For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Thursday, August 24, 2017 USDL-17-1158 

 

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

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

 

 

NUMBER OF JOBS, LABOR MARKET EXPERIENCE, AND EARNINGS GROWTH AMONG 

AMERICANS AT 50: RESULTS FROM A LONGITUDINAL SURVEY

Individuals born in the latter years of the baby boom (1957-1964) held an average of 11.9 jobs from age 

18 to age 50, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Nearly half of these jobs were held 

from ages 18 to 24. 

These findings are from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979, a survey of 9,964 men and 

women who were ages 14 to 22 when first interviewed in 1979 and ages 49 to 58 when interviewed 

most recently in 2014-15. These respondents were born in the years 1957 to 1964, the latter years of the 

baby boom that occurred in the United States from 1946 to 1964. The survey spans 35 years and 

provides information on work and nonwork experiences, education, training, income and assets, health, 

and other characteristics. The information provided by respondents, who were interviewed annually 

from 1979 to 1994 and biennially since 1994, can be considered representative of all men and women 

born in the late 1950s and early 1960s and living in the United States when the survey began in 1979. 

This release of the latest data from the longitudinal survey focuses on the number of jobs held, job 

duration, labor force participation, and earnings growth. Highlights from the survey include: 

• Individuals born from 1957 to 1964 held an average of 11.9 jobs from ages 18 to 50. These baby 

boomers held an average of 5.5 jobs while ages 18 to 24. The average fell to 4.5 jobs from ages 

25 to 34, to 2.9 jobs from ages 35 to 44, and to 1.7 jobs from ages 45 to 50. Jobs that span more 

than one age group were counted once in each age group, so the overall average number of jobs 

held from age 18 to age 50 is less than the sum of the number of jobs across the individual age 

groups. (See table 1.)

• Although job duration tended to be longer the older a worker was when starting the job, these 

baby boomers continued to have large numbers of short-duration jobs. Among jobs started by 35 

to 44 year olds, 36 percent ended in less than a year, and 75 percent ended in fewer than 5 years. 

(See table 2.)

• On average, individuals were employed 78 percent of the weeks from age 18 to age 50. 

Generally, men spent a larger percent of weeks employed than did women (84 percent versus 71 

percent). Women spent much more time out of the labor force (25 percent of weeks) than did 

men (11 percent of weeks). (See table 3.)
-2- 

• The average annual percent growth in inflation-adjusted hourly earnings was highest during a 

worker’s late teens and early twenties. Earnings growth rates were generally higher for college 

graduates than for workers with less education. (See table 5.)

Number of Jobs Held 

Individuals held an average of 11.9 jobs from ages 18 to 50, with nearly half of these jobs held before 

age 25. 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, men held 12.1 jobs 

and women held 11.6 jobs from age 18 to age 50. Men held 5.7 jobs from age 18 to age 24, compared 

with 1.7 jobs from age 45 to age 50. The reduction in the average number of jobs held in successive age 

groups was similar for women. (See table 1.) Chart 1 shows the cumulative number of jobs held from 

age 18 to age 50, by sex and age. The decline in the slope of these curves indicates a decrease in the rate 

at which workers change jobs as they age.

On average, men without a high school diploma held 13.1 jobs from ages 18 to 50, while men with a 

bachelor’s degree and higher held 11.4 jobs between these ages. In contrast, women without a high 

school diploma held 9.3 jobs from ages 18 to 50, while women with a bachelor’s degree and higher held 

12.7 jobs between these ages.

From age 18 to age 24, Whites held more jobs than Blacks, or Hispanics or Latinos. On average, Whites 

held 5.7 jobs between the ages of 18 and 24, while Blacks held 4.6 jobs, and Hispanics or Latinos held 

4.9 jobs. Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics or Latinos held between 4.3 and 4.6 jobs from age 25 to age 34, 

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

18 23 28 33 38 43 48

Number of Jobs Held

Age

Chart 1: Cumulative number of jobs held from age 18 to 

age 50, by sex and age

Men

Women
-3- 

and between 2.9 and 3.2 jobs from age 35 to age 44. From age 45 to age 50, Whites, Blacks, and 

Hispanics or Latinos all held an average of 1.7 jobs. 

Duration of Employment Relationships 

The length of time a worker remains with an employer increased with the age at which the worker began 

the job. Of the jobs that workers began when they were 18 to 24 years of age, 69 percent of those jobs 

ended in less than a year and 93 percent ended in fewer than 5 years. Among jobs started by 35 to 44 

year olds, 36 percent ended in less than a year, and 75 percent ended in fewer than 5 years. (See table 2.) 

Percent of Weeks Employed, Unemployed, and Not in the Labor Force 

On average, the youngest baby boomers (born 1957-1964) were employed during 78 percent of all the 

weeks from age 18 to age 50. They were unemployed—that is, without jobs but seeking work—5 

percent of the weeks. They were not in the labor force—that is, neither working nor seeking work—18 

percent of the weeks. (See table 3.)

The amount of time spent employed differed substantially between those without a high school diploma 

and those who had graduated from high school or attained higher levels of education. Individuals with 

less than a high school diploma (as of the 2014-15 survey) spent 58 percent of weeks employed and 34 

percent of weeks out of the labor force from age 18 to age 50. By comparison, high school graduates 

spent 77 percent of weeks employed and 18 percent of weeks out of the labor force, while those with a 

bachelor’s degree and higher spent 84 percent of weeks employed and 14 percent of weeks out of the 

labor force.

White high school graduates with no college were employed a higher percentage of weeks and out of the 

labor force a smaller percentage of weeks than similarly educated Blacks, or Hispanics or Latinos. 

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Less than a high school

diploma

High school graduates, no

college

Some college or associate

degree

Bachelor's degree and

higher

Percent of weeks 

Chart 2: Percent of weeks employed from age 18 to age 50, by 

educational attainment, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

White non-Hispanic Black non-Hispanic Hispanic or Latino
-4- 

Among those with a bachelor’s degree and higher, there was little difference among racial and ethnic 

groups in labor market attachment; each group spent between 83 percent and 85 percent of weeks 

employed. (See chart 2.) 

The amount of time spent in the labor force differs by sex, with women at every educational level 

spending fewer weeks in the labor force than men. Overall, men were out of the labor force 11 percent 

of weeks from age 18 to age 50 and women were out of the labor force 25 percent of weeks. Women’s 

labor force participation increased with their education level. Women without a high school diploma 

spent more than half (52 percent) of all weeks between age 18 and age 50 out of the labor force, while 

those with a high school diploma were out of the labor force 26 percent of weeks, those with some 

college were out of the labor force 23 percent of weeks, and women with a bachelor’s degree and higher 

were out of the labor force only 18 percent of weeks. Among men, those without a high school diploma 

were out of the labor force about 21 percent of weeks, while men in the top three education categories 

were out of the labor force only 9 percent to 11 percent of weeks. (See table 3.) 

The labor force participation patterns of men and women differed. For both groups, time spent out of the 

labor force was greatest between the ages of 18 and 24, reflecting the transition from education and 

training to the work force. For women, time spent out of the labor force decreased in each successive 

age range, from 30 percent of weeks between the ages of 18 and 24 to 22 percent between the ages of 45 

and 50. In comparison, men were out of the labor force fewer than 9 percent of weeks from age 25 to 

age 44; from age 45 to age 50, they increased their time out of the labor force to 12 percent of weeks. 

While the percent of weeks out of the labor force trended in different directions for the two sexes after 

age 24, women in each age range still spent more weeks out of the labor force than their male 

counterparts. (See table 4 and chart 3.)

The percentage of weeks in which women were employed increased from 63 percent in the 18 to 24 age 

group to a peak of 76 percent in the 35 to 44 age group and then decreased slightly to 75 percent in the 

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Age 18 to 24 Age 25 to 34 Age 35 to 44 Age 45 to 50

Percent of Weeks 

Chart 3: Percent of weeks not in the labor force from age 18 to 

age 50, by sex and age

Men Women
-5- 

45 to 50 age group. Following a similar pattern through age 44, the percentage of weeks in which men 

were employed increased from 73 percent in the 18 to 24 age group to a peak of 88 percent in the 35 to 

44 age category. The percent of weeks employed then dipped to 84 percent in the 45 to 50 age group. 

(See table 4.) 

Percent Growth in Real Earnings

The inflation-adjusted earnings of workers born in the latter years of the baby boom (1957-1964) 

increased most rapidly while they were young. Hourly earnings grew by an average of 6.4 percent per 

year from ages 18 to 24. The earnings growth rate slowed to 3.3 percent annually from age 25 to age 34 

and then to 1.8 percent annually from age 35 to age 44. From ages 45 to 50, earnings were stagnant (-0.1 

percent annually). In every age category, growth rates of inflation-adjusted hourly earnings generally 

were higher for workers with more education. Earnings growth for 18 to 24 year olds with less than a 

high school diploma was 3.1 percent, while those with a bachelor’s degree and higher saw their earnings 

grow by 9.6 percent at the same ages. On average, 45- to 50-year-olds with less than a high school 

diploma experienced negative earnings growth (-0.8 percent), while at the same ages earnings among 

those with a bachelor’s degree and higher increased by 0.4 percent. This pattern in earnings growth 

reflects, in part, the state of the U.S. economy during the years in which survey participants were in each 

age group. (See table 5.) 

Additional data are available at www.bls.gov/nls/y79supp.htm. 
Technical Note 

 

The estimates in this release were obtained 

using data from the first 26 rounds of the National 

Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79). 

This survey is conducted by the Center for Human 

Resource Research at The Ohio State University and 

the National Opinion Research Center at the 

University of Chicago under the direction and 

sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor’s 

Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

 

Sample 

 

The NLSY79 is a nationally representative 

sample of 12,686 young men and women who were 

14 to 22 years of age when first surveyed in 1979. 

This survey sample was initially composed of three 

subsamples: 

 

• A cross-sectional sample of 6,111 youths 

that was designed to represent the 

noninstitutionalized, civilian population of 

young people living in the U.S. in 1979 and 

born between Jan. 1, 1957, and Dec. 31, 

1964. 

 

• A supplemental sample of 5,295 youths that 

was designed to oversample noninstitutionalized, civilian Black, Hispanic or 

Latino, and economically disadvantaged 

non-Black, non-Hispanic or Latino youths 

living in the U.S. in 1979 and born between 

Jan. 1, 1957, and Dec. 31, 1964. 

 

• A military sample of 1,280 youths born 

between Jan. 1, 1957, and Dec. 31, 1961, and 

enlisted in the Army, Air Force, Navy, or 

Marine Corps as of September 30, 1978. 

 

In 1985, the military sample was discontinued,

and, in 1991, the economically disadvantaged nonBlack, non-Hispanic or Latino youths were dropped 

from the supplemental sample. As a result, the 

NLSY79 sample now includes 9,964 individuals 

from the cross-sectional sample and the Black and 

Hispanic or Latino supplemental samples. (This 

sample size is not adjusted for sample members who 

have died.) 

Individuals were surveyed annually from 1979 

to 1994 and biennially since 1994. In 2014-15, 7,071 

individuals responded to the survey, for a retention 

rate of 71 percent (representing a 77 percent 

response rate among those sample members who are 

still living). Only these individuals are included in 

the estimates in this release. All results are weighted 

using the 2014-15 survey weights that correct for the 

oversampling, interview nonresponse, and 

permanent attrition from the survey. When 

weighted, the estimates represent all persons born in 

the years 1957 to 1964 and living in the U.S. when 

the survey began in 1979. Not represented by the 

survey are U.S. immigrants who were born from 

1957 to 1964 and moved to the U.S. after 1979. 

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 NLSY79 tracks 

the number of jobs that people have held, but many 

of the respondents in this survey are still in their 

prime working years, ages 49 to 58 in 2014-15, and 

have more years of work life ahead of them. As the 

cohort continues to age, however, more complete 

information will become available. 

A unique feature of the NLSY79 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 NLSY79 work history data 

provide a week-by-week work record of each 

respondent from Jan. 1, 1978, 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 NLSY79 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. For example, table 5 reports earnings 

growth from age 45 to age 50. The youngest 

respondents in the sample (birth year 1964) were 

these ages during 2009-14, whereas the oldest 

respondents (birth year 1957) were these ages 

during 2002-07. 

Although participants in the NLSY79 were ages 

49 to 58 during the 2014-15 interviews, this release 

covers only the period while the respondents were 

ages 18 to 50. The reason for not including older 

ages is that the sample sizes were still too small to 

provide statistically reliable estimates for age groups 

older than 50. As the NLSY79 continues to be 

administered and the respondents age, subsequent 

rounds of the survey will enable analyses to be 

conducted for older age groups. 

As with age, the educational attainment of 

individuals may change from year to year. In the 

tables and analysis presented in this report, 

educational attainment is defined as of the 2014-15 

survey. This definition is used even when data on 

age and educational attainment are presented 

together. For example, table 1 reports the number of 

jobs held during different age categories. Suppose 

that a respondent had completed a bachelor’s degree 

at age 40. That respondent would be included in the 

“Bachelor’s degree and higher” educational 

category in all age categories shown on the table, 

even though he or she did not have a bachelor’s 

degree at any point from age 18 to age 39. 

 

Definitions 

 

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 is 

counted as a new job. For example, if an individual 

worked in a retail establishment during the summer, 

quit at the end of summer to return to school, and 

then resumed working for the same employer the 

following spring, this sequence would count as two 

jobs, rather than one. For self-employed workers, 

each “new” job is defined by the individuals 

themselves. 

 

Unemployment. If respondents indicate a gap 

between employers, they are asked how many of 

those weeks they spent searching for employment or 

on layoff. For that number of weeks, they are 

considered unemployed. For the remaining weeks, 

they are coded as not in the labor force. No probing 

for intensity of job search is done. 

Usual earnings. Respondents can report 

earnings over any time frame (hour, day, week, 

month, year). For those who do not report an hourly 

wage, one is constructed using usual hours worked 

over that time frame. Wages greater than $100 per 

hour and less than $1 per hour (in 1979 dollars) were 

not included in the analysis of earnings growth 

because the reported earnings levels were almost 

certainly in error. For the same reason, individuals 

who had inflation-adjusted earnings growth greater 

than 100 percent were not included in the analysis. 

 

Race and ethnicity groups. In this release, the 

findings are reported for non-Hispanic or Latino

Whites, non-Hispanic or Latino Blacks, and 

Hispanics or Latinos. These three 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. In other BLS 

publications, estimates usually are published for 

Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics or Latinos, but these 

groups are not mutually exclusive. The term 
Hispanic or Latino is considered to be an ethnicity 

group, and Hispanics or Latinos can be of any race. 

Most other BLS publications include Hispanics or 

Latinos in the White and Black race groups in 

addition to the Hispanic or Latino ethnicity 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. 
Total 1 Ages 18 to 

24 2 

Ages 25 

to 34

Ages 35

to 44 Ages 45 to 50 3

Total .................................................. 11.9 5.5 4.5 2.9 1.7

 Less than a high school diploma ......... 11.5 4.8 4.5 2.8 1.3

 High school graduates, no college 4 ...... 11.5 5.1 4.4 3.0 1.7

 Some college or associate degree ...... 12.4 5.6 4.6 3.0 1.8

 Bachelor's degree and higher 5

 ........... 12.0 6.2 4.4 2.8 1.8

Men ................................................. 12.1 5.7 4.7 2.9 1.7

 Less than a high school diploma ......... 13.1 5.8 5.3 3.0 1.4

 High school graduates, no college 4 ...... 12.1 5.6 4.8 3.0 1.7

 Some college or associate degree ...... 12.6 5.8 4.7 3.0 1.8

 Bachelor's degree and higher 5 ........... 11.4 5.8 4.3 2.9 1.8

Women ............................................ 11.6 5.3 4.2 2.9 1.7

 Less than a high school diploma ......... 9.3 3.5 3.5 2.4 1.2

 High school graduates, no college 4 ...... 10.9 4.6 4.0 3.0 1.6

 Some college or associate degree ...... 12.2 5.5 4.5 3.1 1.8

 Bachelor's degree and higher 5 ........... 12.7 6.5 4.5 2.8 1.9

White non-Hispanic............................ 11.9 5.7 4.4 2.9 1.7

 Less than a high school diploma ......... 12.3 5.3 4.8 2.8 1.3

 High school graduates, no college 4 ...... 11.6 5.4 4.4 2.9 1.7

 Some college or associate degree ...... 12.3 5.8 4.6 2.9 1.8

 Bachelor's degree and higher 5 ........... 12.0 6.2 4.4 2.8 1.8

Black non-Hispanic .............................. 11.5 4.6 4.6 3.2 1.7

 Less than a high school diploma ......... 9.6 3.6 4.0 2.5 1.2

 High school graduates, no college 4 ...... 11.3 4.4 4.6 3.1 1.6

 Some college or associate degree ...... 12.4 5.0 4.8 3.5 1.9

 Bachelor's degree and higher 5 ........... 12.3 5.6 4.6 3.1 2.1

Hispanic or Latino............................... 11.6 4.9 4.3 3.0 1.7

 Less than a high school diploma ......... 11.3 4.4 4.3 2.9 1.5

 High school graduates, no college 4 ...... 11.2 4.9 4.2 3.0 1.7

 Some college or associate degree ...... 12.6 5.2 4.6 3.2 1.9

 Bachelor's degree and higher 5 ........... 11.2 5.3 4.4 2.8 1.7

Table 1. Number of jobs held by individuals from age 18 to age 50 in 1978-2014 by educational 

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

Average number of jobs for individuals ages 18 to 50 in 1978-2014

Characteristic

 4 Includes individuals with a high school diploma or equivalent.

NOTE: The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 consists of men and women who were born in the years 1957-64 

and were ages 14 to 22 when first interviewed in 1979. These individuals were ages 49 to 58 in 2014-15. Educational 

attainment is defined as of the 2014-15 survey. 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.

 1 Jobs that were held in more than one of the age categories were counted in each appropriate column, but only once in 

the total column. The total excludes individuals who turned age 18 before January 1, 1978, or who had not yet turned 

age 51 when interviewed in 2014-15.

 3 This category excludes individuals who had not yet turned age 51 when interviewed in 2014-15.

 2 This category excludes individuals who turned age 18 before January 1, 1978. 

 5 Includes individuals with bachelor's, master's, professional, or doctoral degrees.
Less than 1 

year

Less than 2 

years

Less than 5 

years

Less than 10 

years

Less than 15 

years

Ages 18 to 24 1 ..................... 69.1 82.9 92.8 96.3 97.5 1.2

 Men ...................................... 69.3 83.0 92.6 96.2 97.3 1.2

 Women ................................ 68.9 82.8 93.1 96.5 97.7 1.1

 White non-Hispanic ............. 68.8 82.7 92.7 96.2 97.4 1.2

 Black non-Hispanic .............. 71.4 84.8 93.9 97.1 98.1 0.9

 Hispanic or Latino ................ 68.6 82.0 92.4 96.5 97.7 1.2

Ages 25 to 34.......................... 52.7 69.4 85.2 92.0 94.4 3.8

 Men ...................................... 52.5 68.9 84.3 91.0 93.7 4.4

 Women ................................ 52.9 69.9 86.1 93.0 95.3 3.1

 White non-Hispanic ............. 51.3 67.9 84.3 91.4 94.1 4.1

 Black non-Hispanic .............. 57.6 74.6 88.3 93.9 95.9 2.6

 Hispanic or Latino ................ 56.1 72.5 86.4 92.9 95.2 3.3

Ages 35 to 44.......................... 35.8 53.7 74.6 (*) (*) 11.6

 Men ...................................... 34.7 52.8 74.0 (*) (*) 12.5

 Women ................................ 37.0 54.5 75.3 (*) (*) 10.7

 White non-Hispanic ............. 34.5 52.1 72.9 (*) (*) 12.5

 Black non-Hispanic .............. 39.6 58.7 80.4 (*) (*) 8.2

 Hispanic or Latino ................ 38.9 56.2 78.9 (*) (*) 9.4

Ages 45 to 50 2 ................... 30.5 47.1 (*) (*) (*) 28.4

 Men ...................................... 27.4 44.3 (*) (*) (*) 30.0

 Women ................................ 33.4 49.7 (*) (*) (*) 26.9

 White non-Hispanic ............. 29.2 45.5 (*) (*) (*) 29.7

 Black non-Hispanic .............. 35.3 54.0 (*) (*) (*) 23.7

 Hispanic or Latino ................ 32.5 49.3 (*) (*) (*) 25.1

Table 2. Duration of employment relationships with a single employer for all jobs started from age 18 to age 50 in 

1978-2014 by age at start of job, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Cumulative percent distribution of duration

 of completed employment relationships Age at the start of job and 

characteristic

Percent of 

jobs ongoing 

in 2014

NOTE: The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 consists of men and women who were born in the years 1957-64 and 

were ages 14 to 22 when first interviewed in 1979. These individuals were ages 49 to 58 in 2014-15. 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.

 1 This category excludes individuals who turned age 18 before January 1, 1978. 

 2 This category excludes individuals who had not yet turned age 51 when interviewed in 2014-15.

(*) Estimates are not presented for these categories because most sample members were not yet

old enough at the time of the 2014-15 survey to have completed jobs of these durations.
Total, ages 18 to 50 in 1978-2014 ................................... 77.8 4.6 17.6

 Less than a high school diploma .................................... 58.4 8.0 33.5

 High school graduates, no college 1 ........................... 76.7 5.5 17.8

 Some college or associate degree ................................. 79.3 4.2 16.5

 Bachelor's degree and higher 2 ................................. 83.9 2.4 13.7

Men .................................................................................. 83.9 5.1 11.0

 Less than a high school diploma .................................... 69.9 9.5 20.7

 High school graduates, no college 1 ........................... 82.8 6.0 11.1

 Some college or associate degree ................................. 87.1 4.3 8.6

 Bachelor's degree and higher 2 ................................. 88.2 2.5 9.3

Women ............................................................................. 71.4 4.1 24.5

 Less than a high school diploma .................................... 42.2 6.1 51.7

 High school graduates, no college 1 ........................... 69.4 5.0 25.6

 Some college or associate degree ................................. 73.2 4.2 22.6

 Bachelor's degree and higher 2 ................................. 79.6 2.3 18.1

White non-Hispanic .......................................................... 80.0 3.8 16.2

 Less than a high school diploma .................................... 63.0 7.3 29.7

 High school graduates, no college 1 ........................... 79.5 4.6 15.9

 Some college or associate degree ................................. 80.4 3.5 16.1

 Bachelor's degree and higher 2 ................................. 83.9 2.2 13.8

Black non-Hispanic .......................................................... 68.6 8.5 22.8

 Less than a high school diploma .................................... 46.3 10.9 42.8

 High school graduates, no college 1 ........................... 65.6 9.8 24.6

 Some college or associate degree ................................. 75.7 7.3 17.0

 Bachelor's degree and higher 2 ................................. 82.7 4.6 12.7

Hispanic or Latino ........................................................... 72.4 5.7 21.9

 Less than a high school diploma .................................... 58.6 8.2 33.2

 High school graduates, no college 1 ........................... 73.5 5.8 20.7

 Some college or associate degree ................................. 76.2 4.8 18.9

 Bachelor's degree and higher 2 ................................. 84.9 2.4 12.8

NOTE: This table excludes individuals who turned age 18 before January 1, 1978, and who had not yet turned age 

51 when interviewed in 2014-15. The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 consists of men and women who 

were born in the years 1957-64 and were ages 14 to 22 when first interviewed in 1979. These individuals were ages 

49 to 58 in 2014-15. Educational attainment is defined as of the 2014-15 survey. 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.

 1 Includes individuals with a high school diploma or equivalent.

 2 Includes individuals with bachelor's, master's, professional, or doctoral degrees.

Table 3. Percent of weeks individuals were employed, unemployed, or not in the labor force from age 18 to 

age 50 in 1978-2014 by educational attainment, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Percent of total weeks while ages 18 to 50 in 1978-2014

Characteristic

Employed Unemployed Not in labor force
Total, ages 18 to 50 in 1978-2014 1

 ........................ 77.8 4.6 17.6

 Ages 18 to 24 in 1978-1988 2 ........................... 67.9 8.0 24.2

 Ages 25 to 34 in 1982-1998 .............................. 78.8 4.3 16.8

 Ages 35 to 44 in 1992-2008 .............................. 81.5 3.1 15.4

 Ages 45 to 50 in 2002-2014 3 ........................... 79.2 4.1 16.7

Men, ages 18 to 50 in 1978-2014 1

 ........................ 83.9 5.1 11.0

 Ages 18 to 24 in 1978-1988 2 ........................... 72.5 9.0 18.5

 Ages 25 to 34 in 1982-1998 .............................. 87.7 4.7 7.6

 Ages 35 to 44 in 1992-2008 .............................. 88.1 3.3 8.6

 Ages 45 to 50 in 2002-2014 3 ........................... 83.5 4.6 11.9

Women, ages 18 to 50 in 1978-2014 1 .................. 71.4 4.1 24.5

 Ages 18 to 24 in 1978-1988 2 ........................... 63.0 6.9 30.1

 Ages 25 to 34 in 1982-1998 .............................. 70.8 3.6 25.7

 Ages 35 to 44 in 1992-2008 .............................. 75.6 2.8 21.6

 Ages 45 to 50 in 2002-2014 3 ........................... 74.8 3.7 21.5

White non-Hispanic, ages 18 to 50 in 1978-2014 1 ... 80.0 3.8 16.2

 Ages 18 to 24 in 1978-1988 2 ........................... 70.6 7.0 22.5

 Ages 25 to 34 in 1982-1998 .............................. 81.5 3.3 15.2

 Ages 35 to 44 in 1992-2008 .............................. 83.5 2.4 14.1

 Ages 45 to 50 in 2002-2014 3 ........................... 81.4 3.4 15.2

Black non-Hispanic, ages 18 to 50 in 1978-2014 1 ... 68.6 8.5 22.8

 Ages 18 to 24 in 1978-1988 2 ........................... 55.6 13.2 31.1

 Ages 25 to 34 in 1982-1998 .............................. 70.8 8.1 21.2

 Ages 35 to 44 in 1992-2008 .............................. 75.5 6.1 18.5

 Ages 45 to 50 in 2002-2014 3 ........................... 70.4 7.5 22.1

Hispanic or Latino, ages 18 to 50 in 1978-2014 1

 ...... 72.4 5.7 21.9

 Ages 18 to 24 in 1978-1988 2 ........................... 63.5 8.8 27.7

 Ages 25 to 34 in 1982-1998 .............................. 73.2 4.8 22.0

 Ages 35 to 44 in 1992-2008 .............................. 78.0 4.0 18.0

 Ages 45 to 50 in 2002-2014 3 ........................... 74.3 5.1 20.6

 2 This category excludes individuals who turned age 18 before January 1, 1978.

 3 This category excludes individuals who had not yet turned age 51 when interviewed in 2014-15.

 1 This category excludes individuals who turned age 18 before January 1, 1978, or who had not yet turned age 51 

when interviewed in 2014-15.

NOTE: The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 consists of men and women who were born in the years 

1957-64 and were ages 14 to 22 when first interviewed in 1979. These individuals were ages 49 to 58 in 2014-15. 

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

age 50 in 1978-2014 by age, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Age and characteristic

Employed Not in labor force

Percent of total weeks

Unemployed
Ages 18 to 

24 1

Ages 25 

to 34

Ages 35

to 44

Ages 45 to 

50 2

Total ........................................................... 6.4 3.3 1.8 -0.1

 Less than a high school diploma ................... 3.1 1.4 1.3 -0.8

 High school graduates, no college 3 ............... 4.9 2.2 1.7 -0.2

 Some college or associate degree ............... 6.2 3.4 1.6 -0.1

 Bachelor's degree and higher 4 .................... 9.6 5.2 2.3 0.4

Men .......................................................... 7.0 3.6 1.7 -0.1

 Less than a high school diploma ................... 3.2 1.5 0.6 -1.0

 High school graduates, no college 3 ............... 5.8 2.3 1.5 -0.3

 Some college or associate degree ............... 7.7 4.1 1.6 -0.3

 Bachelor's degree and higher 4 .................... 9.9 6.4 2.5 0.7

Women ...................................................... 5.8 2.8 1.8 0.0

 Less than a high school diploma ................... 2.9 1.2 2.2 -0.5

 High school graduates, no college 3 ............... 3.9 2.2 1.8 -0.1

 Some college or associate degree ............... 5.1 2.9 1.6 0.1

 Bachelor's degree and higher 4 .................... 9.4 4.0 2.1 0.1

White non-Hispanic .................................... 6.8 3.4 1.9 -0.1

 Less than a high school diploma ................... 3.6 1.5 1.4 -1.1

 High school graduates, no college 3 ............... 5.2 2.2 1.7 -0.3

 Some college or associate degree ............... 6.3 3.6 1.6 -0.2

 Bachelor's degree and higher 4 .................... 9.9 5.2 2.4 0.4

Black non-Hispanic ....................................... 4.5 2.9 1.4 -0.1

 Less than a high school diploma ................... 1.8 0.9 1.0 -0.4

 High school graduates, no college 3 ............... 3.4 2.5 1.5 -0.2

 Some college or associate degree ............... 5.7 2.9 1.5 0.1

 Bachelor's degree and higher 4 .................... 7.1 5.4 1.4 -0.2

Hispanic or Latino....................................... 5.7 2.7 1.8 0.1

 Less than a high school diploma ................... 2.4 1.2 1.5 -0.2

 High school graduates, no college 3 ............... 5.5 2.7 1.1 -0.6

 Some college or associate degree ............... 6.6 2.4 2.2 0.4

 Bachelor's degree and higher 4 .................... 9.2 5.1 4.0 1.4

 1 This category excludes individuals who turned age 18 before January 1, 1978. 

 2 This category excludes individuals who had not yet turned age 51 when interviewed in 2014-15.

Table 5. Average annual percent growth in inflation-adjusted hourly earnings from 1978-2014 by 

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

Average annual percent growth in hourly earnings

Characteristic

 3 Includes individuals with a high school diploma or equivalent.

 4 Includes individuals with bachelor's, master's, professional, or doctoral degrees.

Note: The CPI-U-RS was used to adjust hourly earnings to constant dollars, prior to calculating the growth 

rates. The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 consists of men and women who were born in the 

years 1957-64 and were ages 14 to 22 when first interviewed in 1979. These individuals were ages 49 to 

58 in 2014-15. Educational attainment is defined as of the 2014-15 survey. 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.