Table 501.90.

Unemployment rates of females 16 to 64 years old, by age group and highest level of educational attainment: Selected years, 1975 through 2014

[Standard errors appear in parentheses]
Age group and highest level of educational attainment	1975			1980			1985			1990			1995			2000			2004			2005			2008			2009			2010			2011			2012			2013			2014
1	2			3			4			5			6			7			8			9			10			11			12			13			14			15			16
16 to 19 years old, all education
levels1	—		(†)	—		(†)	—		(†)	14.7		(2.39)	20.6		(2.93)	18.9		(2.85)	20.1		(2.38)	19.7		(1.86)	18.8		(2.01)	23.8		(2.10)	26.9		(2.14)	25.5		(2.45)	29.6		(2.48)	28.9		(2.31)	20.9		(2.54)
Less than high school completion	—		(†)	—		(†)	—		(†)	23.4		(5.31)	29.7		(5.57)	27.9		(5.53)	29.5		(4.63)	31.0		(3.88)	30.9		(4.44)	34.9		(4.60)	36.4		(4.75)	40.4		(5.78)	46.2		(5.08)	36.5		(4.27)	22.5		(4.49)
High school completion2	—		(†)	—		(†)	—		(†)	11.3		(2.64)	16.0		(3.69)	15.7		(3.66)	17.4		(3.07)	14.2		(2.34)	15.0		(2.09)	22.2		(2.59)	24.9		(3.03)	23.8		(2.91)	24.5		(3.01)	29.6		(3.16)	22.9		(3.54)
At least some college	—		(†)	—		(†)	—		(†)	‡		(†)	‡		(†)	‡		(†)	‡		(†)	18.3		(5.47)	14.2	!	(5.49)	14.0		(4.16)	17.3		(4.41)	11.8	!	(4.28)	18.7	!	(5.62)	15.2		(3.92)	12.9	!	(4.87)
20 to 24 years old, all education
levels1	—		(†)	—		(†)	—		(†)	7.8		(0.86)	10.2		(1.00)	8.9		(0.96)	11.0		(0.77)	10.3		(0.73)	9.7		(0.63)	13.5		(0.78)	15.6		(0.86)	16.0		(0.75)	14.1		(0.78)	13.4		(0.85)	12.4		(0.89)
Less than high school completion	—		(†)	—		(†)	—		(†)	18.6		(3.70)	24.3		(4.34)	17.0		(3.60)	18.5		(2.63)	24.5		(2.79)	21.6		(3.02)	28.4		(2.94)	32.2		(3.38)	36.3		(3.46)	27.3		(3.57)	34.9		(3.85)	29.3		(5.22)
High school completion2	—		(†)	—		(†)	—		(†)	8.1		(1.26)	12.7		(1.78)	10.6		(1.63)	12.6		(1.33)	11.5		(1.14)	12.5		(1.17)	16.6		(1.37)	19.9		(1.46)	19.5		(1.43)	17.1		(1.31)	15.1		(1.44)	15.8		(1.72)
Some college, no bachelor's      degree3	—		(†)	—		(†)	—		(†)	4.9		(1.43)	6.7		(1.43)	5.7		(1.42)	9.1		(1.34)	6.8		(1.01)	6.5		(0.94)	10.5		(1.18)	12.1		(1.33)	12.8		(1.27)	13.4		(1.28)	11.5		(1.36)	10.6		(1.41)
Bachelor's or higher degree	—		(†)	—		(†)	—		(†)	3.5	!	(1.47)	3.1	!	(1.35)	4.6	!	(1.70)	5.9		(1.26)	4.4		(1.05)	4.4		(1.01)	6.1		(1.13)	6.3		(1.29)	7.2		(1.27)	5.6		(1.14)	5.6		(1.01)	6.3		(1.38)
25 to 64 years old, all education
levels	7.3		(0.33)	5.0		(0.25)	6.0		(0.26)	3.7		(0.20)	4.4		(0.21)	3.2		(0.18)	4.7		(0.15)	4.2		(0.12)	4.0		(0.12)	6.6		(0.12)	7.5		(0.15)	7.2		(0.17)	6.8		(0.15)	6.3		(0.15)	5.7		(0.19)
Less than high school completion	10.8		(0.79)	8.9		(0.76)	11.7		(0.96)	8.3		(0.88)	8.6		(0.95)	9.1		(1.00)	12.2		(0.83)	10.9		(0.65)	8.5		(0.62)	14.5		(0.72)	15.0		(0.71)	15.2		(0.74)	15.4		(0.83)	14.1		(0.84)	12.7		(0.98)
High school completion2	7.1		(0.49)	5.0		(0.37)	6.5		(0.41)	3.9		(0.32)	4.6		(0.36)	3.6		(0.33)	5.2		(0.29)	4.8		(0.23)	5.1		(0.27)	7.9		(0.26)	9.8		(0.30)	9.1		(0.36)	8.1		(0.31)	8.1		(0.35)	6.8		(0.42)
Some college, no bachelor's      degree3	6.3		(0.84)	4.1		(0.54)	4.8		(0.53)	3.2		(0.40)	4.5		(0.38)	2.9		(0.31)	4.3		(0.26)	4.0		(0.22)	4.2		(0.21)	6.7		(0.27)	7.5		(0.27)	7.5		(0.27)	7.7		(0.30)	6.4		(0.26)	6.3		(0.36)
Bachelor's or higher degree	3.1		(0.57)	2.2		(0.39)	2.5		(0.36)	1.6		(0.27)	2.4		(0.30)	1.4		(0.22)	2.9		(0.21)	2.2		(0.17)	2.1		(0.15)	4.0		(0.19)	4.3		(0.19)	4.3		(0.21)	3.8		(0.19)	3.8		(0.19)	3.4		(0.22)
25 to 34 years old, all education
levels	9.1		(0.65)	6.8		(0.47)	7.3		(0.47)	5.1		(0.39)	5.7		(0.42)	3.9		(0.37)	5.7		(0.32)	5.6		(0.27)	5.3		(0.29)	8.0		(0.28)	8.7		(0.33)	8.6		(0.33)	8.2		(0.32)	7.5		(0.32)	7.3		(0.36)
Less than high school completion	17.0		(2.18)	14.2		(1.93)	18.5		(2.37)	15.1		(2.17)	13.7		(2.20)	12.9		(2.33)	15.6		(1.78)	15.7		(1.36)	12.8		(1.53)	21.5		(1.79)	19.5		(1.52)	20.8		(1.84)	22.0		(1.99)	19.3		(1.65)	19.1		(2.42)
High school completion2	10.0		(1.01)	7.6		(0.76)	8.6		(0.78)	5.7		(0.65)	6.9		(0.81)	4.8		(0.78)	7.5		(0.73)	7.6		(0.62)	8.7		(0.67)	10.8		(0.67)	12.6		(0.86)	12.9		(0.78)	11.6		(0.82)	12.5		(0.88)	11.1		(1.04)
Some college, no bachelor's       degree3	6.9		(1.38)	5.9		(0.94)	6.0		(0.88)	4.0		(0.72)	5.4		(0.73)	3.5		(0.63)	5.2		(0.56)	5.1		(0.46)	5.1		(0.45)	8.2		(0.56)	9.3		(0.57)	9.0		(0.61)	9.1		(0.59)	7.4		(0.57)	7.7		(0.68)
Bachelor's or higher degree	3.5		(0.88)	2.6		(0.60)	2.7		(0.57)	2.0		(0.47)	2.6		(0.53)	1.4		(0.39)	2.7		(0.38)	2.5		(0.31)	2.3		(0.29)	4.1		(0.37)	4.3		(0.35)	4.1		(0.35)	3.9		(0.38)	3.3		(0.33)	3.6		(0.38)
35 to 44 years old, all education
levels	7.1		(0.66)	4.7		(0.47)	5.4		(0.46)	3.5		(0.34)	4.3		(0.36)	3.7		(0.33)	4.9		(0.28)	3.9		(0.20)	3.8		(0.22)	6.4		(0.25)	8.2		(0.29)	7.4		(0.30)	6.5		(0.29)	6.6		(0.27)	5.6		(0.34)
Less than high school completion	11.9		(1.65)	10.0		(1.56)	12.7		(1.95)	8.9		(1.79)	8.4		(1.75)	11.3		(1.94)	13.1		(1.51)	10.1		(1.02)	7.7		(1.03)	13.0		(1.33)	16.7		(1.32)	16.1		(1.51)	15.2		(1.29)	13.6		(1.57)	14.9		(1.99)
High school completion2	5.7		(0.85)	4.1		(0.65)	5.7		(0.72)	4.0		(0.57)	4.5		(0.63)	3.6		(0.58)	5.1		(0.52)	4.5		(0.40)	5.3		(0.50)	8.4		(0.63)	10.5		(0.67)	9.6		(0.66)	8.3		(0.71)	8.1		(0.70)	6.2		(0.68)
Some college, no bachelor's       degree3	6.8		(1.76)	3.3		(0.97)	4.3		(0.91)	2.8		(0.64)	4.7		(0.66)	3.3		(0.57)	4.6		(0.49)	3.7		(0.36)	3.6		(0.35)	6.2		(0.46)	8.5		(0.51)	7.6		(0.56)	7.4		(0.54)	7.3		(0.53)	6.7		(0.70)
Bachelor's or higher degree	3.5	!	(1.29)	2.3	!	(0.76)	2.2		(0.61)	1.4	!	(0.42)	2.4		(0.52)	1.8		(0.44)	2.8		(0.38)	1.9		(0.26)	2.1		(0.24)	3.7		(0.35)	4.5		(0.35)	4.5		(0.41)	3.1		(0.31)	4.0		(0.35)	3.0		(0.40)
45 to 54 years old, all education
levels	6.5		(0.62)	4.1		(0.49)	5.3		(0.56)	2.3		(0.35)	3.1		(0.36)	2.4		(0.30)	4.2		(0.26)	3.6		(0.19)	3.5		(0.20)	6.1		(0.23)	6.8		(0.27)	6.7		(0.29)	6.5		(0.28)	5.6		(0.25)	4.9		(0.32)
Less than high school completion	9.0		(1.33)	7.6		(1.32)	9.2		(1.71)	4.7		(1.33)	5.8		(1.55)	5.1	!	(1.52)	10.1		(1.52)	8.2		(1.08)	7.3		(1.08)	12.7		(1.38)	13.6		(1.41)	15.8		(1.50)	13.1		(1.49)	12.1		(1.43)	6.7		(1.32)
High school completion2	6.3		(0.88)	3.6		(0.66)	5.4		(0.80)	1.8		(0.46)	2.7		(0.57)	3.0		(0.59)	4.3		(0.48)	4.0		(0.39)	3.7		(0.41)	6.6		(0.50)	9.0		(0.56)	8.0		(0.62)	6.7		(0.48)	6.4		(0.45)	6.1		(0.69)
Some college, no bachelor's       degree3	5.3	!	(1.61)	2.3	!	(0.99)	4.0	!	(1.23)	2.7	!	(0.89)	3.7		(0.73)	2.2		(0.52)	3.9		(0.46)	3.6		(0.41)	4.2		(0.40)	6.5		(0.47)	5.9		(0.43)	6.2		(0.43)	7.5		(0.57)	5.4		(0.44)	5.3		(0.64)
Bachelor's or higher degree	2.6	!	(1.18)	1.9	!	(0.90)	2.4	!	(0.92)	1.3	!	(0.56)	2.1		(0.57)	1.3	!	(0.39)	3.2		(0.41)	2.2		(0.33)	1.9		(0.24)	3.8		(0.34)	4.3		(0.36)	4.1		(0.40)	4.1		(0.38)	3.9		(0.38)	3.3		(0.40)
55 to 64 years old, all education
levels	5.4		(0.71)	2.5		(0.47)	4.5		(0.63)	2.2		(0.47)	3.3		(0.55)	2.4		(0.45)	3.6		(0.34)	3.4		(0.29)	3.2		(0.24)	5.6		(0.33)	6.0		(0.32)	5.9		(0.34)	6.0		(0.31)	5.4		(0.33)	4.7		(0.38)
Less than high school completion	7.3		(1.28)	3.7		(1.06)	6.7		(1.49)	2.9	!	(1.17)	5.3	!	(1.78)	4.8	!	(1.84)	8.1		(1.76)	8.6		(1.51)	5.6		(1.10)	9.7		(1.45)	8.0		(1.36)	4.8		(1.05)	10.8		(1.78)	10.5		(1.69)	9.8		(2.00)
High school completion2	4.6		(1.05)	2.6		(0.69)	4.5		(0.93)	2.2	!	(0.68)	3.2		(0.84)	2.8		(0.77)	3.8		(0.60)	3.3		(0.46)	2.9		(0.45)	6.3		(0.64)	7.5		(0.68)	6.7		(0.65)	6.5		(0.69)	6.0		(0.64)	4.6		(0.65)
Some college, no bachelor's       degree3	5.6	!	(2.23)	‡		(†)	‡		(†)	2.4	!	(1.15)	2.8	!	(1.00)	2.2	!	(0.84)	3.1		(0.59)	3.7		(0.54)	3.9		(0.51)	5.5		(0.63)	6.3		(0.65)	7.1		(0.66)	6.3		(0.58)	5.5		(0.50)	5.1		(0.68)
Bachelor's or higher degree	‡		(†)	‡		(†)	‡		(†)	‡		(†)	2.6	!	(1.16)	‡		(†)	2.6		(0.53)	1.9		(0.39)	2.3		(0.36)	4.3		(0.50)	4.1		(0.49)	4.4		(0.52)	4.4		(0.51)	4.0		(0.44)	3.6		(0.58)

—Not available.

†Not applicable.

!Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 and 50 percent.

‡Reporting standards not met. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is 50 percent or greater.

1 Data for 16- to 19-year-olds and 20- to 24-year-olds exclude persons enrolled in school.

2 Includes equivalency credentials, such as the General Educational Development (GED) credential.

3 Includes persons with no college degree as well as those with an associate's degree.

NOTE: The unemployment rate is the percentage of persons in the civilian labor force who are not working and who made specific efforts to find employment sometime during the prior 4 weeks. The civilian labor force consists of all civilians who are employed or seeking employment.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Employment and Unemployment Statistics, unpublished annual average data from the Current Population Survey (CPS), selected years, 1975 through 2014. (This table was prepared November 2014.)