Internet address:  http://stats.bls.gov/newsrels.htm
Technical information:  (202) 691-6378  USDL 00-243

                                        For release:  10:00 A.M. EDT
Media contact:                691-5902  Tuesday, August 22, 2000

                                     
            EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG YOUTH--SUMMER 2000
                                     
   The number of employed youth 16 to 24 years old increased by nearly 
2.2 million between April and July, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the 
U.S. Department of Labor reported today.  This year's seasonal expansion in
employment of 16- to 24-year-olds brought the employment-population ratio
for the group to 65.0 percent, about what it had been in July 1998 and 
July 1999.  The number of unemployed youth normally grows at this time of 
year as well and this year increased by 469,000.  (Because the focus of this
analysis is the seasonal changes in youth employment and unemployment that
occur every 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 as high school and
college students take or search for summer employment.  Recent graduates
who are looking for more permanent employment also add to this seasonal
increase.  The April-to-July increase for 2000 was 2.6 million, resulting
in a total youth labor force of 24.7 million in July.  (See table 1.)
   
   The labor force participation rate for youth--the proportion of the 
youth population working or looking for work--was 71.9 percent in July.  
Labor force participation for young men each July has been trending down 
since 1990 and has now reached its lowest point on record, 75.4 percent.  
The youth labor force participation rates for women (68.4 percent), whites
(74.8 percent), and blacks (62.0 percent) were little changed from their
July 1999 levels.  (See table 2.)
   
Employment
   
   Nearly 22.4 million youths were employed this July, representing
65.0 percent of the population of 16- to 24-year-olds.  The employment-
population ratios for young men (68.1 percent), women (61.9 percent),
whites (68.9 percent), and blacks (49.4 percent) were very similar to
those in recent years.
   
   Almost 9 out of every 10 employed youth were wage and salary workers in
the private nonfarm sector in July.  Almost 70 percent of this group were
employed in either retail trade (7.4 million) or services (6.3 million).
The government employed 1.5 million youths this July.  Local governments
accounted for just over half of these, a slight drop since last year.
(See table 3.)

                                  - 2 -

Unemployment
   
   Almost 2.4 million youths were unemployed in July--that is, they were
not working, but were actively looking for work and were available to take
a job.  The youth unemployment rate was 9.6 percent.  This is the lowest
summer youth unemployment rate since 1969.  In July, jobless rates were
9.7 percent for young men, 9.5 percent for women, 7.8 percent for white
youth, and 20.3 percent for black youth.  These rates were all slightly
lower than in 1999, following the downward trend of recent years.
Technical Note


     The estimates in this release were obtained from the Current Population
Survey (CPS), a national sample survey of 50,000 households conducted monthly
for the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) by the Bureau of the Census.  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 tran-
sition from school to work.  July is the peak summer month of youth
employment.

     Beginning in January 2000, data reflect revised population controls used
in the household survey. For additional information, see "Revisions in the
Current Population Survey Effective January 2000" in the February 2000 issue
of Employment and Earnings.

     Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request.  Voice phone:  202-691-5200; TDD message referral
phone: 1-800-877-8339.

Reliability

     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 exact difference, or sampling error, varies
depending upon the particular sample selected, and this 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.

     For a full discussion of the reliability of data from the CPS and
information on estimating standard errors, see the "Explanatory Notes and
Estimates of Error" section of Employment and Earnings.

                                  - 2 -

Definitions

     The principal definitions used in this release are described briefly
below.

     Employed persons are (a) all those who, during the survey reference
week, did any work at all as paid employees, worked in their own business,
profession, or on their own farm, or who worked 15 hours or more as unpaid
workers in a family-operated enterprise; and (b) all those who did not work
but had jobs or businesses from which they were temporarily absent due to
illness, bad weather, vacation, child-care problems, labor disputes or
personal reasons, whether or not they were paid by their employers for the
time off and whether or not they were seeking other jobs.

     Unemployed persons are all persons who had no employment during the
reference week, were available for work, except for temporary illness, and
had made specific efforts to find employment sometime during the 4 weeks
preceding the survey.  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.

     Civilian labor force comprises all persons classified as employed or
unemployed.

     Unemployment rate represents the number of unemployed persons as a
percent of the civilian labor force.

     Not in the labor force includes all persons who are not classified as
employed or unemployed.

     Industry and class of worker for the employed relate to the job held in
the survey reference week.  Persons with two or more jobs are classified in
the job at which they worked the greatest number of hours.  In terms of class-
of-worker categories, wage and salary workers are those who receive wages,
salaries, commissions, tips, or pay-in-kind from a private employer or from a
government unit; self-employed persons are those who work for profit or fees
in their own business, profession, or trade, or operate a farm; and unpaid
family workers are persons working without pay for 15 hours a week or more in
an enterprise operated by a member of their family.
     Table 1.  Employment status of the civilian population 16 to 24 years of age by sex and race, April-July 2000

     (Numbers in thousands.  Data are not seasonally adjusted.)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                          April-July    
                                                                                                          changes(1)    
                Employment status, sex, and race               April      May       June      July                      
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                       Number   Percent 
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                              TOTAL                                                                                     
                                                                                                                        
     Civilian noninstitutional population...................   34,372    34,346    34,393    34,422        50       0.1    
       Civilian labor force.................................   22,101    22,259    24,469    24,747     2,647      12.0 
             Participation rate.............................     64.3      64.8      71.1      71.9       7.6      11.8 
         Employed...........................................   20,191    20,078    21,926    22,368     2,177      10.8 
             Employment-population ratio (2)................     58.7      58.5      63.8      65.0       6.3      10.6 
         Unemployed.........................................    1,910     2,181     2,544     2,379       469      24.6 
           Looking for full-time work.......................    1,272     1,545     1,886     1,746       474      37.2 
           Looking for part-time work.......................      638       636       658       633        -5       -.7 
             Unemployment rate..............................      8.6       9.8      10.4       9.6       1.0      11.2 
       Not in labor force...................................   12,271    12,087     9,924     9,674    -2,596     -21.2 
                                                                                                                        
                               Men                                                                                      
                                                                                                                        
     Civilian noninstitutional population...................   17,240    17,251    17,250    17,286        46        .3 
       Civilian labor force.................................   11,532    11,677    12,868    13,030     1,498      13.0 
             Participation rate.............................     66.9      67.7      74.6      75.4       8.5      12.7 
         Employed...........................................   10,480    10,534    11,530    11,766     1,286      12.3 
             Employment-population ratio (2)................     60.8      61.1      66.8      68.1       7.3      12.0 
         Unemployed.........................................    1,052     1,144     1,338     1,264       212      20.2 
           Looking for full-time work.......................      678       827     1,013       995       317      46.8 
           Looking for part-time work.......................      374       316       325       269      -105     -28.1 
             Unemployment rate..............................      9.1       9.8      10.4       9.7        .6       6.3 
       Not in labor force...................................    5,707     5,574     4,382     4,256    -1,451     -25.4 
                                                                                                                        
                              Women                                                                                     
                                                                                                                        
     Civilian noninstitutional population...................   17,132    17,095    17,143    17,136         4     (3)   
       Civilian labor force.................................   10,569    10,582    11,602    11,718     1,149      10.9 
             Participation rate.............................     61.7      61.9      67.7      68.4       6.7      10.8 
         Employed...........................................    9,711     9,545    10,396    10,603       891       9.2 
             Employment-population ratio (2)................     56.7      55.8      60.6      61.9       5.2       9.2 
         Unemployed.........................................      858     1,037     1,206     1,115       257      30.0 
           Looking for full-time work.......................      595       718       872       751       156      26.3 
           Looking for part-time work.......................      263       320       333       364       101      38.2 
             Unemployment rate..............................      8.1       9.8      10.4       9.5       1.4      17.2 
       Not in labor force...................................    6,563     6,513     5,542     5,419    -1,145     -17.4 
                                                                                                                        
                              White                                                                                     
                                                                                                                        
     Civilian noninstitutional population...................   27,342    27,369    27,398    27,431        89        .3 
       Civilian labor force.................................   18,322    18,456    20,303    20,519     2,197      12.0 
             Participation rate.............................     67.0      67.4      74.1      74.8       7.8      11.6 
         Employed...........................................   16,941    16,959    18,570    18,913     1,972      11.6 
             Employment-population ratio (2)................     62.0      62.0      67.8      68.9       6.9      11.3 
         Unemployed.........................................    1,380     1,497     1,733     1,606       226      16.3 
           Looking for full-time work.......................      880     1,057     1,264     1,146       266      30.2 
           Looking for part-time work.......................      500       440       469       459       -40      -8.2 
             Unemployment rate..............................      7.5       8.1       8.5       7.8        .3       3.9 
       Not in labor force...................................    9,020     8,913     7,095     6,913    -2,108     -23.4 
                                                                                                                        
                              Black                                                                                     
                                                                                                                        
     Civilian noninstitutional population...................    5,145     5,148     5,153     5,158        14        .3 
       Civilian labor force.................................    2,868     2,850     3,103     3,200       332      11.6 
             Participation rate.............................     55.7      55.4      60.2      62.0       6.3      11.3 
         Employed...........................................    2,407     2,271     2,440     2,549       142       5.9 
             Employment-population ratio (2)................     46.8      44.1      47.3      49.4       2.6       5.6 
         Unemployed.........................................      461       579       663       651       190      41.3 
           Looking for full-time work.......................      347       422       536       519       172      49.6 
           Looking for part-time work.......................      114       157       127       132        18      15.9 
             Unemployment rate..............................     16.1      20.3      21.4      20.3       4.3      26.6 
       Not in labor force...................................    2,277     2,298     2,050     1,959      -318     -14.0 

       1 Changes are calculated using unrounded data.
       2 Employment as a percent of the civilian noninstitutional population.
       3 Less than 0.05 percent.
         NOTE:  Beginning in January 2000, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
     Table 2.  Employment status of the civilian population 16 to 24 years of age by sex and race, July 1997-2000

     (Numbers in thousands.  Data are not seasonally adjusted.)
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                  
                     Employment status, sex, and race                        1997           1998           1999           2000     
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                  
                                   TOTAL                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                  
     Civilian noninstitutional population.............................      32,803         33,266         34,000         34,422   
       Civilian labor force...........................................      23,931         24,225         24,672         24,748   
             Participation rate.......................................        73.0           72.8           72.6           71.9   
         Employed.....................................................      21,197         21,599         22,178         22,368   
             Employment-population ratio (1)..........................        64.6           64.9           65.2           65.0   
         Unemployed...................................................       2,734          2,626          2,494          2,379   
           Looking for full-time work.................................       2,005          1,910          1,888          1,746   
           Looking for part-time work.................................         729            716            607            633   
             Unemployment rate........................................        11.4           10.8           10.1            9.6   
       Not in labor force.............................................       8,872          9,041          9,327          9,674   
                                                                                                                                  
                                    Men                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                  
     Civilian noninstitutional population.............................      16,548         16,779         17,076         17,286   
       Civilian labor force...........................................      12,653         12,807         12,975         13,030   
             Participation rate.......................................        76.5           76.3           76.0           75.4   
         Employed.....................................................      11,207         11,370         11,638         11,766   
             Employment-population ratio (1)..........................        67.7           67.8           68.2           68.1   
         Unemployed...................................................       1,446          1,436          1,337          1,264   
           Looking for full-time work.................................       1,094          1,083          1,053            995   
           Looking for part-time work.................................         352            353            284            269   
             Unemployment rate........................................        11.4           11.2           10.3            9.7   
       Not in labor force.............................................       3,894          3,973          4,102          4,256   
                                                                                                                                  
                                   Women                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                  
     Civilian noninstitutional population.............................      16,256         16,487         16,923         17,136   
       Civilian labor force...........................................      11,278         11,418         11,697         11,718   
             Participation rate.......................................        69.4           69.3           69.1           68.4   
         Employed.....................................................       9,990         10,228         10,540         10,603   
             Employment-population ratio (1)..........................        61.5           62.0           62.3           61.9   
         Unemployed...................................................       1,289          1,190          1,157          1,115   
           Looking for full-time work.................................         912            827            834            751   
           Looking for part-time work.................................         377            363            323            364   
             Unemployment rate........................................        11.4           10.4            9.9            9.5   
       Not in labor force.............................................       4,977          5,068          5,226          5,419   
                                                                                                                                  
                                   White                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                  
     Civilian noninstitutional population.............................      26,159         26,606         27,138         27,431   
       Civilian labor force...........................................      19,901         20,028         20,425         20,519   
             Participation rate.......................................        76.1           75.3           75.3           74.8   
         Employed.....................................................      17,992         18,343         18,763         18,913   
             Employment-population ratio (1)..........................        68.8           68.9           69.1           68.9   
         Unemployed...................................................       1,909          1,685          1,662          1,606   
           Looking for full-time work.................................       1,412          1,178          1,244          1,146   
           Looking for part-time work.................................         497            507            417            459   
             Unemployment rate........................................         9.6            8.4            8.1            7.8   
       Not in labor force.............................................       6,258          6,578          6,713          6,913   
                                                                                                                                  
                                   Black                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                  
     Civilian noninstitutional population.............................       4,958          4,993          5,102          5,158   
       Civilian labor force...........................................       3,030          3,216          3,242          3,200   
             Participation rate.......................................        61.1           64.4           63.5           62.0   
         Employed.....................................................       2,347          2,419          2,532          2,549   
             Employment-population ratio (1)..........................        47.3           48.4           49.6           49.4   
         Unemployed...................................................         684            797            709            651   
           Looking for full-time work.................................         500            636            581            519   
           Looking for part-time work.................................         183            161            128            132   
             Unemployment rate........................................        22.6           24.8           21.9           20.3   
       Not in labor force.............................................       1,927          1,777          1,860          1,959   

       1 Employment as a percent of the civilian noninstitutional population.
         NOTE:  Beginning in January 2000, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
     Table 3.  Employed persons 16 to 24 years of age by industry, class of worker, and race, July 1999-2000

     (Numbers in thousands.  Data are not seasonally adjusted.)
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                        
                                                                    Total               White               Black       
                  Industry and class of worker                                                                          
                                                                                                                        
                                                                1999      2000      1999      2000      1999      2000  
                                                                                                                        
           Total employed...................................   22,178    22,368    18,763    18,913     2,532     2,549 
                                                                                                                        
       Agriculture .........................................      763       688       728       653        16        19 
       Nonagricultural industries...........................   21,415    21,680    18,035    18,260     2,516     2,529 
         Private wage and salary workers....................   19,498    19,896    16,436    16,783     2,299     2,337 
           Mining...........................................       51        38        51        38         -         -   
           Construction.....................................    1,310     1,547     1,208     1,473        67        52 
           Manufacturing....................................    2,020     2,088     1,668     1,793       253       210 
           Transportation and public utilities..............      828     1,018       662       777       134       200 
           Wholesale trade..................................      650       669       598       576        28        63 
           Retail trade.....................................    7,566     7,387     6,535     6,201       766       901 
           Finance, insurance, and real estate..............    1,008       868       784       707       176       119 
           Services.........................................    6,064     6,281     4,930     5,217       874       793 
                                                                                                                        
         Government.........................................    1,526     1,514     1,232     1,249       200       168 
           Federal..........................................      180       193       140       136        25        38 
           State............................................      463       547       376       456        59        49 
           Local............................................      882       775       717       657       116        81 
                                                                                                                        
         Self-employed and unpaid family workers............      392       270       366       228        18        24 

           NOTE:  Beginning in January 2000, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
         Dash represents zero.