,322,000
9,974,000
10,448,000
9,433,000
Feb 2007
21,645,000
19,415,000
11,308,000
9,958,000
10,338,000
9,457,000
Mar 2007
21,634,000
19,538,000
11,317,000
10,086,000
10,317,000
9,452,000
Apr 2007
21,442,000
19,368,000
11,274,000
10,080,000
10,168,000
9,288,000
May 2007
21,659,000
19,457,000
11,458,000
10,157,000
10,201,000
9,300,000
Jun 2007
23,981,000
21,098,000
12,686,000
11,020,000
11,294,000
10,078,000
Jul 2007
24,339,000
21,717,000
12,845,000
11,421,000
11,494,000
10,296,000
Aug 2007
22,801,000
20,413,000
11,988,000
10,691,000
10,812,000
9,722,000
Sep 2007
21,917,000
19,498,000
11,397,000
10,014,000
10,519,000
9,484,000
Oct 2007
21,821,000
19,564,000
11,404,000
10,133,000
10,417,000
9,430,000
Nov 2007
21,909,000
19,660,000
11,401,000
10,107,000
10,508,000
9,553,000
Dec 2007
21,684,000
19,361,000
11,223,000
9,854,000
10,461,000
9,507,000
Jan 2008
21,357,000
18,724,000
11,102,000
9,522,000
10,256,000
9,202,000
Feb 2008
21,027,000
18,546,000
11,002,000
9,484,000
10,024,000
9,062,000
Mar 2008
21,092,000
18,745,000
11,082,000
9,677,000
10,010,000
9,069,000
Apr 2008
21,357,000
19,161,000
11,151,000
9,883,000
10,207,000
9,278,000
May 2008
22,206,000
19,254,000
11,715,000
10,047,000
10,491,000
9,207,000
Jun 2008
23,916,000
20,466,000
12,604,000
10,662,000
11,312,000
9,804,000
Jul 2008
24,429,000
21,021,000
12,882,000
10,946,000
11,547,000
10,075,000
Aug 2008
23,086,000
20,096,000
12,125,000
10,496,000
10,961,000
9,601,000
Sep 2008
21,722,000
18,818,000
11,418,000
9,771,000
10,304,000
9,047,000
Oct 2008
21,599,000
18,757,000
11,280,000
9,518,000
10,318,000
9,239,000
Nov 2008
21,287,000
18,454,000
11,054,000
9,345,000
10,233,000
9,109,000
Dec 2008
21,306,000
18,378,000
11,036,000
9,220,000
10,270,000
9,158,000
Jan 2009
20,745,000
17,467,000
10,678,000
8,665,000
10,067,000
8,802,000
Feb 2009
21,063,000
17,606,000
10,919,000
8,789,000
10,144,000
8,817,000
Mar 2009
20,935,000
17,564,000
10,815,000
8,689,000
10,119,000
8,875,000
Apr 2009
21,060,000
17,739,000
10,972,000
8,915,000
10,088,000
8,824,000
May 2009
21,439,000
17,588,000
11,228,000
8,896,000
10,211,000
8,692,000
Jun 2009
23,379,000
18,726,000
12,154,000
9,564,000
11,225,000
9,162,000
Jul 2009
23,691,000
19,304,000
12,298,000
9,880,000
11,393,000
9,424,000
Aug 2009
22,274,000
18,270,000
11,574,000
9,336,000
10,701,000
8,934,000
Sep 2009
20,746,000
16,972,000
10,751,000
8,581,000
9,995,000
8,391,000
Oct 2009
20,460,000
16,671,000
10,593,000
8,325,000
9,867,000
8,347,000
Nov 2009
20,388,000
16,689,000
10,455,000
8,286,000
9,933,000
8,403,000
Dec 2009
20,147,000
16,615,000
10,348,000
8,134,000
9,799,000
8,481,000
Jan 2010
20,149,000
16,166,000
10,372,000
7,842,000
9,776,000
8,324,000
Feb 2010
20,300,000
16,412,000
10,465,000
8,076,000
9,835,000
8,336,000
Mar 2010
20,335,000
16,587,000
10,602,000
8,262,000
9,734,000
8,325,000
Apr 2010
20,567,000
16,764,000
10,727,000
8,407,000
9,840,000
8,357,000
May 2010
20,894,000
17,039,000
10,817,000
8,676,000
10,077,000
8,363,000
Jun 2010
22,401,000
17,920,000
11,710,000
9,122,000
10,692,000
8,798,000
Jul 2010
22,938,000
18,564,000
11,997,000
9,537,000
10,942,000
9,027,000
Aug 2010
21,964,000
18,061,000
11,423,000
9,235,000
10,542,000
8,827,000
Sep 2010
20,478,000
16,874,000
10,561,000
8,517,000
9,917,000
8,357,000
Oct 2010
20,598,000
16,867,000
10,545,000
8,491,000
10,053,000
8,376,000
Nov 2010
20,507,000
16,946,000
10,602,000
8,542,000
9,905,000
8,404,000
Dec 2010
20,079,000
16,727,000
10,446,000
8,428,000
9,633,000
8,299,000
Jan 2011
20,363,000
16,512,000
10,640,000
8,430,000
9,722,000
8,082,000
Feb 2011
20,335,000
16,638,000
10,614,000
8,466,000
9,721,000
8,172,000
Mar 2011
20,418,000
16,898,000
10,640,000
8,559,000
9,778,000
8,339,000
Apr 2011
20,335,000
16,970,000
10,540,000
8,590,000
9,795,000
8,381,000
May 2011
20,673,000
17,045,000
10,815,000
8,778,000
9,859,000
8,268,000
Jun 2011
22,428,000
18,180,000
11,795,000
9,471,000
10,633,000
8,709,000
Jul 2011
22,742,000
18,632,000
11,930,000
9,746,000
10,812,000
8,886,000
Aug 2011
21,887,000
18,067,000
11,578,000
9,448,000
10,309,000
8,619,000
Sep 2011
20,779,000
17,238,000
10,860,000
8,899,000
9,919,000
8,339,000
Oct 2011
20,918,000
17,532,000
10,911,000
9,023,000
10,007,000
8,509,000
Nov 2011
20,689,000
17,402,000
10,843,000
8,941,000
9,846,000
8,461,000
Dec 2011
20,395,000
17,234,000
10,781,000
8,862,000
9,614,000
8,372,000
Jan 2012
20,360,000
16,944,000
10,525,000
8,565,000
9,835,000
8,378,000
Feb 2012
20,658,000
17,150,000
10,628,000
8,505,000
10,029,000
8,645,000
Mar 2012
20,594,000
17,301,000
10,594,000
8,716,000
10,000,000
8,585,000
Apr 2012
20,562,000
17,387,000
10,648,000
8,842,000
9,914,000
8,545,000
May 2012
21,118,000
17,681,000
10,980,000
9,054,000
10,138,000
8,626,000
Jun 2012
23,086,000
18,907,000
12,093,000
9,733,000
10,994,000
9,174,000
Jul 2012
23,472,000
19,461,000
12,355,000
10,140,000
11,117,000
9,321,000
Aug 2012
21,842,000
18,171,000
11,408,000
9,341,000
10,434,000
8,830,000
Sep 2012
20,861,000
17,687,000
10,841,000
9,034,000
10,020,000
8,653,000
Oct 2012
21,127,000
17,842,000
10,986,000
9,163,000
10,141,000
8,678,000
Nov 2012
20,979,000
17,877,000
10,856,000
9,168,000
10,123,000
8,709,000
Dec 2012
20,757,000
17,604,000
10,687,000
8,940,000
10,070,000
8,664,000
Jan 2013
20,857,000
17,183,000
10,822,000
8,698,000
10,035,000
8,486,000
Feb 2013
20,707,000
17,257,000
10,685,000
8,756,000
10,022,000
8,502,000
Mar 2013
20,532,000
17,271,000
10,674,000
8,785,000
9,859,000
8,487,000
Apr 2013
20,721,000
17,593,000
10,596,000
8,863,000
10,126,000
8,729,000
May 2013
21,181,000
17,704,000
11,023,000
9,051,000
10,158,000
8,652,000
Jun 2013
23,322,000
19,125,000
12,179,000
9,752,000
11,143,000
9,372,000
Jul 2013
23,506,000
19,684,000
12,283,000
10,127,000
11,223,000
9,557,000
Aug 2013
22,089,000
18,636,000
11,533,000
9,594,000
10,556,000
9,042,000
Sep 2013
21,183,000
18,043,000
11,122,000
9,258,000
10,061,000
8,785,000
Oct 2013
21,003,000
17,976,000
10,838,000
9,104,000
10,165,000
8,872,000
Nov 2013
20,825,000
18,104,000
10,630,000
9,141,000
10,194,000
8,963,000
Dec 2013
20,642,000
18,106,000
10,563,000
9,148,000
10,078,000
8,958,000
Jan 2014
20,423,000
17,372,000
10,400,000
8,685,000
10,023,000
8,687,000
Feb 2014
20,390,000
17,357,000
10,412,000
8,596,000
9,977,000
8,761,000
Mar 2014
20,941,000
17,939,000
10,872,000
9,106,000
10,069,000
8,832,000
Apr 2014
20,461,000
18,021,000
10,532,000
9,127,000
9,929,000
8,894,000
May 2014
21,160,000
18,329,000
10,850,000
9,316,000
10,310,000
9,013,000
Jun 2014
22,851,000
19,421,000
11,915,000
9,983,000
10,936,000
9,439,000
Jul 2014
23,437,000
20,085,000
12,335,000
10,470,000
11,102,000
9,614,000
Aug 2014
21,816,000
18,972,000
11,443,000
9,878,000
10,373,000
9,093,000
Sep 2014
20,959,000
18,104,000
10,930,000
9,312,000
10,029,000
8,792,000
Oct 2014
21,403,000
18,781,000
10,979,000
9,651,000
10,424,000
9,130,000
Nov 2014
21,034,000
18,576,000
10,742,000
9,442,000
10,293,000
9,135,000
Dec 2014
20,664,000
18,347,000
10,698,000
9,334,000
9,966,000
9,013,000
Jan 2015
20,555,000
17,912,000
10,592,000
9,028,000
9,964,000
8,884,000
Feb 2015
20,751,000
18,222,000
10,709,000
9,255,000
10,042,000
8,967,000
Mar 2015
20,600,000
18,076,000
10,559,000
9,085,000
10,041,000
8,991,000
Apr 2015
20,416,000
18,241,000
10,508,000
9,298,000
9,908,000
8,943,000
May 2015
21,342,000
18,709,000
11,069,000
9,569,000
10,272,000
9,140,000
Jun 2015
22,926,000
19,789,000
11,766,000
10,005,000
11,161,000
9,784,000
Jul 2015
23,162,000
20,333,000
12,011,000
10,488,000
11,151,000
9,846,000
Aug 2015
21,967,000
19,577,000
11,346,000
10,059,000
10,621,000
9,518,000
Sep 2015
20,611,000
18,355,000
10,638,000
9,381,000
9,973,000
8,975,000
Oct 2015
20,877,000
18,654,000
10,716,000
9,485,000
10,161,000
9,169,000
Nov 2015
20,632,000
18,485,000
10,521,000
9,251,000
10,112,000
9,234,000
Dec 2015
20,835,000
18,720,000
10,636,000
9,421,000
10,199,000
9,299,000
Jan 2016
20,364,000
18,159,000
10,314,000
9,063,000
10,050,000
9,096,000
Feb 2016
20,685,000
18,456,000
10,658,000
9,374,000
10,027,000
9,082,000
Mar 2016
20,740,000
18,580,000
10,629,000
9,390,000
10,111,000
9,190,000
Apr 2016
20,548,000
18,511,000
10,527,000
9,442,000
10,021,000
9,069,000
May 2016
21,102,000
18,875,000
10,800,000
9,637,000
10,302,000
9,237,000
Jun 2016
22,755,000
19,967,000
11,869,000
10,314,000
10,886,000
9,653,000
Jul 2016
23,104,000
20,456,000
12,094,000
10,638,000
11,010,000
9,818,000
Aug 2016
22,098,000
19,876,000
11,542,000
10,265,000
10,556,000
9,612,000
Sep 2016
20,819,000
18,693,000
10,818,000
9,628,000
10,001,000
9,065,000
Oct 2016
20,790,000
18,695,000
10,775,000
9,533,000
10,015,000
9,162,000
Nov 2016
20,735,000
18,801,000
10,685,000
9,530,000
10,051,000
9,271,000
Dec 2016
20,689,000
18,830,000
10,680,000
9,536,000
10,009,000
9,294,000
Jan 2017
20,507,000
18,311,000
10,533,000
9,266,000
9,974,000
9,046,000
Feb 2017
20,697,000
18,604,000
10,662,000
9,390,000
10,035,000
9,214,000
Mar 2017
20,756,000
18,914,000
10,604,000
9,497,000
10,152,000
9,417,000
Apr 2017
20,708,000
18,948,000
10,647,000
9,633,000
10,060,000
9,315,000
May 2017
20,899,000
19,070,000
10,840,000
9,790,000
10,059,000
9,281,000
Jun 2017
22,720,000
20,330,000
11,785,000
10,447,000
10,935,000
9,883,000
Jul 2017
23,107,000
20,890,000
11,983,000
10,773,000
11,124,000
10,117,000
The labor force participation rate for 16- to 24-year-olds 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.) The summer labor force participation rate of 16- to 24-year-olds 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.
Labor force participation rates of 16- to 24-year-olds in July, 1948–2017, not seasonally adjusted
Month
Total
Men
Women
Jul 1948
66.2%
85.8%
48.0%
Jul 1949
66.2
85.8
48.2
Jul 1950
64.9
86.0
45.1
Jul 1951
65.8
85.8
49.5
Jul 1952
63.7
85.2
47.1
Jul 1953
62.2
82.8
46.7
Jul 1954
61.7
82.5
45.5
Jul 1955
62.8
83.2
46.5
Jul 1956
66.0
85.8
49.7
Jul 1957
66.0
86.1
49.2
Jul 1958
64.0
83.5
47.4
Jul 1959
63.1
82.9
45.8
Jul 1960
64.7
83.0
48.4
Jul 1961
64.1
81.5
48.4
Jul 1962
64.3
81.9
48.8
Jul 1963
63.6
81.1
48.1
Jul 1964
63.2
81.2
47.1
Jul 1965
65.3
83.2
49.2
Jul 1966
66.7
83.1
52.2
Jul 1967
67.7
83.8
53.8
Jul 1968
67.8
82.6
55.1
Jul 1969
68.6
82.5
56.6
Jul 1970
68.7
82.2
56.8
Jul 1971
68.9
81.8
57.1
Jul 1972
70.2
82.3
58.9
Jul 1973
71.9
84.2
60.3
Jul 1974
73.2
84.3
62.6
Jul 1975
73.0
83.5
63.1
Jul 1976
74.1
83.8
64.9
Jul 1977
74.7
84.5
65.2
Jul 1978
76.5
85.0
68.4
Jul 1979
76.6
85.0
68.4
Jul 1980
76.3
84.4
68.5
Jul 1981
75.3
82.7
68.0
Jul 1982
74.7
81.2
68.5
Jul 1983
75.6
83.0
68.4
Jul 1984
76.3
82.5
70.3
Jul 1985
76.5
82.8
70.3
Jul 1986
76.7
82.9
70.6
Jul 1987
76.3
81.4
71.3
Jul 1988
76.9
82.5
71.4
Jul 1989
77.5
82.8
72.4
Jul 1990
75.1
80.8
69.5
Jul 1991
73.6
79.6
67.6
Jul 1992
74.6
79.8
69.5
Jul 1993
74.5
79.5
69.5
Jul 1994
74.1
78.8
69.4
Jul 1995
74.3
79.3
69.3
Jul 1996
73.3
78.3
68.3
Jul 1997
73.0
76.5
69.4
Jul 1998
72.8
76.3
69.3
Jul 1999
72.6
76.0
69.1
Jul 2000
71.6
75.2
68.1
Jul 2001
70.7
74.1
67.2
Jul 2002
69.5
72.3
66.6
Jul 2003
67.3
70.0
64.5
Jul 2004
67.2
70.4
63.9
Jul 2005
66.6
69.6
63.6
Jul 2006
66.7
69.7
63.6
Jul 2007
65.0
67.9
62.1
Jul 2008
65.1
68.1
62.1
Jul 2009
63.0
64.9
61.1
Jul 2010
60.5
62.7
58.1
Jul 2011
59.5
61.4
57.6
Jul 2012
60.5
63.2
57.8
Jul 2013
60.5
62.7
58.2
Jul 2014
60.5
63.2
57.8
Jul 2015
60.0
61.8
58.2
Jul 2016
60.1
62.4
57.7
Jul 2017
60.6
62.3
58.8
The July 2017 labor force participation rate for young 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.
These data are from the Current Population Survey. For more information, see “Employment and Unemployment among Youth — Summer 2017” (HTML) (PDF).
United States Department of Labor
