For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Wednesday, August 17, 2022 USDL-22-1681 

Technical information: (202) 691-6378 • cpsinfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/cps 

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

EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG YOUTH — SUMMER 2022 

In July 2022, 55.3 percent of young people (persons ages 16 to 24) were employed, the U.S. 

Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This measure was up from 54.4 percent in July 2021. 

The July 2022 figure remains below its level of 56.2 percent in July 2019, prior to the onset of 

the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. (The month of July typically is the summertime peak in 

youth employment.) The unemployment rate for youth was 8.5 percent in July 2022, down from 

the rate in July 2021 (10.0 percent) but little different from July 2019 (9.1 percent). (Because this 

analysis focuses on the seasonal changes in youth employment and unemployment that occur 

each spring and summer, the data are not seasonally adjusted.)

Labor Force

The youth labor force—16- to 24-year-olds working or actively looking for work—grows 

sharply between April and July each year. During these months, large numbers of high school 

and college students search for or take summer jobs, and many graduates enter the labor market 

to look for or begin permanent employment. This summer, the youth labor force grew by 2.6 

million, or 12.9 percent, from April to a total of 22.9 million in July. (See table 1.) 

The labor force participation rate for all youth was 60.4 percent in July 2022, little different from 

a year earlier. (The labor force participation rate is the proportion of the civilian noninstitutional 

population that is employed or unemployed. To be classified as unemployed, a person must 

either be looking and available for work or on temporary layoff.) The July 2022 youth labor 

force participation rate was 1.4 percentage points lower than its 2019 level prior to the pandemic. 

(See table 2.)

In 2022, the July labor force participation rate for 16- to 24-year-old men, at 61.7 percent, was 

little different from the prior year but down by 1.5 percentage points from 2019. The July rate for 

young women, at 59.2 percent, was also little different from a year earlier but was 1.2 percentage 

points lower than in 2019. 

The July 2022 labor force participation rate for young Asians (49.4 percent) increased over the 

year, while the participation rates for Whites (62.6 percent), Blacks (55.1 percent), and Hispanics 

(55.5 percent) showed little or no change. The July 2022 participation rates for young Whites, 

young Blacks, and young Hispanics were 1.5 percentage points, 3.2 percentage points, and 2.3 
-2- 

percentage points lower, respectively, than in July 2019. The July 2022 labor force participation 

rate for young Asians was 4.8 percentage points higher than in July 2019. (See table 2.) 

Employment

In July 2022, there were 21.0 million employed 16- to 24-year-olds. Between April and July, the 

number of employed youth rose by 2.1 million, or 11.4 percent. The employment-population 

ratio for youth—the proportion of the 16- to 24-year-old civilian noninstitutional population with 

a job—was 55.3 percent in July 2022, an increase of 0.9 percentage point from the prior year. 

However, the July 2022 ratio was lower than the July 2019 ratio of 56.2 percent. (See tables 1 

and 2.) 

Employment-population ratios were higher in July 2022 than they were a year earlier for young 

men (56.3 percent), Whites (58.3 percent), and Asians (44.1 percent), while the ratios for women 

(54.3 percent), Blacks (46.4 percent), and Hispanics (50.1 percent) were little changed. The 

employment-population ratios in July 2022 for men, women, Whites, Asians, and Hispanics were 

little different than in July 2019, while the ratio for Blacks was 3.4 percentage points lower than 

in July 2019. 

In July 2022, 24 percent (5.1 million) of employed 16- to 24-year-olds worked in the leisure and 

hospitality industry, little different from the prior year. An additional 19 percent of employed 

youth worked in the retail trade industry in July 2022, and 12 percent worked in education and 

health services. (See table 3.)

Unemployment

Typically, the number of unemployed young people increases between April and July, as people 

who were not in the labor force while attending school begin seeking employment. 

Unemployment among youth rose by 479,000 from April to July 2022. About three-fourths of 

the unemployed youth were looking for full-time work in July 2022, little different from the prior 

year. (See tables 1 and 2.)

The youth unemployment rate, at 8.5 percent in July 2022, was down from 10.0 percent in July 

2021 but little different from the July 2019 rate of 9.1 percent. The July 2022 unemployment 

rates for young men (8.8 percent), Whites (7.0 percent), and Hispanics (9.7 percent) were lower 

than in the prior summer, while the rates for women (8.2 percent), Blacks (15.9 percent), and 

Asians (10.8 percent) were little changed from July 2021. 
Technical Note

The estimates in this release were obtained from the 

Current Population Survey (CPS), a national sample survey 

of about 60,000 eligible households conducted monthly for 

the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) by the U.S. Census 

Bureau. The data in this release relate to the employment 

status of youth (16- to 24-year-olds) during the months of 

April-July. This period was selected as being the most 

representative time frame in which to measure the full 

summertime transition from school to work. July is the peak 

summer month of youth employment.

Beginning in January of each year, data reflect revised 

population controls used in the CPS. Additional information 

about population controls is available on the BLS website at 

www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm#pop.

If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech 

disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications 

relay services.

Reliability of the estimates

Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both 

sampling and nonsampling error. When a sample, rather than 

the entire population, is surveyed, there is a chance that the 

sample estimates may differ from the true population values 

they represent. The component of this difference that occurs 

because samples differ by chance is known as sampling 

error, and its variability is measured by the standard error of 

the estimate. There is about a 90-percent chance, or level of 

confidence, that an estimate based on a sample will differ by 

no more than 1.6 standard errors from the true population 

value because of sampling error. BLS analyses are generally 

conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence.

The CPS data also are affected by nonsampling error. 

Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including 

the failure to sample a segment of the population, inability to 

obtain information for all respondents in the sample, 

inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide correct 

information, and errors made in the collection or processing 

of the data.

More information on the reliability of data from the 

CPS and estimating standard errors is available online at 

www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm#reliability.

Definitions

The principal definitions used in this release are 

described briefly below.

Employed. Employed persons are all those who, during 

the survey reference week (which is generally the week 

including the 12th day of the month), (a) did any work at all 

as paid employees; (b) worked in their own business, 

profession, or on their own farm; (c) worked 15 hours or 

more as unpaid workers in a family member’s business. 

Persons who were temporarily absent from their jobs 

because of illness, bad weather, vacation, labor dispute, or 

another reason also are counted as employed.

Unemployed. The unemployed are those who had no 

employment during the reference week, were available for 

work at that time, and had made specific efforts to find 

employment sometime during the 4-week period ending with 

the reference week. Persons who were waiting to be recalled 

to a job from which they had been laid off need not have 

been looking for work to be classified as unemployed. 

Looking for full-time work refers to 35 hours or more per 

week; part-time work refers to fewer than 35 hours per 

week.

Civilian labor force. This group comprises all persons 

classified as employed or unemployed.

Unemployment rate. The unemployment rate is the 

number of unemployed persons as a percent of the civilian 

labor force.

Labor force participation rate. The labor force 

participation rate is the labor force as a percent of the 

population.

Employment-population ratio. The employmentpopulation ratio is the employed as a percent of the 

population.

Not in the labor force. Included in this group are all 

persons in the civilian noninstitutional population who are 

neither employed nor unemployed. 

Industry and class of worker. This information applies 

to the job held during the reference week. Persons with two 

or more jobs are classified in the job at which they worked 

the greatest number of hours. Beginning with data for 2020, 

persons are classified using the 2017 Census industry 

classification system. The class-of-worker breakdown 

assigns workers to the following categories: Private and

government wage and salary workers, unincorporated selfemployed workers, and unpaid family workers.

Wage and salary workers. Included in this group are 

persons who receive wages, salary, commissions, tips, or 

pay in kind from a private employer or from a government 

entity.

Self-employed workers. Included in this group are those 

who work for profit or fees in their own unincorporated 

business, profession, trade, or farm. Only unincorporated 

self-employed are included in the self-employed category. 

Self-employed persons whose businesses are incorporated 

are included with private wage and salary workers.

Unpaid family workers. Included in this group are 

persons working without pay for 15 hours a week or more on 

a farm or in a business operated by a family member in their 

household.
Table 1. Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population 16 to 24 years of age by sex, race, and

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, April-July 2022

[Numbers in thousands. Data are not seasonally adjusted.]

Employment status, sex, race, and

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity April May June July

April-July changes

Number Percent

TOTAL

Civilian noninstitutional population................................... 37,906 37,918 37,935 37,954 48 0.1

Civilian labor force.................................................. 20,323 20,768 22,714 22,943 2,620 12.9

Participation rate.................................................. 53.6 54.8 59.9 60.4 6.8 12.7

Employed.......................................................... 18,851 19,139 20,591 20,992 2,141 11.4

Employment-population ratio................................. 49.7 50.5 54.3 55.3 5.6 11.3

Unemployed....................................................... 1,472 1,629 2,123 1,951 479 32.5

Looking for full-time work..................................... 1,040 1,179 1,569 1,415 375 36.1

Looking for part-time work.................................... 432 450 554 536 104 24.1

Unemployment rate.............................................. 7.2 7.8 9.3 8.5 1.3 18.1

Not in labor force.................................................... 17,583 17,150 15,221 15,011 -2,572 -14.6

Men

Civilian noninstitutional population................................... 19,038 19,045 19,054 19,065 27 0.1

Civilian labor force.................................................. 10,348 10,560 11,708 11,763 1,415 13.7

Participation rate.................................................. 54.4 55.4 61.4 61.7 7.3 13.4

Employed.......................................................... 9,486 9,721 10,575 10,733 1,247 13.1

Employment-population ratio................................. 49.8 51.0 55.5 56.3 6.5 13.1

Unemployed....................................................... 863 839 1,133 1,031 168 19.5

Looking for full-time work..................................... 662 660 879 798 136 20.5

Looking for part-time work.................................... 200 179 254 232 32 16.0

Unemployment rate.............................................. 8.3 7.9 9.7 8.8 0.5 6.0

Not in labor force.................................................... 8,690 8,485 7,346 7,302 -1,388 -16.0

Women

Civilian noninstitutional population................................... 18,867 18,873 18,880 18,890 23 0.1

Civilian labor force.................................................. 9,974 10,208 11,006 11,180 1,206 12.1

Participation rate.................................................. 52.9 54.1 58.3 59.2 6.3 11.9

Employed.......................................................... 9,365 9,418 10,016 10,259 894 9.5

Employment-population ratio................................. 49.6 49.9 53.0 54.3 4.7 9.5

Unemployed....................................................... 609 790 990 921 312 51.2

Looking for full-time work..................................... 377 519 690 617 240 63.7

Looking for part-time work.................................... 232 271 301 304 72 31.0

Unemployment rate.............................................. 6.1 7.7 9.0 8.2 2.1 34.4

Not in labor force.................................................... 8,893 8,665 7,875 7,710 -1,183 -13.3

White

Civilian noninstitutional population................................... 27,771 27,777 27,786 27,798 27 0.1

Civilian labor force.................................................. 15,442 15,682 17,259 17,411 1,969 12.8

Participation rate.................................................. 55.6 56.5 62.1 62.6 7.0 12.6

Employed.......................................................... 14,470 14,604 15,740 16,197 1,727 11.9

Employment-population ratio................................. 52.1 52.6 56.6 58.3 6.2 11.9

Unemployed....................................................... 972 1,078 1,519 1,213 241 24.8

Looking for full-time work..................................... 624 771 1,110 837 213 34.1

Looking for part-time work.................................... 348 306 409 376 28 8.0

Unemployment rate.............................................. 6.3 6.9 8.8 7.0 0.7 11.1

Not in labor force.................................................... 12,329 12,095 10,527 10,388 -1,941 -15.7

Black or African American

Civilian noninstitutional population................................... 5,546 5,547 5,548 5,551 5 0.1

Civilian labor force.................................................. 2,706 2,907 3,011 3,060 354 13.1

Participation rate.................................................. 48.8 52.4 54.3 55.1 6.3 12.9

Employed.......................................................... 2,352 2,509 2,619 2,574 222 9.4

Employment-population ratio................................. 42.4 45.2 47.2 46.4 4.0 9.4

Unemployed....................................................... 354 398 391 486 132 37.3

Looking for full-time work..................................... 315 306 316 380 65 20.6

Looking for part-time work.................................... 39 92 76 106 67 171.8

Unemployment rate.............................................. 13.1 13.7 13.0 15.9 2.8 21.4

Not in labor force.................................................... 2,840 2,640 2,538 2,490 -350 -12.3
Table 1. Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population 16 to 24 years of age by sex, race, and

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, April-July 2022 — Continued

[Numbers in thousands. Data are not seasonally adjusted.]

Employment status, sex, race, and

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity April May June July

April-July changes

Number Percent

Asian

Civilian noninstitutional population................................... 2,246 2,240 2,244 2,203 -43 -1.9

Civilian labor force.................................................. 906 919 985 1,089 183 20.2

Participation rate.................................................. 40.3 41.0 43.9 49.4 9.1 22.6

Employed.......................................................... 854 863 881 971 117 13.7

Employment-population ratio................................. 38.0 38.6 39.3 44.1 6.1 16.1

Unemployed....................................................... 52 55 104 117 65 125.0

Looking for full-time work..................................... 42 41 75 103 61 145.2

Looking for part-time work.................................... 10 14 30 15 5 50.0

Unemployment rate.............................................. 5.7 6.0 10.6 10.8 5.1 89.5

Not in labor force.................................................... 1,340 1,321 1,259 1,114 -226 -16.9

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Civilian noninstitutional population................................... 9,141 9,158 9,175 9,193 52 0.6

Civilian labor force.................................................. 4,845 5,019 5,179 5,099 254 5.2

Participation rate.................................................. 53.0 54.8 56.4 55.5 2.5 4.7

Employed.......................................................... 4,526 4,607 4,642 4,607 81 1.8

Employment-population ratio................................. 49.5 50.3 50.6 50.1 0.6 1.2

Unemployed....................................................... 319 412 538 493 174 54.5

Looking for full-time work..................................... 211 304 436 330 119 56.4

Looking for part-time work.................................... 108 108 101 163 55 50.9

Unemployment rate.............................................. 6.6 8.2 10.4 9.7 3.1 47.0

Not in labor force.................................................... 4,296 4,138 3,996 4,093 -203 -4.7

NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (White, Black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all

races. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. Updated population controls are introduced annually with the

release of January data.
Table 2. Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population 16 to 24 years of age by sex, race, and

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, July 2019-2022

[Numbers in thousands. Data are not seasonally adjusted.]

Employment status, sex, race, and

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

July

2019

July

2020

July

2021

July

2022

TOTAL

Civilian noninstitutional population...................................................... 37,729 37,472 37,250 37,954

Civilian labor force..................................................................... 23,311 21,479 22,522 22,943

Participation rate..................................................................... 61.8 57.3 60.5 60.4

Employed............................................................................. 21,196 17,507 20,268 20,992

Employment-population ratio.................................................... 56.2 46.7 54.4 55.3

Unemployed.......................................................................... 2,115 3,973 2,254 1,951

Looking for full-time work........................................................ 1,447 2,651 1,697 1,415

Looking for part-time work....................................................... 668 1,321 557 536

Unemployment rate................................................................. 9.1 18.5 10.0 8.5

Not in labor force....................................................................... 14,417 15,993 14,728 15,011

Men

Civilian noninstitutional population...................................................... 18,964 18,813 18,692 19,065

Civilian labor force..................................................................... 11,977 10,990 11,547 11,763

Participation rate..................................................................... 63.2 58.4 61.8 61.7

Employed............................................................................. 10,857 8,966 10,294 10,733

Employment-population ratio.................................................... 57.3 47.7 55.1 56.3

Unemployed.......................................................................... 1,120 2,024 1,253 1,031

Looking for full-time work........................................................ 803 1,388 976 798

Looking for part-time work....................................................... 317 636 277 232

Unemployment rate................................................................. 9.4 18.4 10.9 8.8

Not in labor force....................................................................... 6,987 7,823 7,145 7,302

Women

Civilian noninstitutional population...................................................... 18,765 18,659 18,559 18,890

Civilian labor force..................................................................... 11,334 10,489 10,976 11,180

Participation rate..................................................................... 60.4 56.2 59.1 59.2

Employed............................................................................. 10,339 8,541 9,975 10,259

Employment-population ratio.................................................... 55.1 45.8 53.7 54.3

Unemployed.......................................................................... 995 1,949 1,001 921

Looking for full-time work........................................................ 645 1,263 721 617

Looking for part-time work....................................................... 350 686 280 304

Unemployment rate................................................................. 8.8 18.6 9.1 8.2

Not in labor force....................................................................... 7,430 8,170 7,583 7,710

White

Civilian noninstitutional population...................................................... 27,658 27,474 27,333 27,798

Civilian labor force..................................................................... 17,716 16,322 17,168 17,411

Participation rate..................................................................... 64.1 59.4 62.8 62.6

Employed............................................................................. 16,295 13,595 15,635 16,197

Employment-population ratio.................................................... 58.9 49.5 57.2 58.3

Unemployed.......................................................................... 1,421 2,727 1,533 1,213

Looking for full-time work........................................................ 938 1,819 1,170 837

Looking for part-time work....................................................... 483 908 363 376

Unemployment rate................................................................. 8.0 16.7 8.9 7.0

Not in labor force....................................................................... 9,942 11,152 10,165 10,388

Black or African American

Civilian noninstitutional population...................................................... 5,561 5,494 5,452 5,551

Civilian labor force..................................................................... 3,243 2,884 3,004 3,060

Participation rate..................................................................... 58.3 52.5 55.1 55.1

Employed............................................................................. 2,771 2,151 2,594 2,574

Employment-population ratio.................................................... 49.8 39.2 47.6 46.4

Unemployed.......................................................................... 472 733 410 486

Looking for full-time work........................................................ 374 537 325 380

Looking for part-time work....................................................... 98 196 85 106

Unemployment rate................................................................. 14.6 25.4 13.6 15.9

Not in labor force....................................................................... 2,318 2,610 2,448 2,490
Table 2. Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population 16 to 24 years of age by sex, race, and

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, July 2019-2022 — Continued

[Numbers in thousands. Data are not seasonally adjusted.]

Employment status, sex, race, and

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

July

2019

July

2020

July

2021

July

2022

Asian

Civilian noninstitutional population...................................................... 2,387 2,234 2,186 2,203

Civilian labor force..................................................................... 1,065 958 976 1,089

Participation rate..................................................................... 44.6 42.9 44.6 49.4

Employed............................................................................. 978 715 856 971

Employment-population ratio.................................................... 41.0 32.0 39.1 44.1

Unemployed.......................................................................... 87 243 120 117

Looking for full-time work........................................................ 37 138 70 103

Looking for part-time work....................................................... 50 106 50 15

Unemployment rate................................................................. 8.2 25.4 12.3 10.8

Not in labor force....................................................................... 1,322 1,277 1,210 1,114

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Civilian noninstitutional population...................................................... 8,750 8,810 8,880 9,193

Civilian labor force..................................................................... 5,059 4,789 5,044 5,099

Participation rate..................................................................... 57.8 54.4 56.8 55.5

Employed............................................................................. 4,485 3,752 4,456 4,607

Employment-population ratio.................................................... 51.3 42.6 50.2 50.1

Unemployed.......................................................................... 574 1,037 588 493

Looking for full-time work........................................................ 384 726 472 330

Looking for part-time work....................................................... 190 311 116 163

Unemployment rate................................................................. 11.3 21.7 11.7 9.7

Not in labor force....................................................................... 3,691 4,021 3,836 4,093

NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (White, Black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all

races. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. Updated population controls are introduced annually with the

release of January data.
Table 3. Employed persons 16 to 24 years of age by industry, class of worker, race, and Hispanic or Latino

ethnicity, July 2021-2022

[Numbers in thousands. Data are not seasonally adjusted.]

Industry and class of worker

Total White Black or African

American Asian Hispanic or Latinoethnicity

July

2021

July

2022

July

2021

July

2022

July

2021

July

2022

July

2021

July

2022

July

2021

July

2022

Total employed.................................. 20,268 20,992 15,635 16,197 2,594 2,574 856 971 4,456 4,607

Agriculture and related industries.......... 251 347 238 317 4 11 0 0 52 75

Nonagricultural industries................... 20,017 20,645 15,397 15,880 2,590 2,563 856 971 4,404 4,531

Private wage and salary workers1

....... 18,396 19,014 14,108 14,661 2,399 2,346 795 886 4,088 4,216

Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas

extraction.............................. 29 54 29 39 0 4 0 0 10 5

Construction............................. 1,002 1,190 882 971 62 116 6 0 340 429

Manufacturing........................... 1,212 1,339 976 1,008 135 161 25 101 258 246

Durable goods........................ 758 846 600 648 75 87 18 55 159 154

Nondurable goods.................... 455 493 376 360 60 73 7 46 99 92

Wholesale trade......................... 231 236 171 168 27 25 20 27 53 52

Retail trade.............................. 4,061 3,916 3,036 3,008 641 587 132 122 922 919

Transportation and utilities............. 831 1,115 538 810 196 201 31 41 258 267

Information............................... 239 205 193 162 11 21 26 9 18 42

Financial activities...................... 660 593 487 487 97 53 52 51 105 88

Professional and business services... 1,745 1,794 1,286 1,362 220 183 140 156 328 381

Education and health services........ 2,379 2,468 1,809 1,871 334 347 146 145 437 457

Leisure and hospitality................. 5,161 5,115 3,990 3,972 601 581 190 201 1,193 1,083

Other services........................... 847 988 711 806 76 67 29 33 166 248

Government wage and salary

workers................................... 1,130 1,223 902 908 124 176 47 49 187 221

Federal................................... 233 223 196 132 3 56 15 14 32 41

State...................................... 360 355 280 296 49 21 17 15 56 57

Local...................................... 538 645 427 481 72 99 15 21 98 122

Self-employed, unincorporated, and

unpaid family workers.................. 491 408 388 311 68 41 13 37 129 94

1

Includes self-employed workers whose businesses are incorporated.

NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (White, Black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all

races. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. Updated population controls are introduced annually with the

release of January data.