For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Wednesday, August 18, 2021 USDL-21-1515

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 2021

In July 2021, 54.4 percent of young people (persons ages 16 to 24) were employed, the U.S. 

Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This was up from 46.7 percent in July 2020—when 

youth employment was unusually low due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic—but down 

from 56.2 percent in July 2019, before the pandemic. (The month of July typically is the 

summertime peak in youth employment.) The unemployment rate for youth was 10.0 percent in 

July 2021, down considerably from the rate in July 2020 (18.5 percent) but up 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 2.4 

million, or 11.7 percent, to a total of 22.5 million in July. (See table 1.) 

The labor force participation rate for all youth was 60.5 percent in July 2021, an increase of 3.2 

percentage points 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.) 

(See table 2.) The large over-the-year increase in the youth labor force participation rate partly 

reflects widespread business closures and other restrictions in the early stages of the coronavirus 

(COVID-19) pandemic, which held down youth employment in July 2020. Despite the large 

increase in 2021, the July youth labor force participation rate was 1.3 percentage points lower 

than its 2019 level. 

In 2021, the July labor force participation rate for 16- to 24-year-old men, at 61.8 percent, was 

up by 3.4 percentage points over the year but down by 1.4 percentage points from 2019. The July 

rate for young women increased by 2.9 percentage points in 2021 to 59.1 percent but was 1.3 

percentage points lower than in 2019. Youth labor force participation rates for Whites (62.8 

percent), Blacks (55.1 percent), and Hispanics (56.8 percent) were higher in July 2021 than they 

were a year earlier when participation rates for these groups declined abruptly due to the 

coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. However, the July 2021 participation rate for Asians (44.6 
-2-

percent) changed little over the year. The July 2021 participation rate for young Whites and for 

young Blacks were 1.3 percentage points and 3.2 percentage points lower, respectively, than in 

July 2019. The participation rate for young Asians, at 44.6 percent in July 2021, was the same as 

in July 2019, and the rate for Hispanics, at 56.8 percent in July 2021, was little different than the 

rate in July 2019. (See table 2.)

Employment

In July 2021, there were 20.3 million employed 16- to 24-year-olds. Between April and July, the 

number of employed youth rose by 2.1 million, or 11.8 percent. The employment-population 

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

a job—was 54.4 percent in July 2021, an increase of 7.7 percentage points from the prior year. 

However, the July 2021 ratio was lower than the July 2019 ratio of 56.2 percent. (See tables 1 

and 2.) 

Employment-population ratios were higher in July 2021 than they were a year earlier for young 

men (55.1 percent), women (53.7 percent), Whites (57.2 percent), Blacks (47.6 percent), Asians 

(39.1 percent), and Hispanics (50.2 percent). However, for each of these groups the ratios in July 

2021 were lower than July 2019. 

In July 2021, 25 percent (5.2 million) of employed 16- to 24-year-olds worked in the leisure and 

hospitality industry, the largest share of youth workers. The leisure and hospitality industry, 

which includes food services, was particularly affected by pandemic-related job losses. As 

pandemic-related restrictions began to ease in 2021, youth employment in the leisure and 

hospitality industry started to rebound; it was up by 981,000 from July 2020 to July 2021. (By 

comparison, employment in the industry was down by 1.1 million from July 2019 to July 2020.) 

An additional 20 percent of employed youth worked in the retail trade industry in July 2021, 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 221,000 from April to July 2021. Three-fourths of the 

unemployed youth were looking for full-time work in July 2021, compared with about two-thirds 

in July 2018, 2019, and 2020. (See tables 1 and 2.) 

The youth unemployment rate, at 10.0 percent in July 2021, was down from 18.5 percent in July 

2020 but was higher than the July 2019 rate of 9.1 percent. The July 2021 unemployment rates 

for young men (10.9 percent), women (9.1 percent), Whites (8.9 percent), Blacks (13.6 percent), 

Asians (12.3 percent), and Hispanics (11.7 percent) were all substantially lower than in the prior 

summer. 
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.

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.

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 2021

[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................................... 37,290 37,274 37,262 37,250 -40 -0.1

Civilian labor force.................................................. 20,159 20,471 22,120 22,522 2,363 11.7

Participation rate.................................................. 54.1 54.9 59.4 60.5 6.4 11.8

Employed.......................................................... 18,126 18,410 19,701 20,268 2,142 11.8

Employment-population ratio................................. 48.6 49.4 52.9 54.4 5.8 11.9

Unemployed....................................................... 2,033 2,062 2,419 2,254 221 10.9

Looking for full-time work..................................... 1,499 1,553 1,780 1,697 198 13.2

Looking for part-time work.................................... 534 509 638 557 23 4.3

Unemployment rate.............................................. 10.1 10.1 10.9 10.0 -0.1 -1.0

Not in labor force.................................................... 17,131 16,803 15,142 14,728 -2,403 -14.0

Men

Civilian noninstitutional population................................... 18,713 18,705 18,698 18,692 -21 -0.1

Civilian labor force.................................................. 10,376 10,484 11,270 11,547 1,171 11.3

Participation rate.................................................. 55.5 56.1 60.3 61.8 6.3 11.4

Employed.......................................................... 9,231 9,353 9,972 10,294 1,063 11.5

Employment-population ratio................................. 49.3 50.0 53.3 55.1 5.8 11.8

Unemployed....................................................... 1,146 1,132 1,298 1,253 107 9.3

Looking for full-time work..................................... 882 926 964 976 94 10.7

Looking for part-time work.................................... 264 206 334 277 13 4.9

Unemployment rate.............................................. 11.0 10.8 11.5 10.9 -0.1 -0.9

Not in labor force.................................................... 8,337 8,220 7,428 7,145 -1,192 -14.3

Women

Civilian noninstitutional population................................... 18,577 18,570 18,564 18,559 -18 -0.1

Civilian labor force.................................................. 9,783 9,987 10,850 10,976 1,193 12.2

Participation rate.................................................. 52.7 53.8 58.4 59.1 6.4 12.1

Employed.......................................................... 8,895 9,057 9,729 9,975 1,080 12.1

Employment-population ratio................................. 47.9 48.8 52.4 53.7 5.8 12.1

Unemployed....................................................... 887 930 1,121 1,001 114 12.9

Looking for full-time work..................................... 617 627 816 721 104 16.9

Looking for part-time work.................................... 270 303 305 280 10 3.7

Unemployment rate.............................................. 9.1 9.3 10.3 9.1 0.0 0.0

Not in labor force.................................................... 8,794 8,583 7,714 7,583 -1,211 -13.8

White

Civilian noninstitutional population................................... 27,366 27,354 27,343 27,333 -33 -0.1

Civilian labor force.................................................. 15,461 15,706 16,857 17,168 1,707 11.0

Participation rate.................................................. 56.5 57.4 61.7 62.8 6.3 11.2

Employed.......................................................... 14,082 14,371 15,188 15,635 1,553 11.0

Employment-population ratio................................. 51.5 52.5 55.5 57.2 5.7 11.1

Unemployed....................................................... 1,379 1,335 1,669 1,533 154 11.2

Looking for full-time work..................................... 1,025 1,009 1,246 1,170 145 14.1

Looking for part-time work.................................... 353 327 423 363 10 2.8

Unemployment rate.............................................. 8.9 8.5 9.9 8.9 0.0 0.0

Not in labor force.................................................... 11,905 11,648 10,486 10,165 -1,740 -14.6

Black or African American

Civilian noninstitutional population................................... 5,458 5,456 5,454 5,452 -6 -0.1

Civilian labor force.................................................. 2,664 2,634 2,994 3,004 340 12.8

Participation rate.................................................. 48.8 48.3 54.9 55.1 6.3 12.9

Employed.......................................................... 2,238 2,195 2,586 2,594 356 15.9

Employment-population ratio................................. 41.0 40.2 47.4 47.6 6.6 16.1

Unemployed....................................................... 426 439 408 410 -16 -3.8

Looking for full-time work..................................... 334 329 343 325 -9 -2.7

Looking for part-time work.................................... 92 110 66 85 -7 -7.6

Unemployment rate.............................................. 16.0 16.7 13.6 13.6 -2.4 -15.0

Not in labor force.................................................... 2,794 2,821 2,460 2,448 -346 -12.4
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 2021 — 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................................... 2,139 2,185 2,143 2,186 47 2.2

Civilian labor force.................................................. 815 873 903 976 161 19.8

Participation rate.................................................. 38.1 39.9 42.1 44.6 6.5 17.1

Employed.......................................................... 742 783 779 856 114 15.4

Employment-population ratio................................. 34.7 35.9 36.3 39.1 4.4 12.7

Unemployed....................................................... 74 89 124 120 46 62.2

Looking for full-time work..................................... 34 61 60 70 36 105.9

Looking for part-time work.................................... 40 28 64 50 10 25.0

Unemployment rate.............................................. 9.0 10.2 13.8 12.3 3.3 36.7

Not in labor force.................................................... 1,323 1,312 1,240 1,210 -113 -8.5

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Civilian noninstitutional population................................... 8,855 8,863 8,872 8,880 25 0.3

Civilian labor force.................................................. 4,703 4,634 4,932 5,044 341 7.3

Participation rate.................................................. 53.1 52.3 55.6 56.8 3.7 7.0

Employed.......................................................... 4,124 4,114 4,346 4,456 332 8.1

Employment-population ratio................................. 46.6 46.4 49.0 50.2 3.6 7.7

Unemployed....................................................... 579 520 585 588 9 1.6

Looking for full-time work..................................... 430 402 427 472 42 9.8

Looking for part-time work.................................... 149 118 158 116 -33 -22.1

Unemployment rate.............................................. 12.3 11.2 11.9 11.7 -0.6 -4.9

Not in labor force.................................................... 4,152 4,229 3,940 3,836 -316 -7.6

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 2018-2021

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

Employment status, sex, race, and

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

July

2018

July

2019

July

2020

July

2021

TOTAL

Civilian noninstitutional population...................................................... 37,997 37,729 37,472 37,250

Civilian labor force..................................................................... 23,016 23,311 21,479 22,522

Participation rate..................................................................... 60.6 61.8 57.3 60.5

Employed............................................................................. 20,897 21,196 17,507 20,268

Employment-population ratio.................................................... 55.0 56.2 46.7 54.4

Unemployed.......................................................................... 2,119 2,115 3,973 2,254

Looking for full-time work........................................................ 1,458 1,447 2,651 1,697

Looking for part-time work....................................................... 660 668 1,321 557

Unemployment rate................................................................. 9.2 9.1 18.5 10.0

Not in labor force....................................................................... 14,981 14,417 15,993 14,728

Men

Civilian noninstitutional population...................................................... 19,128 18,964 18,813 18,692

Civilian labor force..................................................................... 11,695 11,977 10,990 11,547

Participation rate..................................................................... 61.1 63.2 58.4 61.8

Employed............................................................................. 10,550 10,857 8,966 10,294

Employment-population ratio.................................................... 55.2 57.3 47.7 55.1

Unemployed.......................................................................... 1,145 1,120 2,024 1,253

Looking for full-time work........................................................ 828 803 1,388 976

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

Unemployment rate................................................................. 9.8 9.4 18.4 10.9

Not in labor force....................................................................... 7,433 6,987 7,823 7,145

Women

Civilian noninstitutional population...................................................... 18,869 18,765 18,659 18,559

Civilian labor force..................................................................... 11,321 11,334 10,489 10,976

Participation rate..................................................................... 60.0 60.4 56.2 59.1

Employed............................................................................. 10,347 10,339 8,541 9,975

Employment-population ratio.................................................... 54.8 55.1 45.8 53.7

Unemployed.......................................................................... 974 995 1,949 1,001

Looking for full-time work........................................................ 630 645 1,263 721

Looking for part-time work....................................................... 344 350 686 280

Unemployment rate................................................................. 8.6 8.8 18.6 9.1

Not in labor force....................................................................... 7,548 7,430 8,170 7,583

White

Civilian noninstitutional population...................................................... 27,866 27,658 27,474 27,333

Civilian labor force..................................................................... 17,509 17,716 16,322 17,168

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

Employed............................................................................. 16,174 16,295 13,595 15,635

Employment-population ratio.................................................... 58.0 58.9 49.5 57.2

Unemployed.......................................................................... 1,335 1,421 2,727 1,533

Looking for full-time work........................................................ 863 938 1,819 1,170

Looking for part-time work....................................................... 471 483 908 363

Unemployment rate................................................................. 7.6 8.0 16.7 8.9

Not in labor force....................................................................... 10,357 9,942 11,152 10,165

Black or African American

Civilian noninstitutional population...................................................... 5,668 5,561 5,494 5,452

Civilian labor force..................................................................... 3,203 3,243 2,884 3,004

Participation rate..................................................................... 56.5 58.3 52.5 55.1

Employed............................................................................. 2,675 2,771 2,151 2,594

Employment-population ratio.................................................... 47.2 49.8 39.2 47.6

Unemployed.......................................................................... 528 472 733 410

Looking for full-time work........................................................ 438 374 537 325

Looking for part-time work....................................................... 90 98 196 85

Unemployment rate................................................................. 16.5 14.6 25.4 13.6

Not in labor force....................................................................... 2,465 2,318 2,610 2,448
Table 2. Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population 16 to 24 years of age by sex, race, and

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, July 2018-2021 — Continued

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

Employment status, sex, race, and

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

July

2018

July

2019

July

2020

July

2021

Asian

Civilian noninstitutional population...................................................... 2,302 2,387 2,234 2,186

Civilian labor force..................................................................... 997 1,065 958 976

Participation rate..................................................................... 43.3 44.6 42.9 44.6

Employed............................................................................. 913 978 715 856

Employment-population ratio.................................................... 39.7 41.0 32.0 39.1

Unemployed.......................................................................... 84 87 243 120

Looking for full-time work........................................................ 59 37 138 70

Looking for part-time work....................................................... 25 50 106 50

Unemployment rate................................................................. 8.4 8.2 25.4 12.3

Not in labor force....................................................................... 1,305 1,322 1,277 1,210

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Civilian noninstitutional population...................................................... 8,687 8,750 8,810 8,880

Civilian labor force..................................................................... 5,035 5,059 4,789 5,044

Participation rate..................................................................... 58.0 57.8 54.4 56.8

Employed............................................................................. 4,492 4,485 3,752 4,456

Employment-population ratio.................................................... 51.7 51.3 42.6 50.2

Unemployed.......................................................................... 543 574 1,037 588

Looking for full-time work........................................................ 362 384 726 472

Looking for part-time work....................................................... 181 190 311 116

Unemployment rate................................................................. 10.8 11.3 21.7 11.7

Not in labor force....................................................................... 3,652 3,691 4,021 3,836

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 2020-2021

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

Industry and class of worker

Total White Black or African

American Asian Hispanic or Latinoethnicity

July

2020

July

2021

July

2020

July

2021

July

2020

July

2021

July

2020

July

2021

July

2020

July

2021

Total employed.................................. 17,507 20,268 13,595 15,635 2,151 2,594 715 856 3,752 4,456

Agriculture and related industries.......... 298 251 278 238 1 4 1 0 58 52

Nonagricultural industries................... 17,209 20,017 13,317 15,397 2,151 2,590 713 856 3,694 4,404

Private wage and salary workers1

....... 15,693 18,396 12,172 14,108 1,970 2,399 662 795 3,383 4,088

Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas

extraction.............................. 46 29 24 29 8 0 14 0 14 10

Construction............................. 933 1,002 813 882 56 62 12 6 264 340

Manufacturing........................... 1,189 1,212 972 976 135 135 53 25 244 258

Durable goods........................ 727 758 604 600 72 75 39 18 136 159

Nondurable goods.................... 462 455 368 376 64 60 14 7 107 99

Wholesale trade......................... 230 231 179 171 36 27 5 20 16 53

Retail trade.............................. 3,558 4,061 2,711 3,036 439 641 167 132 846 922

Transportation and utilities............. 673 831 482 538 95 196 45 31 209 258

Information............................... 117 239 96 193 13 11 0 26 28 18

Financial activities...................... 642 660 470 487 100 97 43 52 121 105

Professional and business services... 1,352 1,745 1,092 1,286 116 220 80 140 248 328

Education and health services........ 1,905 2,379 1,460 1,809 282 334 73 146 326 437

Leisure and hospitality................. 4,180 5,161 3,186 3,990 621 601 92 190 906 1,193

Other services........................... 871 847 687 711 67 76 77 29 161 166

Government wage and salary

workers................................... 1,145 1,130 853 902 129 124 49 47 226 187

Federal................................... 215 233 113 196 52 3 8 15 19 32

State...................................... 406 360 309 280 51 49 17 17 94 56

Local...................................... 524 538 431 427 26 72 24 15 114 98

Self-employed, unincorporated, and

unpaid family workers.................. 371 491 292 388 51 68 3 13 85 129

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.