For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Thursday, February 9, 2012 USDL-12-0216 

Technical information: (202) 691-7410 • nls_info@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/nls 

Media contact: (202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov 

AMERICA'S YOUNG ADULTS AT 24: SCHOOL ENROLLMENT, TRAINING, AND

EMPLOYMENT TRANSITIONS BETWEEN AGES 23 AND 24 

At age 24, a clear gender gap in educational attainment persists. While nearly 28 percent of women had 

received a bachelor’s degree by the October when they were age 24, only 19 percent of men had done 

so, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Additionally, nearly the same percentage of men 

and women (12 and 13 percent, respectively) were enrolled in college at age 24, so it is unlikely the gap 

in educational attainment will close. 

These findings are from the first 13 annual rounds of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997, 

which is a nationally representative survey of about 9,000 men and women who were born during the 

years 1980 to 1984. These respondents were ages 12 to 17 when first interviewed in 1997, and ages 24 

to 30 when interviewed for the 13th time in 2009-10. The survey provides information on work and 

nonwork experiences, training, schooling, income, assets, and other characteristics. The information 

provided by respondents is representative of all men and women born in the early 1980s and living in 

the United States when the survey began in 1997. 

This release focuses on the school enrollment and employment experiences of these individuals from the 

October when they were age 23 to the October when they were age 24. Respondents were age 23 in 

October during the years 2003 to 2008, and age 24 in October from 2004 to 2009. 

Highlights from the longitudinal survey include: 

 During the October when they were 24 years old, 19 percent of men had received a bachelor’s 

degree, compared with 28 percent of women. (See table 1 and chart 1.) 

 Among those who were enrolled in college when they were 23 years old, over one-fourth had 

received their bachelor’s degree by age 24, while 23 percent were no longer enrolled in college 

or training. Non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics or Latinos were less likely than non-Hispanic 

whites to have received a bachelor’s degree between ages 23 and 24. (See table 2.)

 Seven percent of male high school graduates who had never enrolled in college were in the U.S. 

Armed Forces during the October when they were age 24, as were 7 percent of the 24-year old 

men who had attended college but had not earned a bachelor’s degree and were no longer 

enrolled. Two percent of 24-year old men with a bachelor’s degree were serving in the Armed 

Forces. (See table 3.) 
- 2 - 

 Individuals born from 1980 to 1984 held an average of 5.4 jobs from age 18 to age 24. Those 

with more education held more jobs than those with less education. (See table 4.)

 High school graduates who had never enrolled in college were employed an average of 75 

percent of the weeks from age 18 to age 24. By comparison, those who had dropped out of high 

school were employed 55 percent of those weeks. (See table 4.) 

 By their 25th birthday, 6 percent of the young adults who had not received a high school diploma 

had never held a job since turning 18. (See table 5.) 

Educational Attainment at Age 24 

At 24 years of age, 23 percent of individuals had received their bachelor’s degree, an increase from 19 

percent at 23 years of age. The percentage of individuals enrolled in college decreased from 17 percent 

at age 23 to 13 percent at age 24. Forty-six percent of 24-year olds had graduated from high school and 

were not enrolled in college, and 9 percent had earned a General Educational Development (GED) 

credential and were not enrolled in college. Ten percent of individuals were high school dropouts during 

the October when they were age 24. (See table 1.) 

Women were much more likely than men to have received a bachelor’s degree by the October when 

they were age 24, and were equally likely to still be enrolled in college. Twenty-eight percent of women 

had earned a bachelor’s degree, compared with 19 percent of men. At age 24, women were less likely 

than men to be a high school dropout or a high school graduate not enrolled in college. (See table 1.) 

There remains a large and growing gap in educational attainment among racial and ethnic groups. NonHispanic whites are nearly three times as likely as Hispanics or Latinos to have received their bachelor’s 

degree at age 24. Twenty-eight percent of non-Hispanic whites had received their bachelor’s degree, 

compared with 11 percent of non-Hispanic blacks and 10 percent of Hispanics or Latinos. Non-Hispanic 

blacks and Hispanics or Latinos are about twice as likely as non-Hispanic whites to be high school 

dropouts in the October they were age 24. (See chart 2.) 

 

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

age 22 age 23 age 24

Chart 1.

Percent of individuals who have earned a bachelor's

degree, by age and sex

Men Women

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

age 22 age 23 age 24

Chart 2.

Percent of individuals who have earned a

bachelor's degree, by age, race and ethnicity

White Black Hispanic or Latino
- 3 - 

Schooling and Training between Ages 23 and 24 

Some people delay their college enrollment for a year or more after high school, and others enroll in 

college and then leave before earning a degree. By the October when age 23, a large proportion of 

individuals who will successfully attain a bachelor’s degree had already done so, since only 17 percent 

of individuals were still enrolled in college the October when age 23. (See table 1.) By the October of 

the following year, 23 percent of those college-enrolled individuals were no longer enrolled in college or 

training, while 26 percent had earned a bachelor’s degree. (See table 2.) Of those enrolled in college the 

October when age 23, an equal percent of men and women had earned their bachelor’s degree by the 

following October when age 24 (27 and 25 percent, respectively). 

Nonwhites continue to lose ground academically. Compared with non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic 

blacks and Hispanics or Latinos who were enrolled in college in the October when age 23 were more 

likely to have left college by October of the following year without a degree. 

Instead of attending college, some young adults enroll in training to further their skills. Five percent of 

high school graduates who were not enrolled in college at age 23 were in a training program during the 

October when age 24, while 2 percent of those previously enrolled in college at age 23 were enrolled in 

a training program at age 24. 

Employment Status at Age 24 of Young Adults Not Enrolled in School 

At age 24, labor force status differed substantially by educational attainment. Those with more education 

were more likely to be employed in civilian jobs and less likely to not be in the labor force. Sixty 

percent of high school dropouts were employed in civilian jobs in the October they were age 24. At the 

same age, 76 percent of high school graduates who had never enrolled in college were employed in 

civilian jobs, and another 4 percent were serving in the Armed Forces. Among 24-year-old high school 

graduates who had some college experience, but had not earned a bachelor’s degree and were no longer 

enrolled in college, 80 percent were employed in civilian jobs, and 4 percent were serving in the Armed 

Forces. Ninety-two percent of 24-year olds, who had earned a bachelor’s degree and were no longer 

enrolled, were employed in civilian jobs, while 2 percent were serving in the Armed Forces. (See 

table 3.) 

While men and women who had attended college or graduated from college are equally likely to be 

employed at age 24, at lower education levels, men are more likely to be working than women. Sixtynine percent of male high school dropouts were employed in the civilian labor force during the October 

when they were age 24, compared with 49 percent of female dropouts. Among high school graduates 

who had never enrolled in college, 79 percent of men and 70 percent of women were employed in 

civilian jobs, and 7 percent of men and 1 percent of women were serving in the military. Eighty-one 

percent of men and 79 percent of women who had attended some college, but had not earned a 

bachelor’s degree and were no longer enrolled, were employed in civilian jobs in the October when they 

were age 24. Seven percent of men in this educational-attainment group were serving in the military, 

compared with 2 percent of women. Among those who had earned a bachelor’s degree and were no 

longer enrolled, approximately 94 percent of both men and women were either employed in civilian jobs 

or serving in the military during the October when they were age 24. 

 
- 4 - 

Employment Attachment of Young Adults 

Individuals had an average of 5.4 jobs from the ages of 18 to 24 in 1998-2009. On average, men held 5.1 

jobs and women held 5.6. (See table 4.) In this report, a job is defined as an uninterrupted period of work 

with a particular employer. (See the Technical Note for additional information on the definition of a 

job.)

On average, young adults represented by the survey sample were employed during 74 percent of all the 

weeks occurring from age 18 to age 24. They were unemployed—that is, without jobs but seeking and 

available for work—5 percent of the weeks. They were not in the labor force—that is, neither working 

nor seeking work—21 percent of the weeks. 

The amount of time employed differs substantially between educational-attainment groups, especially 

among non-Hispanics blacks and Hispanics or Latinos. Non-Hispanics blacks with less than a high 

school diploma spent the same percent of time employed as they spent out of the labor force, 42 percent. 

By comparison, non-Hispanics black high school graduates who had never enrolled in college spent 62 

percent of weeks employed and 25 percent of weeks out of the labor force. Non-Hispanics blacks with a 

bachelor’s degree or more education were employed 69 percent of weeks from age 18 to age 24. 

Hispanic or Latino high school dropouts spent 61 percent of weeks employed, compared with 75 percent 

of weeks for Hispanic or Latino high school graduates. 

The amount of time spent in the labor force also differs by sex. Men with less than a high school 

diploma spent 62 percent of weeks employed from age 18 to age 24. These men also spent 12 percent of 

weeks unemployed. By comparison, women with less than a high school diploma spent 45 percent of 

weeks employed and 10 percent of weeks unemployed from age 18 to age 24. Women without a high 

school diploma spent as much time out of the labor force as they did employed. Women with a 

bachelor’s degree or more spent a larger proportion of weeks employed than did men with a bachelor’s 

degree or more (75 versus 69 percent). 

Duration of Employment Relationships 

By their 25th birthday, nearly all young adults had held at least one job since age 18, although high 

school dropouts, especially female and non-Hispanic black dropouts, were less likely ever to have held a 

job than were young adults with more education. Most jobs held through age 24 were of relatively short 

duration. Of the jobs held by 18- to 24-year-old workers, 56 percent ended in 1 year or less, and another 

14 percent ended in less than 2 years. Eleven percent of jobs lasted 2 years or more. Another 20 percent 

of jobs were ongoing at the time of the 2009-10 survey, and their ultimate duration is therefore not yet 

known. Jobs held by high school dropouts were more likely to end in 1 year or less than were jobs held 

by workers with more education. (See table 5.) 
Technical Note 

The estimates in this release were obtained using data 

from the first 13 rounds of the National Longitudinal Survey 

of Youth 1997 (NLSY97). The NLSY97 collects extensive 

information on labor market behavior and educational 

experiences. Information about respondents' families and 

communities also is obtained in the survey. 

This survey is conducted by the National Opinion 

Research Center at the University of Chicago and the Center 

for Human Resource Research at The Ohio State University, 

under the direction and sponsorship of the Bureau of Labor 

Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. Partial funding 

support for the survey has been provided by the Office of 

Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the U.S. 

Department of Justice, the Office of Vocational and Adult 

Education of the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. 

Department of Defense, the National Institute of Child Health 

and Human Development of the U.S. Department of Health 

and Human Services, and the National Science Foundation. 

Sample 

The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 is a 

nationally representative sample of 8,984 young men and 

women who were ages 12 to 16 on December 31, 1996. This 

sample is composed of the following groups: 

 A cross-sectional sample designed to represent the 

noninstitutionalized, civilian segment of young 

people living in the U.S. in 1997 and born between 

January 1, 1980, and December 31, 1984. 

 Supplemental samples of Hispanic or Latino and 

black youths living in the U.S. in 1997 and born 

between January 1, 1980, and December 31, 1984. 

The thirteenth round of annual interviews took place 

between October 2009 and May 2010. This release examines 

the period from respondents 18th birthday until the month 

before respondents were age 25. All results except the first 

two age categories of table 1 are weighted using the survey 

weights from the round in which the respondents were age 

24. The estimates of school enrollment status at ages 22 and 

23 use the survey weights from the round in which the 

respondents were those ages. The survey weights correct for 

oversampling of some demographic groups and nonresponse. 

When weighted, the data represent all people who were born 

in the years 1980 to 1984 and living in the U.S. in 1997. Not 

represented by the survey are U.S. immigrants who were born 

from 1980 to 1984 and moved to the U.S. after 1997. 

NLSY97 sample members remain eligible to be interviewed 

during military service or if they become incarcerated or 

institutionalized. 

Work history data 

The total number of jobs that people hold during their 

work life is an easy concept to understand but a difficult one 

to measure. Reliable estimates require a survey that 

interviews the same people over the course of their entire 

work life and also keeps track of all the jobs they ever held. 

The NLSY97 tracks the number of jobs that people have 

held, but the respondents in this survey are still young, and 

have many years of schooling and work life ahead of them. 

As the cohort continues to age, however, more complete 

information will become available. 

A unique feature of the NLSY97 is that it collects the 

beginning and ending dates of all jobs held by a respondent 

so that a longitudinal history can be constructed of each 

respondent’s work experiences. The NLSY97 work history 

data provide a week-by-week work record of each respondent 

from January 1, 1994, through the most recent survey date. 

These data contain information on the respondent’s labor 

force status each week, the usual hours worked per week at 

all jobs, and earnings for all jobs. If a respondent worked at 

more than one job in any week, hours and earnings are 

obtained for additional jobs. When a respondent who missed 

one or more consecutive survey rounds is interviewed again, 

he or she is asked to provide information about all time since 

the last interview. 

Interaction between time and age in a longitudinal 

survey 

Because the NLSY97 is a longitudinal survey, meaning 

the same people are surveyed over time, the ages of the 

respondents change with each survey round. It is important 

to keep in mind this inherent link between the calendar years 

and the ages of the respondents. The youngest respondents in 

the sample (birth year 1984) turned 24 during calendar year 

2008, whereas the oldest respondents (birth year 1980) turned 

24 during calendar year 2004. Some respondents may not be 

used in all tables if information about their work history is 

incomplete. 

Definitions 

School enrollment status. If a respondent was enrolled 

in college at any point during the month of October, he or she 

is counted as enrolled. If a respondent had not earned a high 

school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) 

credential, he or she is counted as a high school dropout. 

Training. The NLSY97 obtains information on formal 

training experiences outside of regular schooling. The 

training questions explore what kinds of training 
respondents obtain, where and when they are trained, how the 

training is paid for, and what skills are acquired. Training 

programs include: Business or secretarial training; vocational, 

technical, or trade training; vocational rehabilitation centers; 

licensed practical nursing or registered nursing programs; 

apprenticeship programs; adult basic education and GED 

programs; correspondence courses; formal company training 

or seminars; and government training. 

Employed. The NLSY97 collects employment histories 

for civilian jobs and military service. Respondents are 

classified as employed if they did any work during the 

specified time period as paid employees, as self-employed 

proprietors of their own businesses, as unpaid workers in a 

business owned by a member of their family, or if they were 

serving in the Armed Forces. 

Unemployed. Respondents are classified as unemployed if they did not work during the specified time period 

but reported that they looked for work or were on layoff from 

a job. No probing for intensity of job search is done. 

Not in the labor force. Respondents are classified as not 

in the labor force if they did not work or look for work during 

the specified time period. 

Job. A job is defined as an uninterrupted period of 

work with a particular employer. Jobs are therefore

employer-based, not position-based. If a respondent indicates 

that he or she left a job but in a subsequent survey returned to 

the same job, it would be counted as a new job. For example, 

if an individual worked in a retail establishment, quit, and 

then resumed working for the same employer at a later date, 

this sequence would count as two jobs, rather than one. For 

self-employed workers, each “new” job is defined by the 

individuals themselves. 

Race and ethnic groups. In this release, the findings are 

reported for non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks, and 

Hispanics or Latinos. These groups are mutually exclusive 

but not exhaustive. Other groups, which are included in the 

overall totals, are not shown separately because their representation in the survey sample is not sufficiently large to provide statistically reliable estimates. In other BLS publications, estimates usually are published for whites, blacks, and 

Hispanics or Latinos, but these groups are not mutually 

exclusive. “Hispanic or Latino” is considered to be an ethnic 

group, and people in that group can be of any race. Most 

other BLS publications include estimates for Hispanics or 

Latinos in the white and black race groups in addition to the 

Hispanic or Latino ethnic group. 

Information in this release will be made available to 

sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 

(202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339. 
(Percent distribution)

Total

High school 

graduates, 

not enrolled 

in college

Enrolled in 

college

Total, October when age 22 ......... 100.0 11.3 44.1 7.3 27.3 9.7

Men ....................................... 100.0 12.4 46.4 8.5 25.4 6.9

Women ................................... 100.0 10.1 41.7 5.9 29.3 12.7

White, non-Hispanic .................. 100.0 9.0 43.1 7.0 29.2 11.5

Black, non-Hispanic .................. 100.0 17.3 47.1 10.3 20.4 4.4

Hispanic or Latino ..................... 100.0 17.2 49.4 5.8 23.1 3.6

Total, October when age 23 ......... 100.0 10.6 45.6 7.9 17.0 18.7

Men ....................................... 100.0 11.7 47.9 9.2 16.7 14.2

Women ................................... 100.0 9.4 43.1 6.6 17.4 23.4

White, non-Hispanic .................. 100.0 8.3 44.4 7.6 17.0 22.4

Black, non-Hispanic .................. 100.0 16.4 47.8 11.3 15.5 8.8

Hispanic or Latino ..................... 100.0 16.6 52.2 6.8 16.1 8.1

Total, October when age 24 ......... 100.0 10.2 45.5 8.5 12.6 23.0

Men ....................................... 100.0 11.2 47.8 9.9 12.2 18.7

Women ................................... 100.0 9.2 43.0 6.9 13.1 27.6

White, non-Hispanic .................. 100.0 8.2 44.4 8.0 11.9 27.5

Black, non-Hispanic .................. 100.0 15.7 48.5 12.4 12.1 11.1

Hispanic or Latino ..................... 100.0 15.4 51.1 7.7 15.3 10.1

 NOTE: The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 consists of young men and women who were ages 12 to 16 

on December 31, 1996. Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity groups are mutually exclusive but not exhaustive. Other 

race groups, which are included in the overall totals, are not shown separately because their representation in the 

survey sample is not sufficiently large to provide statistically reliable estimates. 

Table 1. Educational attainment of young adults during the October when ages 22 to 24 in 2002-09 by sex, 

race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity 

 Characteristic

Educational attainment

High school 

dropouts

Bachelor's 

degree or 

more 1

General 

Educational 

Development 

(GED) 

recipients, 

not enrolled 

in college

 1

 Includes persons with bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degrees or professional degrees such as law or medical 

degrees.
(Percent distribution)

Not enrolled 

in school or 

training 

program

Enrolled in 

training 

program3 

Enrolled in 

graduate or 

professional 

program

High school graduates, 

not enrolled in college1

 ................. 100.0 87.4 6.9 5.3 0.4 (

4

)

Men ................................................ 100.0 87.6 5.8 6.3 0.3 (

4

)

Women ............................................. 100.0 87.2 8.2 4.1 0.5 (

4

)

White, non-Hispanic ............................ 100.0 88.0 6.4 5.2 0.4 (

4

)

Men ............................................. 100.0 87.5 5.9 6.5 0.2 (

4

)

Women .......................................... 100.0 88.5 7.1 3.6 0.7 (

4

)

Black, non-Hispanic ............................. 100.0 88.3 6.9 4.5 0.3 (

4

)

Men ............................................. 100.0 92.4 3.5 3.6 0.4 (

4

)

Women .......................................... 100.0 83.5 10.9 5.5 0.2 (

4

)

Hispanic or Latino ................................ 100.0 85.3 8.6 5.8 (4

) 0.2

Men ............................................. 100.0 84.1 8.7 7.1 (4

) 0.1

Women .......................................... 100.0 86.9 8.5 4.3 (4

) 0.3

Enrolled in college ................................. 100.0 22.6 49.9 1.6 21.8 4.0

Men ................................................ 100.0 21.9 49.7 1.8 21.2 5.3

Women ............................................. 100.0 23.4 50.1 1.4 22.4 2.6

White, non-Hispanic ............................ 100.0 20.4 48.0 1.7 25.4 4.5

Men ............................................. 100.0 19.9 47.4 2.1 24.2 6.3

Women .......................................... 100.0 20.9 48.6 1.2 26.7 2.6

Black, non-Hispanic ............................. 100.0 32.8 49.9 2.4 13.2 1.7

Men ............................................. 100.0 34.9 45.0 0.8 17.4 2.0

Women .......................................... 100.0 31.1 53.9 3.8 9.8 1.4

Hispanic or Latino ................................ 100.0 26.2 58.6 1.3 10.5 3.4

Men ............................................. 100.0 25.6 58.0 2.5 9.0 4.9

Women .......................................... 100.0 26.9 59.2 (

4

) 12.1 1.8

Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 consists of young men and women who were ages 12 to 16 on December 31, 1996.

Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity groups are mutually exclusive but not exhaustive. Other race groups, which are 

included in the overall totals, are not shown separately because their representation in the survey sample is not

sufficiently large to provide statistically reliable estimates. Educational attainment is determined as of age 24.

Table 2. School or training enrollment status during the October when age 24 in 2004-09 by school enrollment status 

during the October when age 23, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

School enrollment status during

the October when age 23

 1 Respondents who have received a General Educational Development (GED) credential are counted as high school 

graduates.

 2 A small percent of respondents were enrolled in both college and training. They are counted in the college category only.

Total

Enrolled in 

College2

 4 Less than .05 percent

 NOTE: This table excludes individuals who had earned a bachelor's degree by the October when age 23. The National

School enrollment status 

during the October when age 24

 3 Training includes any courses, training programs, or apprenticeships designed to help people find a job, improve their job 

skills, or learn a new job.

Not enrolled 

in graduate or 

professional 

program

Earned Bachelor's Degree
(Percent distribution)

Total Employed 

civilian

Serving in 

Armed 

Forces

Total .................................................................. 100.0 76.9 3.0 4.4 15.7

Men .............................................................. 100.0 77.7 4.9 5.1 12.4

Women ........................................................... 100.0 75.9 1.1 3.8 19.2

White, non-Hispanic ............................................ 100.0 79.8 3.1 3.5 13.6

Black, non-Hispanic ............................................ 100.0 67.2 2.8 7.3 22.8

Hispanic or Latino .............................................. 100.0 75.1 2.9 5.1 16.9

High school dropouts .......................................... 100.0 60.2 0.1 8.9 30.9

Men ............................................................. 100.0 69.2 0.1 9.8 20.9

Women ........................................................... 100.0 48.6 (1

) 7.7 43.6

White, non-Hispanic ............................................ 100.0 64.7 (1

) 8.2 27.1

Black, non-Hispanic ............................................ 100.0 45.5 0.2 11.8 42.5

Hispanic or Latino .............................................. 100.0 65.4 (1

) 7.3 27.3

High school graduates, never enrolled in college 2 ....... 100.0 75.6 4.3 4.7 15.5

Men ............................................................. 100.0 79.3 6.8 4.5 9.4

Women ........................................................... 100.0 70.1 0.5 5.0 24.3

White, non-Hispanic ............................................ 100.0 78.6 4.4 3.1 13.9

Black, non-Hispanic ............................................ 100.0 66.9 4.3 8.9 19.9

Hispanic or Latino .............................................. 100.0 72.7 4.4 5.6 17.4

Some college, no longer enrolled ........................... 100.0 80.1 4.4 4.2 11.3

Men ............................................................. 100.0 81.3 6.7 4.9 7.1

Women ........................................................... 100.0 78.9 2.1 3.4 15.6

White, non-Hispanic ............................................ 100.0 81.5 4.7 3.3 10.5

Black, non-Hispanic ............................................ 100.0 74.9 3.4 6.4 15.2

Hispanic or Latino .............................................. 100.0 82.6 4.2 3.6 9.6

 Bachelor's degree or more, no longer enrolled 3

 ...... 100.0 92.1 1.5 2.2 4.1

Men ............................................................. 100.0 91.4 2.4 3.0 3.2

Women ........................................................... 100.0 92.6 0.9 1.7 4.9

White, non-Hispanic ............................................ 100.0 92.3 1.5 1.8 4.3

Black, non-Hispanic ............................................ 100.0 93.2 0.5 3.0 3.3

Hispanic or Latino .............................................. 100.0 93.1 1.8 2.9 2.2

Table 3. Employment status of young adults not enrolled in school during the October when age 24 in 2004-09 by

educational attainment, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

 2

 Respondents who have received a General Educational Development (GED) credential are counted as high school 

graduates.

 NOTE: The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 consists of young men and women who were ages 12 to 16 

on December 31, 1996. Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity groups are mutually exclusive but not exhaustive. Other 

race groups, which are included in the overall totals, are not shown separately because their representation in the survey 

sample is not sufficiently large to provide statistically reliable estimates. 

Educational attainment

during the October when age 24

 1

 Less than .05 percent.

Not in the 

labor force

Employment status during the October when age 24

Unemployed

 3

 Includes persons with bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degrees or professional degrees such as law or medical degrees.
Total, ages 18 to 24 in 1998-2009.................................... 5.4 73.6 5.4 20.6

 Less than a high school diploma ................................... 5.0 54.7 10.9 33.7

 High school graduates, never enrolled in college 1 ......... 5.0 74.9 7.1 17.6

 Some college or associate degree ................................ 5.4 77.8 4.7 17.2

 Bachelor's degree or more 2

 .................................... 5.9 72.3 3.0 24.4

Men .................................................................................. 5.1 75.3 5.8 18.5

 Less than a high school diploma ................................... 5.2 62.3 12.1 25.1

 High school graduates, never enrolled in college 1 ......... 5.1 79.3 7.3 12.9

 Some college or associate degree ................................ 5.1 79.4 4.6 15.7

 Bachelors degree or more 2

 ....................................... 5.4 68.5 3.1 28.1

Women ............................................................................ 5.6 71.8 5.0 22.9

 Less than a high school diploma ................................... 4.7 45.3 9.5 44.5

 High school graduates, never enrolled in college 1 ......... 4.8 68.5 6.8 24.3

 Some college or associate degree ................................ 5.7 76.2 4.8 18.7

 Bachelor's degree or more 2

 .................................... 6.3 75.2 2.9 21.6

White, non-Hispanic ........................................................ 5.6 76.1 4.4 19.1

 Less than a high school diploma ................................... 6.0 57.6 10.7 30.9

 High school graduates, never enrolled in college 1 ......... 5.1 78.5 5.8 15.3

 Some college or associate degree ................................ 5.6 80.2 3.7 15.8

 Bachelor's degree or more 2

 .................................... 6.1 73.5 2.8 23.5

Black, non-Hispanic ......................................................... 5.0 63.6 9.8 26.1

 Less than a high school diploma ................................... 3.5 42.4 15.2 41.8

 High school graduates, never enrolled in college 1 ......... 4.7 62.3 11.9 25.2

 Some college or associate degree ................................ 5.3 69.8 8.5 21.5

 Bachelor's degree or more 2

 .................................... 6.0 69.3 4.0 26.4

Hispanic or Latino ........................................................... 4.7 73.5 5.7 20.6

 Less than a high school diploma ................................... 4.3 60.7 7.2 31.7

 High school graduates, never enrolled in college 1 ......... 4.6 74.7 6.9 18.1

 Some college or associate degree ................................ 4.8 77.5 4.9 17.4

 Bachelor's degree or more 2

 .................................... 5.0 71.7 3.7 24.2

Table 4. Percent of weeks individuals were employed, unemployed, or not in the labor force from age 18 through age 24 in 

1998-2009 by educational attainment, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Characteristic

Employed Unemployed

Average Number

 of Jobs

Not in labor force

Percent of total weeks while ages 18 to 24

 in 1998-2009

 1 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.

 The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 consists of young men and women who were ages 12 to 16 on December 31, 

1996. Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity groups are mutually exclusive but not exhaustive. Other race groups, which are 

included in the overall totals, are not shown separately because their representation in the survey sample is not sufficiently large to 

provide statistically reliable estimates. Educational attainment is determined as of age 24.

 Percentages do not sum to 100 percent due to a small number of respondents whose employment status cannot be determined for 

all weeks.

 NOTE: This table excludes individuals who had not yet turned age 25 when interviewed in 2009-10.

 2 Includes persons with bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degrees or professional degrees, such as law or medical degrees.
1 year or 

less

More than 1 

year but 

less than 2 

years

Ongoing at 

the 2009 - 

10 survey

Total, ages 18 to 24 in 1998-2009 ................................... 98.4 55.9 13.8 10.7 19.6

 Less than a high school diploma ................................... 94.4 64.4 11.6 7.1 16.9

 High school graduates, never enrolled in college 1 ......... 98.2 55.2 13.1 10.6 21.1

 Some college or associate degree ................................ 98.7 54.8 14.3 11.4 19.5

 Bachelor's degree or more 2

 .................................... 99.5 55.3 14.3 11.0 19.3

Men .................................................................................. 98.1 55.4 13.0 10.4 21.2

 Less than a high school diploma ................................... 95.5 61.1 11.7 8.0 19.3

 High school graduates, never enrolled in college 1 ......... 98.1 54.3 12.8 10.1 22.8

 Some college or associate degree ................................ 98.2 54.6 13.6 11.1 20.7

 Bachelor's degree or more 2

 .................................... 98.9 56.0 12.7 10.5 20.8

Women ............................................................................ 98.7 56.4 14.5 11.1 18.0

 Less than a high school diploma ................................... 93.0 68.7 11.4 6.0 13.8

 High school graduates, never enrolled in college 1 ......... 98.2 56.4 13.5 11.4 18.7

 Some college or associate degree ................................ 99.1 55.1 15.0 11.6 18.3

 Bachelor's degree or more 2

 .................................... (3) 54.8 15.5 11.5 18.2

White, non-Hispanic ........................................................ 98.9 55.7 13.8 11.2 19.3

 Less than a high school diploma ................................... 96.5 66.2 10.9 7.4 15.6

 High school graduates, never enrolled in college 1 ......... 98.7 54.1 12.9 11.2 21.8

 Some college or associate degree ................................ 98.8 55.1 14.0 12.3 18.6

 Bachelor's degree or more 2

 .................................... 99.7 55.6 14.7 10.8 18.9

Black, non-Hispanic ......................................................... 96.5 60.4 12.7 8.3 18.7

 Less than a high school diploma ................................... 87.8 69.3 11.4 5.0 14.3

 High school graduates, never enrolled in college 1 ......... 95.9 62.2 12.8 7.5 17.5

 Some college or associate degree ................................ 98.7 58.2 12.9 8.2 20.6

 Bachelor's degree or more 2

 .................................... 99.6 55.3 12.9 12.6 19.2

Hispanic or Latino ........................................................... 98.6 52.0 14.4 10.6 23.0

 Less than a high school diploma ................................... 95.6 56.3 13.2 7.8 22.6

 High school graduates, never enrolled in college 1 ......... 98.7 52.0 13.4 11.8 22.8

 Some college or associate degree ................................ 99.1 51.1 15.6 10.6 22.8

 Bachelor's degree or more 2

 .................................... (3) 49.8 14.1 11.6 24.5

Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 consists of young men and women who were ages 12 to 16 on December 31, 1996.

Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity groups are mutually exclusive but not exhaustive. Other race groups, which are 

included in the overall totals, are not shown separately because their representation in the survey sample is not

sufficiently large to provide statistically reliable estimates. Educational attainment is determined as of age 24.

Table 5. Duration of employment relationship with a single employer for all jobs from age 18 to age 24 in 1998-2009 

by educational attainment, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

 3 Number rounds to 100 percent.

2 years or 

more

 1 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent. 2 Includes persons with bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degrees or professional degrees such as law or medical degrees.

 NOTE: This table excludes individuals who had not yet turned age 25 when interviewed in 2009-10. The National

Characteristic

Percent 

ever held a 

job

Percent distribution of duration of employment 

relationships