- Surveys & Programs
- Data & Tools
- Fast Facts
- News & Events
- Publications & Products
- About Us
 |
| 2015 Tables and Figures | All Years of Tables and Figures | Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest |
 Previous Page |
Download Excel  (68KB) |
| Table 501.80. | Unemployment rates of persons 16 to 64 years old, by age group and highest level of educational attainment: Selected years, 1975 through 2015 |
| [Standard errors appear in parentheses] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age group and highest level of educational attainment | 1975 | 1980 | 1985 | 1990 | 1995 | 2000 | 2005 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 to 19 years old, all education levels1 |
— | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 17.0 | (1.83) | 21.0 | (2.06) | 17.2 | (1.89) | 22.8 | (1.39) | 20.9 | (1.36) | 30.3 | (1.58) | 31.9 | (1.59) | 28.8 | (1.62) | 30.6 | (1.57) | 29.4 | (1.57) | 22.9 | (1.83) | 22.5 | (1.35) | |||||||||||||||
| Less than high school completion | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 26.2 | (3.54) | 30.3 | (3.67) | 21.4 | (3.23) | 30.3 | (2.34) | 30.8 | (2.40) | 38.9 | (3.05) | 41.7 | (3.14) | 35.1 | (3.42) | 41.1 | (3.01) | 36.3 | (2.70) | 22.9 | (3.38) | 25.6 | (2.67) | |||||||||||||||
| High school completion2 | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 11.7 | (2.05) | 15.1 | (2.59) | 15.3 | (2.54) | 19.1 | (2.02) | 17.2 | (1.62) | 29.1 | (1.80) | 29.6 | (2.08) | 28.9 | (2.18) | 28.7 | (2.00) | 29.2 | (2.12) | 25.0 | (2.32) | 23.3 | (1.90) | |||||||||||||||
| At least some college | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | ‡ | (†) | 12.4 | ! | (5.19) | ‡ | (†) | 15.8 | (3.54) | 11.3 | (2.99) | 18.1 | (3.68) | 18.1 | (3.65) | 16.2 | (3.55) | 19.6 | (3.83) | 16.2 | (3.32) | 15.1 | (4.16) | 13.2 | (2.96) | ||||||||||||||
| 20 to 24 years old, all education levels1 |
— | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 8.2 | (0.63) | 10.7 | (0.72) | 9.2 | (0.70) | 10.9 | (0.48) | 10.7 | (0.43) | 17.0 | (0.62) | 18.8 | (0.66) | 18.1 | (0.60) | 15.5 | (0.55) | 15.2 | (0.62) | 14.9 | (0.70) | 12.3 | (0.53) | |||||||||||||||
| Less than high school completion | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 17.4 | (2.15) | 19.5 | (2.37) | 16.6 | (2.18) | 18.9 | (1.24) | 19.2 | (1.66) | 29.0 | (1.69) | 32.3 | (1.80) | 30.1 | (1.95) | 27.6 | (2.12) | 29.2 | (2.27) | 25.3 | (2.75) | 19.9 | (1.99) | |||||||||||||||
| High school completion2 | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 7.8 | (0.88) | 12.0 | (1.18) | 10.0 | (1.12) | 12.0 | (0.73) | 13.0 | (0.70) | 20.3 | (1.05) | 22.3 | (0.95) | 21.6 | (1.02) | 18.3 | (0.96) | 17.5 | (0.91) | 18.9 | (1.18) | 15.8 | (0.92) | |||||||||||||||
| Some college, no bachelor's degree3 |
— | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 4.8 | (1.09) | 7.3 | (1.13) | 5.2 | (1.02) | 7.3 | (0.76) | 6.8 | (0.67) | 12.1 | (0.94) | 14.2 | (1.07) | 14.0 | (0.98) | 12.7 | (0.89) | 12.2 | (1.02) | 12.2 | (1.16) | 9.6 | (0.89) | |||||||||||||||
| Bachelor's or higher degree | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 3.1 | ! | (1.12) | 4.1 | ! | (1.26) | 5.0 | (1.43) | 5.4 | (0.91) | 4.5 | (0.78) | 7.9 | (1.02) | 7.9 | (1.15) | 8.7 | (1.05) | 6.0 | (0.95) | 7.0 | (1.09) | 6.7 | (1.09) | 5.1 | (0.72) | |||||||||||||
| 25 to 64 years old, all education levels |
6.8 | (0.21) | 5.0 | (0.17) | 6.1 | (0.18) | 3.6 | (0.14) | 4.8 | (0.15) | 3.3 | (0.13) | 4.4 | (0.09) | 4.4 | (0.09) | 8.1 | (0.12) | 9.1 | (0.13) | 8.3 | (0.13) | 7.4 | (0.11) | 6.6 | (0.12) | 5.8 | (0.14) | 4.7 | (0.10) | |||||||||||||||
| Less than high school completion | 10.5 | (0.49) | 8.4 | (0.48) | 11.4 | (0.61) | 7.7 | (0.55) | 10.0 | (0.66) | 7.9 | (0.63) | 9.0 | (0.36) | 10.1 | (0.44) | 15.8 | (0.54) | 16.8 | (0.54) | 16.2 | (0.55) | 14.3 | (0.49) | 12.7 | (0.46) | 10.6 | (0.63) | 9.2 | (0.44) | |||||||||||||||
| High school completion2 | 6.8 | (0.34) | 5.1 | (0.27) | 6.9 | (0.31) | 3.8 | (0.23) | 5.2 | (0.28) | 3.8 | (0.25) | 5.5 | (0.17) | 5.8 | (0.18) | 10.4 | (0.21) | 12.1 | (0.26) | 10.9 | (0.27) | 9.2 | (0.25) | 8.7 | (0.27) | 7.4 | (0.29) | 6.2 | (0.21) | |||||||||||||||
| Some college, no bachelor's degree3 |
5.5 | (0.50) | 4.3 | (0.38) | 4.7 | (0.37) | 3.1 | (0.29) | 4.5 | (0.29) | 3.0 | (0.24) | 4.2 | (0.17) | 4.2 | (0.17) | 8.0 | (0.22) | 8.8 | (0.23) | 8.1 | (0.20) | 7.9 | (0.24) | 6.5 | (0.21) | 6.1 | (0.27) | 4.9 | (0.16) | |||||||||||||||
| Bachelor's or higher degree | 2.4 | (0.30) | 1.9 | (0.23) | 2.4 | (0.24) | 1.7 | (0.19) | 2.5 | (0.21) | 1.5 | (0.16) | 2.3 | (0.13) | 2.1 | (0.11) | 4.3 | (0.15) | 4.7 | (0.15) | 4.4 | (0.15) | 4.1 | (0.14) | 3.8 | (0.13) | 3.4 | (0.16) | 2.4 | (0.11) | |||||||||||||||
| 25 to 34 years old, all education levels |
8.6 | (0.41) | 6.8 | (0.32) | 7.3 | (0.33) | 4.8 | (0.27) | 5.8 | (0.30) | 4.0 | (0.27) | 5.8 | (0.18) | 5.9 | (0.21) | 10.1 | (0.27) | 10.8 | (0.28) | 10.0 | (0.28) | 9.2 | (0.26) | 8.0 | (0.23) | 7.4 | (0.30) | 5.9 | (0.20) | |||||||||||||||
| Less than high school completion | 17.2 | (1.36) | 13.7 | (1.24) | 15.5 | (1.38) | 12.0 | (1.21) | 12.9 | (1.32) | 10.3 | (1.33) | 11.6 | (0.69) | 14.2 | (0.93) | 19.9 | (1.05) | 20.3 | (1.02) | 19.7 | (1.18) | 16.8 | (1.09) | 15.1 | (0.97) | 13.7 | (1.24) | 12.5 | (1.01) | |||||||||||||||
| High school completion2 | 9.4 | (0.67) | 7.9 | (0.55) | 9.1 | (0.57) | 5.1 | (0.44) | 6.8 | (0.56) | 4.8 | (0.54) | 7.7 | (0.41) | 8.5 | (0.49) | 14.1 | (0.57) | 15.9 | (0.62) | 14.3 | (0.55) | 12.8 | (0.57) | 12.1 | (0.57) | 10.5 | (0.68) | 8.9 | (0.50) | |||||||||||||||
| Some college, no bachelor's degree3 |
6.7 | (0.85) | 6.0 | (0.64) | 5.4 | (0.60) | 3.8 | (0.51) | 5.0 | (0.52) | 3.6 | (0.49) | 5.4 | (0.36) | 5.0 | (0.33) | 9.8 | (0.46) | 10.6 | (0.44) | 10.1 | (0.46) | 10.1 | (0.51) | 8.0 | (0.42) | 7.8 | (0.52) | 6.5 | (0.39) | |||||||||||||||
| Bachelor's or higher degree | 2.9 | (0.50) | 2.5 | (0.39) | 2.8 | (0.41) | 1.9 | (0.34) | 2.7 | (0.40) | 1.6 | (0.31) | 2.6 | (0.26) | 2.2 | (0.21) | 4.5 | (0.29) | 4.5 | (0.28) | 4.3 | (0.31) | 4.1 | (0.28) | 3.6 | (0.25) | 3.7 | (0.30) | 2.4 | (0.20) | |||||||||||||||
| 35 to 44 years old, all education levels |
6.4 | (0.41) | 4.3 | (0.31) | 5.6 | (0.33) | 3.3 | (0.24) | 4.6 | (0.27) | 3.5 | (0.23) | 4.2 | (0.14) | 4.3 | (0.17) | 7.9 | (0.18) | 9.2 | (0.24) | 8.2 | (0.23) | 7.1 | (0.22) | 6.4 | (0.19) | 5.7 | (0.24) | 4.4 | (0.17) | |||||||||||||||
| Less than high school completion | 11.2 | (1.02) | 9.0 | (1.00) | 12.4 | (1.29) | 8.3 | (1.17) | 10.5 | (1.28) | 8.4 | (1.14) | 8.7 | (0.63) | 9.1 | (0.79) | 15.3 | (0.87) | 17.8 | (1.07) | 15.9 | (1.04) | 14.1 | (0.88) | 11.5 | (0.80) | 11.5 | (1.08) | 8.4 | (0.74) | |||||||||||||||
| High school completion2 | 5.7 | (0.60) | 4.2 | (0.48) | 6.1 | (0.55) | 3.7 | (0.41) | 5.1 | (0.48) | 3.9 | (0.43) | 5.2 | (0.31) | 6.0 | (0.35) | 10.6 | (0.44) | 11.9 | (0.51) | 11.3 | (0.44) | 9.1 | (0.48) | 8.5 | (0.50) | 7.4 | (0.48) | 6.3 | (0.41) | |||||||||||||||
| Some college, no bachelor's degree3 |
4.6 | (0.95) | 3.1 | (0.64) | 4.8 | (0.69) | 2.8 | (0.47) | 4.7 | (0.49) | 3.1 | (0.41) | 3.9 | (0.25) | 3.8 | (0.27) | 7.2 | (0.36) | 9.2 | (0.42) | 7.5 | (0.39) | 7.4 | (0.44) | 6.7 | (0.40) | 6.1 | (0.49) | 4.5 | (0.31) | |||||||||||||||
| Bachelor's or higher degree | 2.3 | (0.59) | 1.6 | (0.41) | 2.2 | (0.39) | 1.6 | (0.31) | 2.2 | (0.34) | 1.8 | (0.31) | 2.0 | (0.19) | 1.9 | (0.17) | 4.2 | (0.26) | 4.6 | (0.26) | 4.6 | (0.29) | 3.6 | (0.26) | 3.6 | (0.23) | 2.8 | (0.30) | 2.1 | (0.20) | |||||||||||||||
| 45 to 54 years old, all education levels |
5.9 | (0.39) | 3.9 | (0.32) | 5.4 | (0.39) | 2.5 | (0.26) | 3.9 | (0.29) | 2.4 | (0.22) | 3.9 | (0.16) | 3.9 | (0.16) | 7.4 | (0.21) | 8.4 | (0.22) | 7.5 | (0.20) | 6.8 | (0.18) | 6.0 | (0.18) | 4.9 | (0.24) | 4.1 | (0.15) | |||||||||||||||
| Less than high school completion | 8.5 | (0.81) | 6.6 | (0.78) | 10.2 | (1.16) | 4.7 | (0.89) | 7.9 | (1.24) | 6.1 | (1.16) | 7.0 | (0.66) | 8.9 | (0.74) | 13.6 | (0.95) | 15.6 | (0.98) | 16.3 | (0.92) | 13.5 | (0.92) | 12.3 | (0.94) | 8.0 | (0.95) | 8.6 | (0.80) | |||||||||||||||
| High school completion2 | 5.6 | (0.60) | 3.4 | (0.48) | 5.4 | (0.60) | 2.3 | (0.39) | 4.0 | (0.53) | 2.7 | (0.42) | 4.6 | (0.33) | 4.7 | (0.34) | 8.8 | (0.42) | 11.0 | (0.43) | 9.3 | (0.42) | 7.8 | (0.36) | 7.8 | (0.40) | 6.1 | (0.50) | 5.2 | (0.34) | |||||||||||||||
| Some college, no bachelor's degree3 |
4.7 | (1.00) | 3.0 | (0.78) | 3.2 | (0.79) | 2.6 | (0.62) | 3.9 | (0.56) | 2.4 | (0.40) | 3.7 | (0.30) | 4.0 | (0.32) | 7.5 | (0.39) | 7.6 | (0.40) | 7.1 | (0.35) | 6.9 | (0.36) | 5.2 | (0.35) | 4.8 | (0.44) | 4.1 | (0.30) | |||||||||||||||
| Bachelor's or higher degree | 2.0 | ! | (0.61) | 1.3 | ! | (0.44) | 2.1 | (0.54) | 1.4 | (0.38) | 2.4 | (0.41) | 1.3 | (0.28) | 2.5 | (0.26) | 1.9 | (0.18) | 4.3 | (0.29) | 4.8 | (0.30) | 4.0 | (0.27) | 3.9 | (0.27) | 3.8 | (0.26) | 3.2 | (0.29) | 2.2 | (0.18) | |||||||||||||
| 55 to 64 years old, all education levels |
5.5 | (0.46) | 3.2 | (0.35) | 4.6 | (0.44) | 2.8 | (0.36) | 3.9 | (0.42) | 2.8 | (0.35) | 3.7 | (0.20) | 3.3 | (0.18) | 6.7 | (0.25) | 7.3 | (0.25) | 6.9 | (0.25) | 6.6 | (0.23) | 5.7 | (0.23) | 5.2 | (0.28) | 4.2 | (0.20) | |||||||||||||||
| Less than high school completion | 7.1 | (0.79) | 5.2 | (0.77) | 7.1 | (1.01) | 3.9 | (0.90) | 6.7 | (1.35) | 5.2 | (1.28) | 7.5 | (0.90) | 5.6 | (0.77) | 12.7 | (1.25) | 10.1 | (0.99) | 10.0 | (1.02) | 11.5 | (1.05) | 11.2 | (1.19) | 8.2 | (1.21) | 6.9 | (0.84) | |||||||||||||||
| High school completion2 | 5.1 | (0.76) | 2.7 | (0.51) | 4.5 | (0.69) | 3.0 | (0.59) | 3.4 | (0.65) | 3.1 | (0.62) | 4.3 | (0.39) | 3.4 | (0.35) | 7.8 | (0.50) | 9.3 | (0.56) | 8.4 | (0.58) | 7.1 | (0.50) | 6.4 | (0.47) | 5.6 | (0.53) | 4.4 | (0.38) | |||||||||||||||
| Some college, no bachelor's degree3 |
4.1 | ! | (1.26) | 2.0 | ! | (0.77) | 3.0 | ! | (1.00) | 2.2 | ! | (0.82) | 3.2 | (0.80) | 2.8 | (0.70) | 3.5 | (0.37) | 3.7 | (0.37) | 7.0 | (0.50) | 7.7 | (0.52) | 7.3 | (0.45) | 7.1 | (0.44) | 5.8 | (0.40) | 5.5 | (0.54) | 4.3 | (0.40) | |||||||||||
| Bachelor's or higher degree | 1.5 | ! | (0.75) | ‡ | (†) | 2.2 | ! | (0.70) | 1.8 | ! | (0.62) | 3.3 | (0.79) | 1.4 | ! | (0.46) | 2.3 | (0.30) | 2.4 | (0.26) | 4.3 | (0.33) | 5.0 | (0.34) | 4.9 | (0.35) | 4.8 | (0.38) | 4.2 | (0.29) | 4.0 | (0.39) | 3.3 | (0.30) | |||||||||||
| —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 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 Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), Annual Social and Economic Supplement, selected years, 1975 through 2015. (This table was prepared October 2015.) |
