For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Thursday, January 28, 2010 USDL-10-0099 

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

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

AMERICA’S YOUTH AT 22: SCHOOL ENROLLMENT, TRAINING, AND

EMPLOYMENT TRANSITIONS BETWEEN AGES 21 AND 22 

At age 22, women are more likely to be enrolled in college than men and are also more likely to have 

completed a bachelor’s degree, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Among 22-year-olds 

not enrolled in college, men are more likely than women to be employed in a civilian job or serving in 

the military. 

These findings are from the first 11 annual rounds of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 

(NLSY97), which is a nationally representative survey of about 9,000 young 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 22 to 28 when interviewed for the eleventh time in 2007-08. Most NLSY97 respondents 

completed their 2007-08 interview before December 2007, when the nation officially entered a 

recession. The survey provides information on work and nonwork experiences, training, schooling, 

income, assets, and other characteristics. The information provided by respondents can be considered 

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 21 to the October when they were age 22. Respondents were age 21 in 

October during the years 2001 to 2006 and age 22 in October from 2002 to 2007. Highlights from the 

longitudinal survey include: 

 During the October when they were 22 years old, 25 percent of men were enrolled in college, 

compared with 29 percent of women. Seven percent of men had received a bachelor’s degree by 

the October they were age 22, compared with 13 percent of women. 

 Among those who were enrolled in college when they were 21 years old, 60 percent were still 

enrolled in college when age 22, and 24 percent had received a bachelor’s degree. Non-Hispanic 

blacks and Hispanics were less likely than whites to have received a bachelor’s degree between 

ages 21 and 22.

 Ten percent of male high school graduates who had never enrolled in college were in the Armed 

Forces during the October when they were age 22, as were 7 percent of the 22-year-old men who 

had attended college but had not earned a bachelor’s degree and were no longer enrolled. Three 

percent of 22-year-old men with a bachelor’s degree were serving in the Armed Forces. 
- 2 - 

 Individuals born from 1980 to 1984 held an average of 4.4 jobs from age 18 to age 22. Those 

with more education held more jobs than those with less education. 

 High school graduates who had never enrolled in college were employed an average of 72 

percent of the weeks from age 18 to age 22. By comparison, those who had dropped out of high 

school were employed 54 percent of those weeks. 

 By their 22nd birthday, 24 percent of young adults who had never gone to college had been 

employed by the same employer for 2 years or more since the time they left high school. Seven 

percent had never held a job since they left high school. 

Educational Attainment at Age 22 

Twenty-seven percent of young adults were enrolled in college during the October when they were age 

22, and 10 percent had received a bachelor’s degree. Forty-four percent of 22-year-olds had graduated 

from high school and were not enrolled in college, and 7 percent had earned a General Educational 

Development (GED) credential and were not enrolled in college. Eleven percent of individuals were 

high school dropouts during the October when they were age 22. (See table 1.) 

Women were more likely than men to be enrolled in college and were more likely to have received a 

bachelor’s degree. Twenty-nine percent of women were attending college during the October when they 

were age 22, compared with 25 percent of men. Moreover, 13 percent of women had earned a bachelor’s 

degree, compared with 7 percent of men. The difference between women and men in college-enrollment 

rates stems from three factors: (1) Women were more likely to have graduated from high school; (2) 

among high school graduates, women were more likely to attend college; and (3) once enrolled in 

college, women were less likely than men to leave college between school years without graduating. 

Non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics were less likely than non-Hispanic whites to be enrolled in college 

during the October when they were age 22. Twenty-nine percent of whites were enrolled in college, 

compared with 20 percent of blacks and 23 percent of Hispanics. 

Schooling and Training between Ages 21 and 22 

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. Nine percent of high school graduates who were not 

enrolled in college during the October when they were age 21 were enrolled in college during the 

following October, and an additional 2 percent had received a bachelor’s degree. Sixty percent of 

individuals attending college during the October when they were age 21 were still attending college by 

the following October, and 24 percent had received a bachelor’s degree. Women were more likely than 

men to have received a bachelor’s degree and also were more likely to be enrolled in a graduate or 

professional program. (See table 2.) 

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

high school graduates who were not enrolled in college at age 21 were in a training program during the 

October when age 22, while 1 percent of those previously enrolled in college at age 21 were enrolled in 

a training program at age 22. 

 
- 3 - 

Employment at Age 22 of Young Adults Not Enrolled in School 

At age 22, labor force status differed substantially between high school dropouts, high school graduates 

who had never attended college, and individuals who had left college. Those with more education were 

more likely to be employed in civilian jobs. Fifty-eight percent of high school dropouts were employed 

in civilian jobs in the October they were age 22. At the same age, 72 percent of high school graduates 

who had never enrolled in college were employed in civilian jobs, and another 6 percent were serving in 

the Armed Forces. Among 22-year-old high school graduates who had some college experience but had 

not earned a bachelor’s degree and were not enrolled in college during October, 77 percent were 

employed in civilian jobs, and 5 percent were serving in the Armed Forces. Eighty-eight percent of 22-

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.) 

Sixty-five percent of male high school dropouts were employed in the civilian labor force during the 

October when they were age 22, compared with 49 percent of female dropouts. Among high school 

graduates who had never enrolled in college, 74 percent of men and 70 percent of women were 

employed in civilian jobs; 10 percent of men in this educational-attainment group were serving in the 

military, compared with 1 percent of women. Seventy-seven percent of both men and 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 22; 7 percent of men in this educationalattainment group were serving in the military, compared with over 2 percent of women. Among those 

who had earned a bachelor’s degree and were no longer enrolled, 90 percent of women and 85 percent 

of men were employed in civilian jobs during the October when they were age 22. 

Employment Attachment of Young Adults 

Individuals had an average of 4.4 jobs from the ages of 18 to 22 in 1998-2007. On average, men held 4.2 

jobs and women held 4.5. (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 were employed during 69 percent of all the weeks occurring from age 18 to 

age 22. They were unemployed—that is, without jobs but seeking work—6 percent of the weeks. They 

were not in the labor force—that is, neither working nor seeking work—25 percent of the weeks. 

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

among blacks and Hispanics or Latinos. Blacks with less than a high school diploma spent 38 percent of 

weeks employed and 44 percent of weeks out of the labor force from age 18 to age 22. By comparison, 

black high school graduates who had never enrolled in college spent 58 percent of weeks employed and 

29 percent of weeks out of the labor force. Blacks with a bachelor’s degree or more education were 

employed 63 percent of weeks from age 18 to age 22. Hispanic or Latino high school dropouts spent 57 

percent of weeks employed, compared with 70 percent of weeks for Hispanic or Latino high school 

graduates and 67 percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or more. 

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

diploma spent 61 percent of weeks employed from age 18 to age 22. These men also spent 13 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 22. Women without a high 

school diploma spent as much time out of the labor force as they did employed. Women with a 
- 4 - 

bachelor’s degree or more spent a larger proportion of weeks employed than did men (69 versus 58 

percent). 

The number of jobs held by these young adults is very similar to the number of jobs held by baby 

boomers who were ages 18 to 22 from 1978 to 1986. Women ages 18 to 22 in 1998-2007 spent a larger 

percentage of weeks employed than did women ages 18 to 22 in 1978-86 (68 versus 60 percent). 

Hispanics and blacks ages 18 to 22 in 1998-2007 also spent more time employed and less time 

unemployed or not in the labor market than baby boomers who were the same ages in 1978-86. (See 

tables 1 and 4 of “Number of Jobs Held, Labor Market Activity, and Earnings Growth Among the 

Youngest Baby Boomers: Results from a Longitudinal Survey,” June 27, 2008, available on the BLS 

Web site at www.bls.gov/nls/nlspressreleases.htm#anchy79. 

Duration of Employment Relationships 

By age 22, nearly all young adults had held at least one job since leaving high school, although high 

school dropouts were less likely ever to have held a job than were young adults with more education. Of 

the jobs held by 18- to 22-year-old workers, 58 percent ended in 1 year or less, and another 13 percent 

ended in less than 2 years. Eight percent of jobs lasted 2 years or more. Another 22 percent of jobs were 

ongoing at the time of the 2007-08 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 11 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 eleventh round of annual interviews took place 

between October 2007 and June 2008. Most NLSY97 

respondents completed their 2007-08 interview before 

December 2007, when the nation officially entered a 

recession. This release examines the period from the October 

when respondents were age 21 until the month before 

respondents were age 23. 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 22. The 

estimates of school enrollment status at ages 20 and 21 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 21 during calendar year 

2005, whereas the oldest respondents (birth year 1980) turned 

21 during calendar year 2001. 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 high school or college at any point during the month of 

October, he or she is counted as enrolled. If a respondent 

reported no school enrollment during October and also 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 20 ......... 100.0 13.1 39.7 5.4 40.5 0.2

Men ....................................... 100.0 14.6 42.2 6.3 35.3 0.3

Women ................................... 100.0 11.3 36.9 4.4 46.2 0.1

White, non-Hispanic .................. 100.0 10.4 38.8 5.6 44.3 0.2

Black, non-Hispanic .................. 100.0 20.6 42.0 6.5 28.7 0.1

Hispanic or Latino ..................... 100.0 19.2 45.2 4.2 29.6 (

2

)

Total, October when age 21 ......... 100.0 12.2 42.7 6.5 37.2 1.0

Men ....................................... 100.0 13.5 45.4 7.6 32.3 0.7

Women ................................... 100.0 10.8 39.7 5.2 42.5 1.4

White, non-Hispanic .................. 100.0 9.7 41.4 6.4 41.2 1.0

Black, non-Hispanic .................. 100.0 19.0 44.9 8.5 25.8 0.8

Hispanic or Latino ..................... 100.0 18.1 48.8 5.4 26.0 0.7

Total, October when age 22 ......... 100.0 11.3 44.3 7.3 27.0 9.7

Men ....................................... 100.0 12.4 46.6 8.5 25.2 6.9

Women ................................... 100.0 10.2 41.9 5.9 29.1 12.8

White, non-Hispanic .................. 100.0 9.0 43.3 7.1 29.0 11.5

Black, non-Hispanic .................. 100.0 17.3 47.3 10.3 20.3 4.2

Hispanic or Latino ..................... 100.0 17.2 49.5 5.9 22.9 3.8

2

 Less than 0.05 percent.

 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. School enrollment status of young adults during the October when ages 20 to 22 in 2000-07 by 

sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity 

 Characteristic

School enrollment status

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 84.1 9.2 5.2 1.2 0.3

Men ................................................ 100.0 85.3 9.0 4.8 0.7 0.1

Women ............................................. 100.0 82.5 9.4 5.7 1.8 0.6

White, non-Hispanic ............................ 100.0 84.4 8.9 5.2 1.2 0.3

Men ............................................. 100.0 85.0 8.9 5.1 0.8 0.2

Women .......................................... 100.0 83.7 8.8 5.2 1.8 0.5

Black, non-Hispanic ............................. 100.0 85.2 8.7 5.1 0.7 0.2

Men ............................................. 100.0 88.8 6.9 4.3 (

4

) (4)

Women .......................................... 100.0 80.7 11.0 6.2 1.6 0.6

Hispanic or Latino ................................ 100.0 83.2 9.9 6.1 0.7 0.2

Men ............................................. 100.0 83.6 9.8 5.8 0.7 0.1

Women .......................................... 100.0 82.7 10.0 6.4 0.7 0.2

Enrolled in college ................................. 100.0 15.7 59.7 0.8 18.4 5.4

Men ................................................ 100.0 17.7 62.3 0.5 15.5 4.1

Women ............................................. 100.0 14.0 57.6 1.1 20.9 6.4

White, non-Hispanic ............................ 100.0 14.2 59.3 0.6 20.4 5.6

Men ............................................. 100.0 17.0 60.9 0.1 17.4 4.5

Women .......................................... 100.0 11.8 57.9 0.9 22.9 6.5

Black, non-Hispanic ............................. 100.0 24.4 59.6 2.0 9.7 4.3

Men ............................................. 100.0 23.8 65.5 1.6 7.9 1.1

Women .......................................... 100.0 24.8 55.7 2.3 10.8 6.3

Hispanic or Latino ................................ 100.0 18.9 66.6 1.8 9.6 3.0

Men ............................................. 100.0 19.1 69.2 2.0 7.4 2.3

Women .......................................... 100.0 18.8 64.2 1.5 11.7 3.7

School enrollment status 

during the October when age 22

 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.

 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 2. School or training enrollment status during the October when age 22 in 2002-07 by school enrollment 

status during the October when age 21, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Received bachelor's 

degree

School enrollment status during

the October when age 21

 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

Not enrolled 

in graduate 

or 

professional 

program

 4 Less than 0.05 percent.
(Percent distribution)

Total Employed 

civilian

Serving in 

Armed 

Forces

Total .................................................................. 100.0 71.9 3.3 5.0 19.8

Men .............................................................. 100.0 70.9 5.2 5.7 18.1

Women ........................................................... 100.0 72.9 1.3 4.2 21.6

White, non-Hispanic ............................................ 100.0 74.6 3.1 4.0 18.3

Black, non-Hispanic ............................................ 100.0 62.3 3.5 8.5 25.8

Hispanic or Latino .............................................. 100.0 71.0 4.0 5.6 19.4

High school dropouts ........................................... 100.0 57.7 (

1

) 9.2 33.1

Men ............................................................. 100.0 64.6 (

1

) 9.7 25.7

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

1

) 8.5 42.9

White, non-Hispanic ............................................ 100.0 62.4 (

1

) 8.4 29.2

Black, non-Hispanic ............................................ 100.0 41.7 (

1

) 12.2 46.1

Hispanic or Latino .............................................. 100.0 65.9 (

1

) 6.4 27.7

High school graduates, never enrolled in college 2 ....... 100.0 72.4 6.1 5.9 15.5

Men ............................................................. 100.0 74.0 9.6 6.5 9.9

Women ........................................................... 100.0 70.1 1.2 5.1 23.7

White, non-Hispanic ............................................ 100.0 75.7 5.7 4.5 14.1

Black, non-Hispanic ............................................ 100.0 62.9 6.4 10.0 20.7

Hispanic or Latino .............................................. 100.0 68.1 7.7 6.7 17.4

Some college, no longer enrolled ........................... 100.0 77.4 4.8 4.2 13.6

Men ............................................................. 100.0 77.1 7.1 5.2 10.7

Women ........................................................... 100.0 77.8 2.5 3.2 16.6

White, non-Hispanic ............................................ 100.0 79.2 4.8 3.4 12.6

Black, non-Hispanic ............................................ 100.0 72.0 4.7 5.7 17.5

Hispanic or Latino .............................................. 100.0 76.4 4.6 5.4 13.7

 Bachelor's degree or more, no longer enrolled 3

 ......... 100.0 88.0 1.5 3.2 7.3

Men ............................................................. 100.0 84.7 3.3 3.3 8.7

Women ........................................................... 100.0 90.1 0.3 3.2 6.4

White, non-Hispanic ............................................ 100.0 87.9 1.7 3.4 7.0

Black, non-Hispanic ............................................ 100.0 87.2 1.5 2.5 8.8

Hispanic or Latino .............................................. 100.0 (

4

) (4) (4) (4)

 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. 

Table 3. Employment status of young adults not enrolled in school during the October when age 22 in 2002-07 by 

high school graduation status, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

High school graduation status

during the October when age 22

 1

 Less than 0.05 percent.

 4

 Sample sizes are not large enough for statistically reliable estimates.

Not in the 

labor force

Employment status during the October when age 22

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 22 in 1998-2007 ................................... 4.4 69.2 5.8 24.6

 Less than a high school diploma ................................... 3.9 53.7 11.8 34.0

 High school graduates, never enrolled in college 1 ......... 4.3 71.6 7.5 20.5

 Some college or associate degree ................................ 4.4 72.7 4.4 22.7

 Bachelor's degree or more 2

 .................................... 4.6 64.9 3.2 31.6

Men .................................................................................. 4.2 69.9 6.4 23.4

 Less than a high school diploma ................................... 4.2 60.8 13.0 25.5

 High school graduates, never enrolled in college 1 ......... 4.3 75.1 7.7 16.8

 Some college or associate degree ................................ 4.2 71.4 4.4 23.9

 Bachelors degree or more 2

 ....................................... 4.2 58.3 3.7 37.7

Women ............................................................................ 4.5 68.4 5.3 26.0

 Less than a high school diploma ................................... 3.6 44.5 10.2 44.8

 High school graduates, never enrolled in college 1 ......... 4.2 66.5 7.2 26.0

 Some college or associate degree ................................ 4.6 73.9 4.3 21.4

 Bachelor's degree or more 2

 .................................... 4.9 69.0 2.9 27.9

White non-Hispanic ......................................................... 4.6 72.3 4.7 22.7

 Less than a high school diploma ................................... 4.4 59.2 10.7 29.5

 High school graduates, never enrolled in college 1 ......... 4.5 76.0 6.1 17.5

 Some college or associate degree ................................ 4.6 75.3 3.4 21.0

 Bachelor's degree or more 2

 .................................... 4.7 65.5 3.0 31.2

Black non-Hispanic .......................................................... 4.0 57.9 10.6 31.1

 Less than a high school diploma ................................... 3.0 38.2 17.0 44.4

 High school graduates, never enrolled in college 1 ......... 3.9 57.8 12.4 29.3

 Some college or associate degree ................................ 4.3 64.7 7.9 27.2

 Bachelor's degree or more 2

 .................................... 4.7 63.1 4.1 32.7

Hispanic or Latino ........................................................... 3.9 68.4 6.5 24.8

 Less than a high school diploma ................................... 3.6 57.4 9.5 32.8

 High school graduates, never enrolled in college 1 ......... 3.7 69.6 7.2 22.9

 Some college or associate degree ................................ 4.0 71.7 5.3 22.7

 Bachelor's degree or more 2

 .................................... 4.4 67.2 3.5 29.0

Table 4. Percent of weeks individuals were employed, unemployed, or not in the labor force from age 18 to age 22 in 1998-

2007 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 22

 in 1998-2007

 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 set as of age 22.

 Totals do not add 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 23 when interviewed in 2007-08.

 2 Includes persons with bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degrees or professional degrees, such as law or medical degrees.
(Percent)

1 year or 

less

More than 1 

year but 

less than 2 

years

Ongoing at 

the 2007- 

08 survey

 

Total, ages 18 to 22 in 1998-2007 ................................... 96.9 57.5 12.6 7.6 22.3

 Less than a high school diploma ................................... 91.2 66.4 11.6 4.9 17.1

 High school graduates, never enrolled in college 1 ......... 96.6 56.7 11.8 7.6 23.9

 Some college or associate degree ................................ 97.7 56.2 13.3 7.8 22.7

 Bachelor's degree or more 2

 .................................... 99.1 57.5 12.4 8.9 21.2

Men .................................................................................. 96.5 57.0 12.5 7.0 23.4

 Less than a high school diploma ................................... 92.7 63.7 12.6 5.0 18.8

 High school graduates, never enrolled in college 1 ......... 96.5 55.1 12.3 7.5 25.1

 Some college or associate degree ................................ 97.1 56.0 13.0 7.3 23.8

 Bachelor's degree or more 2

 .................................... 98.1 60.1 11.5 7.0 21.4

Women ............................................................................ 97.3 58.1 12.6 8.2 21.1

 Less than a high school diploma ................................... 89.2 70.2 10.2 4.7 14.9

 High school graduates, never enrolled in college 1 ......... 96.7 59.1 10.9 7.8 22.1

 Some college or associate degree ................................ 98.2 56.4 13.7 8.3 21.6

 Bachelor's degree or more 2

 .................................... 99.7 55.9 12.9 10.1 21.1

White non-Hispanic ......................................................... 98.0 57.3 12.3 8.1 22.2

 Less than a high school diploma ................................... 93.7 68.9 10.6 4.8 15.7

 High school graduates, never enrolled in college 1 ......... 97.4 55.7 11.9 8.4 24.0

 Some college or associate degree ................................ 98.6 56.4 12.9 8.2 22.6

 Bachelor's degree or more 2

 .................................... 99.1 57.3 12.5 9.0 21.3

Black non-Hispanic .......................................................... 93.7 62.5 11.9 5.3 20.2

 Less than a high school diploma ................................... 83.5 71.4 12.2 2.8 13.6

 High school graduates, never enrolled in college 1 ......... 94.2 64.0 11.1 4.5 20.4

 Some college or associate degree ................................ 96.0 59.1 12.6 5.9 22.4

 Bachelor's degree or more 2

 .................................... (3) 58.9 11.8 9.7 19.6

Hispanic or Latino ........................................................... 93.7 62.5 11.9 5.3 20.2

 Less than a high school diploma ................................... 83.5 71.4 12.2 2.8 13.6

 High school graduates, never enrolled in college 1 ......... 94.2 64.0 11.1 4.5 20.4

 Some college or associate degree ................................ 96.0 59.1 12.6 5.9 22.4

 Bachelor's degree or more 2

 .................................... (3) 58.9 11.8 9.7 19.6

Table 5. Duration of employment relationship with a single employer for all jobs from the time a person left high 

school to age 22 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 23 when interviewed in 2007-08.

 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 set as of age 22.

Characteristic

Percent 

ever held a 

job

Percent distribution of duration of employment 

relationships