Skip Navigation
Digest of Education Statistics
2023 Tables and Figures All Years of Tables and Figures Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest


Table 504.10.Labor force status of recent high school completers, by selected characteristics: October 2020, 2021, and 2022
[Standard errors appear in parentheses]
Selected characteristicsTotal number of high school completers (in thousands)Percent of high school completersPercentage distribution of all high school completersLabor force participation rate of all high school completers1High school completers in civilian labor force2High school completers not in labor force (in thousands)
Separately for those enrolled in college vs. those not enrolled3For all high school completersEmployedUnemployed (seeking employment)Not in labor forceNumber (in thousands)Unemployment rate
Total, all completers in labor forceEmployedUnemployed (seeking employment)
12345678910111213
2020 high school completers4
   Total3,118(106.3)(†)100.0(†)38.0(1.82)7.7(0.90)54.2(1.96)45.8(1.96)1,427(79.0)1,186(69.8)241(29.6)16.9(1.82)1,691(82.6)
Male1,581(76.4)(†)50.7(1.68)36.7(2.31)7.8(1.38)55.5(2.43)44.5(2.43)703(51.6)580(45.9)123(22.7)17.5(2.87)878(56.5)
Female1,537(72.5)(†)49.3(1.68)39.4(2.53)7.7(1.29)52.9(2.77)47.1(2.77)724(52.4)605(45.5)118(20.9)16.3(2.51)813(59.3)
 
Black401(39.1)(†)12.9(1.12)25.5(4.69)7.2!(2.98)67.3(5.15)32.7(5.15)131(25.1)(†)(†)22.0!(8.42)270(31.9)
Hispanic764(55.3)(†)24.5(1.51)39.6(3.89)11.9(2.36)48.6(4.29)51.4(4.29)393(43.5)302(37.7)(†)23.1(4.10)371(42.5)
White1,669(73.1)(†)53.5(1.77)42.5(2.63)6.2(1.15)51.3(2.70)48.7(2.70)813(56.2)710(52.4)103(19.8)12.7(2.27)856(59.7)
 
Enrolled in college, 20201,955(86.5)100.0(†)62.7(1.76)28.4(2.24)4.6(0.89)67.0(2.34)33.0(2.34)645(53.7)556(49.3)(†)13.8(2.57)1,310(73.8)
  Male938(56.9)48.0(2.07)30.1(1.49)24.6(2.84)3.1!(0.97)72.3(2.97)27.7(2.97)260(31.1)231(29.4)(†)11.2(3.33)678(50.9)
  Female1,017(61.2)52.0(2.07)32.6(1.64)32.0(3.00)5.9(1.49)62.1(3.26)37.9(3.26)386(40.0)326(35.0)(†)15.6(3.60)632(50.6)
 
  2-year621(57.1)31.7(2.48)19.9(1.71)42.3(3.91)8.4(2.15)49.3(3.97)50.7(3.97)315(37.5)263(34.4)(†)16.6(4.04)306(37.9)
  4-year1,335(73.6)68.3(2.48)42.8(1.86)22.0(2.42)2.8!(0.94)75.2(2.52)24.8(2.52)331(37.4)294(34.5)(†)11.2!(3.61)1,004(66.2)
 
  Full-time students1,819(84.3)93.0(1.13)58.3(1.84)26.2(2.26)4.3(0.90)69.6(2.34)30.4(2.34)553(49.0)476(45.6)(†)14.0(2.84)1,266(73.0)
  Part-time students136(22.5)7.0(1.13)4.4(0.71)58.9(8.94)(†)32.5(8.84)67.5(8.84)(†)(†)(†)(†)(†)
 
  Black230(31.3)11.8(1.51)7.4(0.98)15.9!(5.36)(†)81.1(5.82)18.9!(5.82)(†)(†)(†)(†)187(27.8)
  Hispanic429(44.0)22.0(1.94)13.8(1.28)34.8(4.97)7.4!(3)57.8(5.32)42.2(5.32)181(31.0)149(27.6)(†)17.5!(6.22)248(32.1)
  White1,085(64.6)55.5(2.35)34.8(1.76)30.8(2.96)3.5!(1.07)65.7(3.07)34.3(3.07)372(38.4)334(36.0)(†)10.3(2.99)713(56.0)
 
Not enrolled in college, 20201,162(67.4)100.0(†)37.3(1.76)54.2(3.02)13.1(1.91)32.8(2.91)67.2(2.91)781(52.5)629(48.0)152(23.3)19.5(2.73)381(42.7)
  Male643(51.7)55.3(2.98)20.6(1.50)54.3(4.14)14.6(2.89)31.0(3.83)69.0(3.83)444(39.5)349(35.2)(†)21.2(4.01)200(31.6)
  Female519(45.1)44.7(2.98)16.7(1.35)53.9(3.99)11.2(2.71)34.9(4.08)65.1(4.08)338(34.9)280(30.9)(†)17.2(3.92)181(27.3)
 
  Black171(27.7)14.7(2.16)5.5(0.84)38.5(8.01)12.9!(5.99)48.6(7.93)51.4(7.93)(†)(†)(†)(†)(†)
  Hispanic335(38.3)28.8(2.60)10.7(1.19)45.7(5.95)17.6(4.27)36.7(6.05)63.3(6.05)212(30.3)153(25.7)(†)27.8(6.21)123(25.6)
  White584(43.6)50.3(3.03)18.7(1.34)64.4(3.77)11.1(2.34)24.6(3.44)75.4(3.44)441(38.0)376(35.3)(†)14.7(3.04)143(23.1)
 
2021 high school completers4
   Total2,731(98.1)(†)100.0(†)38.8(2.27)7.3(1.10)53.9(2.39)46.1(2.39)1,258(80.1)1,060(72.7)199(31.3)15.8(2.24)1,473(84.2)
Male1,444(75.9)(†)52.9(1.89)40.6(2.84)7.6(1.42)51.8(2.92)48.2(2.92)696(56.4)586(52.1)110(21.3)15.8(2.81)748(57.6)
Female1,287(67.0)(†)47.1(1.89)36.8(3.08)6.9(1.47)56.3(3.39)43.7(3.39)562(51.6)474(46.2)(‡)15.8(3.07)725(59.1)
 
Black375(39.3)(†)13.7(1.36)28.6(5.30)4.6!(1.81)66.8(5.31)33.2(5.31)125(25.3)(‡)(‡)14.0!(5.50)250(30.8)
Hispanic626(52.3)(†)22.9(1.75)40.0(3.90)12.1(2.83)47.9(4.37)52.1(4.37)326(38.8)251(30.9)(‡)23.2(4.82)300(37.0)
White1,459(70.1)(†)53.4(2.04)43.4(3.01)5.1(1.30)51.5(2.97)48.5(2.97)708(54.7)633(53.0)(‡)10.5(2.62)751(56.6)
 
Enrolled in college, 20211,688(79.8)(†)61.8(1.86)30.4(2.79)2.8(0.80)66.8(2.82)33.2(2.82)560(51.6)513(49.9)(‡)8.5(2.41)1,128(76.1)
  Male793(55.1)47.0(2.41)29.0(1.67)31.4(3.78)3.4!(1.33)65.1(3.99)34.9(3.99)276(38.3)249(36.1)(‡)9.9!(3.67)517(46.2)
  Female895(59.2)53.0(2.41)32.8(1.85)29.4(3.57)2.3!(0.98)68.3(3.60)31.7(3.60)284(34.0)263(33.2)(‡)7.2!(3.06)611(56.8)
 
  2-year506(45.0)30.0(2.38)18.5(1.50)44.9(5.10)(‡)52.3(5.17)47.7(5.17)242(34.8)228(33.3)(‡)(‡)265(34.5)
  4-year1,182(72.5)70.0(2.38)43.3(2.10)24.1(3.10)2.9!(1)73.0(3.11)27.0(3.11)319(40.9)285(40.1)(‡)10.6!(3.50)863(66.1)
 
  Full-time students1,533(77.0)90.8(1.52)56.1(1.90)28.3(2.83)2.8(1)68.9(2.85)31.1(2.85)477(47.3)433(45.8)(‡)9.0(2.68)1,057(73.0)
  Part-time students155(26.8)9.2(1.52)5.7(0.96)51.1(8.85)(‡)45.9(8.96)54.1(8.96)(‡)(‡)(‡)(‡)(‡)
 
  Black222(30.3)13.2(1.71)8.1(1.06)18.0(5.37)(‡)78.6(5.98)21.4(5.98)(‡)(‡)(‡)(‡)175(28.3)
  Hispanic367(41.2)21.7(2.23)13.4(1.46)38.6(5.35)(‡)59.4(5.52)40.6(5.52)149(25.5)142(24.2)(‡)(‡)218(32.9)
  White909(57.8)53.8(2.54)33.3(1.83)33.1(3.69)(‡)65.1(3.71)34.9(3.71)317(38.2)301(37.4)(‡)(‡)591(51.7)
 
Not enrolled in college, 20211,044(62.8)100.0(†)38.2(1.86)52.4(3.40)14.5(2.48)33.1(3.36)66.9(3.36)698(57.8)547(50.7)151(27.9)21.6(3.47)345(38.7)
  Male651(51.8)62.4(2.96)23.8(1.66)51.8(4.30)12.7(2.63)35.6(4.11)64.4(4.11)420(43.1)337(39.2)(‡)19.7(3.97)232(32.3)
  Female392(37.7)37.6(2.96)14.4(1.30)53.6(5.56)17.4(4.53)29.0(5.24)71.0(5.24)279(37.1)210(31.6)(‡)24.5(5.98)114(21.3)
 
  Black153(27.8)14.6(2.50)5.6(1.00)44.0(9.77)6.4!(2.58)49.6(9.38)50.4(9.38)(‡)(‡)(‡)(‡)(‡)
  Hispanic259(36.2)24.9(3.14)9.5(1.26)42.0(5.86)26.4(6.04)31.6(6.24)68.4(6.24)177(33.0)(‡)(‡)38.6(7.54)(‡)
  White550(47.9)52.7(3.56)20.1(1.67)60.4(4.69)10.6(2.99)29.0(3.90)71.0(3.90)391(41.1)332(38.9)(‡)15.0(4.19)159(25.1)
 
2022 high school completers4
   Total2,987(104.7)(†)100.0(†)38.8(2.04)7.0(1.08)54.2(2.26)45.8(2.26)1,367(79.9)1,159(70.1)208(33.3)15.2(2.15)1,620(90.6)
Male1,355(67.3)(†)45.4(1.67)39.2(2.84)7.6(1.58)53.2(2.96)46.8(2.96)634(47.8)531(44.6)(‡)16.3(3.19)721(56.7)
Female1,632(77.4)(†)54.6(1.67)38.5(2.73)6.4(1.43)55.1(3.04)44.9(3.04)733(62.9)628(54.2)(‡)14.3(2.90)899(62.6)
 
Black391(44.1)(†)13.1(1.34)32.9(5.60)10.7!(3.83)56.5(5.94)43.5(5.94)170(30.2)(‡)(‡)24.5!(8.01)221(33.7)
Hispanic620(50.4)(†)20.8(1.41)36.7(4.16)5.1!(1.87)58.2(4.33)41.8(4.33)259(32.3)228(30.2)(‡)12.2!(4.26)361(41.8)
White1,675(61.9)(†)56.1(1.67)41.7(2.84)6.0(1.32)52.3(2.91)47.7(2.91)799(58.0)698(54.2)(‡)12.6(2.67)877(57.4)
 
Enrolled in college, 20221,853(90.3)100.0(†)62.0(2.06)27.9(2.33)3.5(0.94)68.6(2.45)31.4(2.45)582(49.5)517(46.4)(‡)11.1(2.84)1,271(82.3)
  Male775(59.9)41.8(2.27)26.0(1.74)26.6(3.55)4.3!(1.45)69.0(3.65)31.0(3.65)240(32.9)206(31.5)(‡)14.0!(4.58)535(51.5)
  Female1,078(63.0)58.2(2.27)36.1(1.72)28.9(3.07)2.9!(1.20)68.3(3.31)31.7(3.31)342(40.5)311(37.3)(‡)9.1!(3.54)735(56.7)
 
  2-year504(43.7)27.2(2.15)16.9(1.38)35.2(4.95)5.8!(2.39)58.9(5.19)41.1(5.19)207(31.5)178(28.8)(‡)14.2!(5.47)297(36.9)
  4-year1,348(81.4)72.8(2.15)45.1(2.12)25.2(2.55)2.6!(0.91)72.2(2.73)27.8(2.73)375(42.2)340(39.7)(‡)9.4!(3.09)973(71.0)
 
  Full-time students1,758(90.6)94.9(1.05)58.9(2.15)26.3(2.26)2.9(0.85)70.7(2.32)29.3(2.32)514(45.8)463(43.9)(‡)10.1(2.82)1,244(80.0)
  Part-time students(‡)5.1(1.05)3.2(0.64)(‡)(‡)(‡)(‡)(‡)(‡)(‡)(‡)(‡)
 
  Black238(37.2)12.8(1.82)8.0(1.16)23.6(6.76)(‡)75.5(6.79)24.5(6.79)(‡)(‡)(‡)(‡)180(33.1)
  Hispanic360(40.7)19.4(1.86)12.1(1.25)28.2(5.15)(‡)70.2(5.05)29.8(5.05)(‡)(‡)(‡)(‡)253(36.2)
  White1,072(55.9)57.9(2.33)35.9(1.73)29.1(3.32)4.9!(1.48)66.0(3.42)34.0(3.42)365(42.7)312(39.4)(‡)14.4(4.19)707(49.8)
 
Not enrolled in college, 20221,134(72.4)100.0(†)38.0(2.06)56.5(3.09)12.7(2.21)30.8(3.14)69.2(3.14)785(64.1)641(56.3)144(26.8)18.3(3.00)349(39.9)
  Male580(46.6)51.1(3.06)19.4(1.48)56.0(4.32)12.0(3.13)32.0(4.26)68.0(4.26)394(41.2)324(37.9)(‡)17.7(4.33)186(28.0)
  Female554(53.6)48.9(3.06)18.6(1.63)57.1(4.32)13.3(3.17)29.5(4.42)70.5(4.42)391(46.6)317(38.9)(‡)18.9(4.19)164(27.8)
 
  Black153(29.1)13.5(2.33)5.1(0.97)47.3(10.01)25.8!(8.67)26.9!(8.09)73.1(8.09)(‡)(‡)(‡)(‡)(‡)
  Hispanic261(34.3)23.0(2.64)8.7(1.08)48.5(6.20)9.9!(4.05)41.7(6.55)58.3(6.55)152(26.9)126(23.7)(‡)17.0!(6.44)(‡)
  White603(51.7)53.2(3.18)20.2(1.66)64.0(4.42)7.9(2.29)28.1(4.16)71.9(4.16)434(47.0)386(44.7)(‡)11.0(3.16)169(27.3)
†Not applicable.
!Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 and 50 percent.
‡Reporting standards not met. Either there are too few cases for a reliable estimate or the coefficient of variation (CV) is 50 percent or greater.
1The labor force participation rate is the percentage of persons who are either employed or seeking employment.
2The labor force includes all employed persons plus those seeking employment. The unemployment rate is the percentage of persons in the labor force who are not working and who made specific efforts to find employment sometime during the prior 4 weeks.
3Does not present any percentages that apply to all high school completers; instead presents one set of percentages for only those completers who were enrolled in college and a second set of percentages for only those completers who were not enrolled in college.
4Includes 16- to 24-year-olds who completed high school between January and October of the given year. Includes recipients of equivalency credentials as well as diploma recipients.
NOTE: Data are for October of a given year. Data are based on sample surveys of the civilian noninstitutionalized population, which excludes persons in the military and persons living in institutions (e.g., prisons or nursing facilities). Standard errors were computed using replicate weights. Totals include race categories not separately shown. Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October, 2020, 2021, and 2022. (This table was prepared July 2023.)

2023 Tables and Figures All Years of Tables and Figures Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest