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September 2010
BLS Spotlight on Statistics: Back to College
Chart Data
For the College Educated: Increasing Employment ...
Number of employed people 25 years and over by educational attainment, 1992–2009 annual averages
| Year |
Less than a high school diploma |
High school graduates, no college |
Some college or associate degree |
Bachelor's degree and higher |
1992 |
11,843,000 |
35,305,000 |
25,526,000 |
27,273,000 |
1993 |
11,201,000 |
35,395,000 |
26,903,000 |
28,115,000 |
1994 |
11,053,000 |
35,135,000 |
28,696,000 |
29,257,000 |
1995 |
10,945,000 |
34,999,000 |
29,681,000 |
30,412,000 |
1996 |
11,317,000 |
35,300,000 |
29,994,000 |
31,459,000 |
1997 |
11,546,000 |
36,163,000 |
30,321,000 |
32,488,000 |
1998 |
11,673,000 |
35,976,000 |
30,477,000 |
33,730,000 |
1999 |
11,294,000 |
36,017,000 |
31,209,000 |
34,905,000 |
2000 |
11,692,000 |
36,452,000 |
32,308,000 |
36,020,000 |
2001 |
11,669,000 |
36,078,000 |
32,586,000 |
36,514,000 |
2002 |
11,535,000 |
35,779,000 |
32,094,000 |
37,395,000 |
2003 |
11,537,000 |
35,857,000 |
32,420,000 |
38,570,000 |
2004 |
11,408,000 |
35,944,000 |
32,977,000 |
39,293,000 |
2005 |
11,712,000 |
36,398,000 |
33,625,000 |
40,225,000 |
2006 |
11,892,000 |
36,702,000 |
34,143,000 |
41,649,000 |
2007 |
11,521,000 |
36,857,000 |
34,612,000 |
43,182,000 |
2008 |
11,073,000 |
36,097,000 |
35,040,000 |
43,951,000 |
2009 |
10,371,000 |
34,487,000 |
33,888,000 |
43,531,000 |
Source: Current Population Survey | Chart
... Lower Unemployment ...
Unemployment rate for people 25 years and over by educational attainment, 1992–2009 annual averages (Percent)
| Year |
Less than a high school diploma |
High school graduates, no college |
Some college or associate degree |
Bachelor's degree and higher |
1992 |
11.5 |
6.8 |
5.6 |
3.2 |
1993 |
10.8 |
6.3 |
5.2 |
2.9 |
1994 |
9.8 |
5.4 |
4.5 |
2.6 |
1995 |
9.0 |
4.8 |
4.0 |
2.4 |
1996 |
8.7 |
4.7 |
3.7 |
2.2 |
1997 |
8.1 |
4.3 |
3.3 |
2.0 |
1998 |
7.1 |
4.0 |
3.0 |
1.8 |
1999 |
6.7 |
3.5 |
2.8 |
1.8 |
2000 |
6.3 |
3.4 |
2.7 |
1.7 |
2001 |
7.2 |
4.2 |
3.3 |
2.3 |
2002 |
8.4 |
5.3 |
4.5 |
2.9 |
2003 |
8.8 |
5.5 |
4.8 |
3.1 |
2004 |
8.5 |
5.0 |
4.2 |
2.7 |
2005 |
7.6 |
4.7 |
3.9 |
2.3 |
2006 |
6.8 |
4.3 |
3.6 |
2.0 |
2007 |
7.1 |
4.4 |
3.6 |
2.0 |
2008 |
9.0 |
5.7 |
4.6 |
2.6 |
2009 |
14.6 |
9.7 |
8.0 |
4.6 |
Source: Current Population Survey | Chart
... and Higher Earnings
Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers 25 years and over by educational attainment, 2005–09 annual averages
| Year |
Less than a high school diploma |
High school graduates, no college |
Some college or associate degree |
Bachelor's degree and higher |
2005 |
$409 |
$583 |
$670 |
$1,013 |
2006 |
$419 |
$595 |
$692 |
$1,039 |
2007 |
$428 |
$604 |
$704 |
$1,072 |
2008 |
$453 |
$618 |
$722 |
$1,115 |
2009 |
$454 |
$626 |
$726 |
$1,137 |
Source: Current Population Survey | Chart
Degree Attainment by Age 22
School enrollment status of young adults during the October when age 22, by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2002–07
| Characteristic |
High school dropouts |
High school graduates, not enrolled in college |
General Educational Development (GED) recipients, not enrolled in college |
Enrolled in college |
Bachelor's degree or more |
Total |
11.3 |
44.3 |
7.3 |
27.0 |
9.7 |
Men |
12.4 |
46.6 |
8.5 |
25.2 |
6.9 |
Women |
10.2 |
41.9 |
5.9 |
29.1 |
12.8 |
White, non-Hispanic |
9.0 |
43.3 |
7.1 |
29.0 |
11.5 |
Black, non-Hispanic |
17.3 |
47.3 |
10.3 |
20.3 |
4.2 |
Hispanic or Latino |
17.2 |
49.5 |
5.9 |
22.9 |
3.8 |
Source: National Longitudinal Surveys | Chart
Time to Sleep, Learn, and Play
Time use on an average weekday for full-time university and college students during the traditional school year (September through May), 2005–09
| Activity |
Hours |
Total |
24.0 |
Sleeping |
8.4 |
Educational activities |
3.6 |
Leisure and sports |
3.5 |
Work and work-related |
2.9 |
Traveling |
1.5 |
Eating and drinking |
1.0 |
Grooming |
0.8 |
Other |
2.3 |
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NOTE: Data include individuals, ages 15 to 49, who were enrolled full time at a university or college. Data include non-holiday weekdays and are averages for the traditional school year (September through May) 2005–09.
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Source: American Time Use Survey | Chart
Around the World
College or university degree attainment of the adult population, selected countries, 2007
| Country |
Percent with college or university degree |
Italy |
13 |
Portugal |
14 |
Mexico |
15 |
Austria |
18 |
Germany |
24 |
France |
27 |
Spain |
29 |
Sweden |
31 |
Netherlands |
31 |
United Kingdom |
32 |
Ireland |
32 |
Denmark |
32 |
Norway |
34 |
Australia |
34 |
Korea, Rep. of |
35 |
United States |
40 |
New Zealand |
41 |
Japan |
41 |
Canada |
48 |
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NOTE: The adult population is defined as persons ages 25 to 64.
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Source: International Labor Comparisons | Chart
The Price of Tuition
12-month percentage change, college tution and fees, and all items, 1979–2009
| Year |
College
tuition
and fees |
All items |
1979 |
8.0 |
11.3 |
1980 |
9.4 |
13.5 |
1981 |
12.4 |
10.3 |
1982 |
13.4 |
6.2 |
1983 |
10.4 |
3.2 |
1984 |
10.2 |
4.3 |
1985 |
9.1 |
3.6 |
1986 |
8.1 |
1.9 |
1987 |
7.6 |
3.6 |
1988 |
7.6 |
4.1 |
1989 |
7.9 |
4.8 |
1990 |
8.1 |
5.4 |
1991 |
10.2 |
4.2 |
1992 |
10.7 |
3.0 |
1993 |
9.4 |
3.0 |
1994 |
7.0 |
2.6 |
1995 |
6.0 |
2.8 |
1996 |
5.7 |
3.0 |
1997 |
5.1 |
2.3 |
1998 |
4.2 |
1.6 |
1999 |
4.0 |
2.2 |
2000 |
4.1 |
3.4 |
2001 |
5.1 |
2.8 |
2002 |
6.8 |
1.6 |
2003 |
8.4 |
2.3 |
2004 |
9.5 |
2.7 |
2005 |
7.5 |
3.4 |
2006 |
6.7 |
3.2 |
2007 |
6.2 |
2.8 |
2008 |
6.2 |
3.8 |
2009 |
6.0 |
-0.4 |
Source: Consumer Price Index | Chart
College and University Employment Increasing ...
Employment in colleges and universities, and percentage of total nonfarm employment in colleges and universities, 1958–2009
| Year |
State
government, education |
Colleges and universities (private sector) |
Colleges and universities, total |
Total employment (all industries) |
Colleges and universities percentage of total nonfarm employment |
1958 |
388,800 |
379,400 |
768,200 |
51,426,000 |
1.49 |
1959 |
419,800 |
393,900 |
813,700 |
53,374,000 |
1.52 |
1960 |
447,500 |
402,200 |
849,700 |
54,296,000 |
1.56 |
1961 |
474,200 |
424,100 |
898,300 |
54,105,000 |
1.66 |
1962 |
510,500 |
453,700 |
964,200 |
55,659,000 |
1.73 |
1963 |
557,100 |
471,800 |
1,028,900 |
56,764,000 |
1.81 |
1964 |
608,800 |
496,100 |
1,104,900 |
58,391,000 |
1.89 |
1965 |
679,100 |
512,800 |
1,191,900 |
60,874,000 |
1.96 |
1966 |
775,100 |
531,600 |
1,306,700 |
64,020,000 |
2.04 |
1967 |
873,400 |
553,100 |
1,426,500 |
65,931,000 |
2.16 |
1968 |
958,000 |
583,300 |
1,541,300 |
68,023,000 |
2.27 |
1969 |
1,042,100 |
601,700 |
1,643,800 |
70,512,000 |
2.33 |
1970 |
1,104,400 |
600,500 |
1,704,900 |
71,006,000 |
2.40 |
1971 |
1,148,700 |
596,800 |
1,745,500 |
71,335,000 |
2.45 |
1972 |
1,187,700 |
600,300 |
1,788,000 |
73,798,000 |
2.42 |
1973 |
1,205,200 |
606,600 |
1,811,800 |
76,912,000 |
2.36 |
1974 |
1,266,800 |
614,800 |
1,881,600 |
78,389,000 |
2.40 |
1975 |
1,322,700 |
633,900 |
1,956,600 |
77,069,000 |
2.54 |
1976 |
1,371,300 |
651,300 |
2,022,600 |
79,502,000 |
2.54 |
1977 |
1,385,200 |
661,900 |
2,047,100 |
82,593,000 |
2.48 |
1978 |
1,367,200 |
676,000 |
2,043,200 |
86,826,000 |
2.35 |
1979 |
1,378,300 |
675,400 |
2,053,700 |
89,932,000 |
2.28 |
1980 |
1,397,900 |
684,600 |
2,082,500 |
90,528,000 |
2.30 |
1981 |
1,420,200 |
706,600 |
2,126,800 |
91,289,000 |
2.33 |
1982 |
1,432,600 |
709,500 |
2,142,100 |
89,677,000 |
2.39 |
1983 |
1,450,100 |
722,800 |
2,172,900 |
90,280,000 |
2.41 |
1984 |
1,488,000 |
743,500 |
2,231,500 |
94,530,000 |
2.36 |
1985 |
1,539,900 |
805,000 |
2,344,900 |
97,511,000 |
2.40 |
1986 |
1,560,900 |
858,300 |
2,419,200 |
99,474,000 |
2.43 |
1987 |
1,586,200 |
860,500 |
2,446,700 |
102,088,000 |
2.40 |
1988 |
1,620,500 |
915,600 |
2,536,100 |
105,345,000 |
2.41 |
1989 |
1,668,100 |
942,700 |
2,610,800 |
108,014,000 |
2.42 |
1990 |
1,729,900 |
939,000 |
2,668,900 |
109,487,000 |
2.44 |
1991 |
1,767,600 |
965,500 |
2,733,100 |
108,375,000 |
2.52 |
1992 |
1,798,600 |
941,000 |
2,739,600 |
108,726,000 |
2.52 |
1993 |
1,834,100 |
940,000 |
2,774,100 |
110,844,000 |
2.50 |
1994 |
1,881,900 |
1,017,100 |
2,899,000 |
114,291,000 |
2.54 |
1995 |
1,919,000 |
1,082,800 |
3,001,800 |
117,298,000 |
2.56 |
1996 |
1,910,700 |
1,104,100 |
3,014,800 |
119,708,000 |
2.52 |
1997 |
1,904,000 |
1,131,700 |
3,035,700 |
122,776,000 |
2.47 |
1998 |
1,922,200 |
1,161,400 |
3,083,600 |
125,930,000 |
2.45 |
1999 |
1,983,200 |
1,188,100 |
3,171,300 |
128,993,000 |
2.46 |
2000 |
2,030,600 |
1,196,300 |
3,226,900 |
131,785,000 |
2.45 |
2001 |
2,112,900 |
1,258,200 |
3,371,100 |
131,826,000 |
2.56 |
2002 |
2,242,800 |
1,339,100 |
3,581,900 |
130,341,000 |
2.75 |
2003 |
2,254,700 |
1,361,000 |
3,615,700 |
129,999,000 |
2.78 |
2004 |
2,238,100 |
1,373,700 |
3,611,800 |
131,435,000 |
2.75 |
2005 |
2,259,900 |
1,393,400 |
3,653,300 |
133,703,000 |
2.73 |
2006 |
2,292,500 |
1,445,600 |
3,738,100 |
136,086,000 |
2.75 |
2007 |
2,317,500 |
1,482,600 |
3,800,100 |
137,598,000 |
2.76 |
2008 |
2,354,400 |
1,518,300 |
3,872,700 |
136,790,000 |
2.83 |
2009 |
2,370,500 |
1,553,700 |
3,924,200 |
130,920,000 |
3.00 |
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NOTE: Employment in colleges and universities is the sum of private sector employment in colleges and universities and State government employment in education. Federal and local government college and university employment, which is relatively small, is not included. State employment in education may include some employees that are not employed in colleges and universities.
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Source: Current Employment Statistics | Chart
... And Expected to Continue Increasing
Employment and employment change, postsecondary teachers and all occupations, 2008–2018
| Occupation |
Employment, 2008 |
Projected employment, 2018 |
Projected employment change, 2008–2018 |
Percent change, 2008–2018 |
Postsecondary teachers |
1,699,200 |
1,956,100 |
256,900 |
15.1 |
Total, all occupations |
150,931,700 |
166,205,600 |
15,273,900 |
10.1 |
Source: Employment Projections | Chart
College Compensation Costs
Cost of compensation (per hour worked) for wages, salaries, and benefits in junior colleges, colleges, universities and professional schools, civilian sector, 1st quarter 2010
| Compensation component |
Cost per hour |
Percent of total |
Total compensation |
$44.82 |
100.0 |
Wages and salaries |
$31.12 |
69.4 |
Insurance plans |
$4.18 |
9.3 |
Paid leave |
$3.76 |
8.4 |
Retirement and savings |
$2.86 |
6.4 |
Legally required benefits |
$2.77 |
6.2 |
Supplemental pay |
$0.14 |
0.3 |
Source: National Compensation Survey | Chart
Professor Pay
Mean annual earnings and employment of selected postsecondary teachers in colleges and universities, May 2009
| Postsecondary teaching occupation |
Mean annual earnings |
Employment |
Health Specialties Teachers |
$103,340 |
133,070 |
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers |
$68,230 |
80,790 |
Business Teachers |
$83,840 |
73,790 |
English Language and Literature Teachers |
$65,860 |
65,490 |
Education Teachers |
$62,160 |
56,880 |
Biological Science Teachers |
$87,220 |
54,810 |
Nursing Instructors and Teachers |
$65,240 |
49,140 |
Mathematical Science Teachers |
$70,550 |
48,100 |
Engineering Teachers |
$92,970 |
34,270 |
Psychology Teachers |
$72,140 |
33,450 |
Computer Science Teachers |
$75,860 |
32,240 |
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers |
$63,300 |
27,020 |
Communications Teachers |
$65,190 |
25,090 |
History Teachers |
$69,280 |
21,810 |
Chemistry Teachers |
$77,350 |
20,370 |
Philosophy and Religion Teachers |
$67,610 |
19,630 |
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers |
$60,580 |
16,850 |
Sociology Teachers |
$71,970 |
16,380 |
Political Science Teachers |
$76,990 |
15,180 |
Physics Teachers |
$83,320 |
12,870 |
Economics Teachers |
$89,320 |
12,860 |
Law Teachers |
$109,150 |
12,690 |
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers |
$62,750 |
12,610 |
Agricultural Sciences Teachers |
$80,790 |
10,230 |
Source: Occupational Employment Statistics | Chart
Worker Safety
Incidence rates of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work, colleges, universities, and professional schools & private industry, 2008
| Event or exposure |
Colleges, universities, and professional schools |
Private industry |
Total |
64.5 |
113.3 |
Fall on same level |
13.4 |
16.6 |
Contact with object, equipment |
13.2 |
30.7 |
Overexertion |
13.2 |
26.4 |
Fall to lower level |
5.7 |
7.1 |
Slips, trips |
3.3 |
3.7 |
Exposed to harmful substance |
3.1 |
4.8 |
Repetitive motion |
2.5 |
3.2 |
Transportation accidents |
2.1 |
5.1 |
Assault, violent act |
0.9 |
2.4 |
Fires, explosions |
-- |
0.2 |
All other |
6.9 |
13.1 |
Source: Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities | Chart
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