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From ages 18 to 38, Americans born from 1957 to 1964 and from 1980 to 1984 were both employed for 76 percent of all weeks

October 01, 2026

Americans born from 1957 to 1964 and those born from 1980 and 1984 were both employed for 76 percent of the weeks during the time they were between age 18 and 38. Men were employed more weeks from ages 18 to 38 than women. White, non-Hispanic individuals were employed more weeks at these ages than both Black, non-Hispanic and Hispanic or Latino individuals.

Chart Image
Chart Data

Percent of weeks people were employed from age 18 to age 38, by sex, race, and ethnicity
Characteristic	Ages 18 to 38 in 1978–2002	Ages 18 to 38 in 1998–2023
Total	76	76
Men	84	80
Women	69	73
White, non-Hispanic	79	78
Black, non-Hispanic	67	68
Hispanic or Latino	71	76

Men born between 1980 and 1984 were employed for fewer weeks from ages 18 to 38 (80 percent) than men born between 1957 and 1964 (84 percent). In contrast, women born between 1980 and 1984 were employed for more weeks at these ages (73 percent) than women born between 1957 and 1964 (69 percent).

White, non-Hispanic individuals born between 1980 and 1984 worked fewer weeks from ages 18 to 38 than White, non-Hispanic individuals born between 1957 and 1964. Both Black, non-Hispanic and Hispanic or Latino individuals born between 1980 and 1984 worked more weeks from ages 18 to 38 than those born between 1957 and 1964.

These data are from the National Longitudinal Surveys. The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79) consists of men and women who were born in the years 1957–64 and were ages 14 to 22 when first interviewed in 1979. The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97) consists of men and women who were born in the years 1980–84 and were ages 12 to 17 when the survey began in 1997.

SUGGESTED CITATION

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, From ages 18 to 38, Americans born from 1957 to 1964 and from 1980 to 1984 were both employed for 76 percent of all weeks at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2026/from-ages-18-to-38-americans-born-from-1957-to-1964-and-from-1980-to-1984-were-both-employed-for-76-percent-of-all-weeks.htm (visited October 03, 2026).

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