EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG YOUTH …

For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Wednesday, August 16, 2023

USDL-23-1792

Technical information: (202) 691-6378 ? cpsinfo@ ? cps

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EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG YOUTH -- SUMMER 2023

In July 2023, 55.0 percent of young people (persons ages 16 to 24) were employed, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This measure was little changed from 55.3 percent in July 2022. The July 2023 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 8.7 percent in July 2023, little different than the rates in July 2022 (8.5 percent) and in 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. In 2023, the youth labor force grew by 2.2 million, or 10.4 percent, from April (21.5 million) to July (23.7 million). (See table 1.)

The labor force participation rate for all youth was 60.2 percent in July 2023, 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.) (See table 2.)

In 2023, the July labor force participation rate for 16- to 24-year-old men, at 60.4 percent, was down over the year. The July rate for young women, at 60.0 percent, was little different from a year earlier. Continuing a long-standing pattern, Whites had the highest youth labor force participation rate and Asians had the lowest rate (62.6 percent and 49.8 percent, respectively) in July 2023. The participation rates for Black (53.5 percent) and Asian (49.8 percent) youth showed little change over the year. After adjusting for population controls, the participation rates for White (62.6 percent) and Hispanic (57.5 percent) youth also showed little change over the year.

Employment

In July 2023, there were 21.6 million employed 16- to 24-year-olds. Between April and July, the number of employed youth rose by 1.4 million, or 6.9 percent. The employment-population ratio for youth--the proportion of the 16- to 24-year-old civilian noninstitutional population with a job--was 55.0 percent in July 2023, little changed from the prior year. (See tables 1 and 2.)

In July 2023, the employment-population ratios for young men (54.9 percent) and Blacks (43.8 percent) were lower than they were a year earlier. The ratios for young women (55.1 percent), Asians (47.0 percent), and Hispanics (51.5 percent) were little changed.

In July 2023, 25 percent (5.3 million) of employed 16- to 24-year-olds worked in the leisure and hospitality industry, the largest share of youth workers. An additional 18 percent of employed youth worked in the retail trade industry, and 13 percent worked in education and health services. (See table 3.)

Unemployment

Typically, the number of unemployed young people increases with the onset of summer, as people who were not in the labor force while attending school begin seeking employment. Unemployment among youth rose by 826,000 from April to July 2023. About 7 in 10 of the unemployed youth were looking for full-time work in July 2023, little different from the prior year. (See tables 1 and 2.)

The youth unemployment rate, at 8.7 percent in July 2023, was little changed from July 2022. The July 2023 unemployment rate was lower for young Asians (5.6 percent) than in the prior summer, while the rates for young men (9.2 percent), women (8.2 percent), Whites (7.0 percent), Blacks (18.0 percent), and Hispanics (10.5 percent) showed little or no change.

Adjustments to Population Estimates for Youth

Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data. The January 2023 adjustments had a disproportionately large effect on the population ages 16 to 24. Consequently, data for 2023 are not strictly comparable to those for earlier years. For more information, see Adjustments to Household Survey Population Estimates in January 2023 on the BLS website at cps/documentation.htm#pop.

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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 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 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 2023

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

Employment status, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

April-July changes

April

May

June

July

Number

Percent

TOTAL Civilian noninstitutional population.................................. .

Civilian labor force. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Participation rate................................................. . Employed......................................................... . Employment-population ratio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Unemployed...................................................... . Looking for full-time work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Looking for part-time work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Unemployment rate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Not in labor force................................................... .

Men Civilian noninstitutional population.................................. .

Civilian labor force. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Participation rate................................................. . Employed......................................................... . Employment-population ratio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Unemployed...................................................... . Looking for full-time work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Looking for part-time work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Unemployment rate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Not in labor force................................................... .

Women Civilian noninstitutional population.................................. .

Civilian labor force. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Participation rate................................................. . Employed......................................................... . Employment-population ratio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Unemployed...................................................... . Looking for full-time work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Looking for part-time work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Unemployment rate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Not in labor force................................................... .

White Civilian noninstitutional population.................................. .

Civilian labor force. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Participation rate................................................. . Employed......................................................... . Employment-population ratio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Unemployed...................................................... . Looking for full-time work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Looking for part-time work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Unemployment rate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Not in labor force................................................... .

Black or African American Civilian noninstitutional population.................................. .

Civilian labor force. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Participation rate................................................. . Employed......................................................... . Employment-population ratio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Unemployed...................................................... . Looking for full-time work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Looking for part-time work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Unemployment rate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Not in labor force................................................... .

39,316 21,452

54.6 20,219

51.4 1,233

833 400 5.7 17,864

19,829 10,902

55.0 10,215

51.5 687 479 208 6.3 8,927

19,487 10,550

54.1 10,004

51.3 546 354 192 5.2 8,937

28,667 16,407

57.2 15,523

54.1 884 572 312 5.4 12,260

5,768 2,835

49.1 2,618

45.4 217 154

63 7.7 2,933

39,323 21,891

55.7 20,268

51.5 1,622 1,188

435 7.4 17,432

19,832 11,184

56.4 10,305

52.0 879 703 176 7.9 8,649

19,490 10,707

54.9 9,964

51.1 744 485 259 6.9 8,783

28,664 16,651

58.1 15,535

54.2 1,116

788 328 6.7 12,013

5,769 2,934

50.9 2,609

45.2 325 269

56 11.1 2,835

39,331 23,516

59.8 21,449

54.5 2,066 1,483

584 8.8 15,815

19,836 11,991

60.4 10,856

54.7 1,135

846 289 9.5 7,846

19,494 11,525

59.1 10,593

54.3 931 636 295 8.1 7,970

28,661 17,894

62.4 16,527

57.7 1,368

964 404 7.6 10,767

5,770 3,011

52.2 2,605

45.2 406 303 102 13.5 2,759

39,342 23,681

60.2 21,623

55.0 2,059 1,437

621 8.7 15,660

19,842 11,987

60.4 10,886

54.9 1,101

799 302 9.2 7,855

19,500 11,694

60.0 10,736

55.1 958 638 319 8.2 7,806

28,661 17,938

62.6 16,681

58.2 1,257

876 381 7.0 10,723

5,771 3,086

53.5 2,530

43.8 556 420 136 18.0 2,685

26 2,229

5.6 1,404

3.6 826 604 221 3.0 -2,204

13 1,085

5.4 671 3.4 414 320

94 2.9 -1,072

13 1,144

5.9 732 3.8 412 284 127 3.0 -1,131

-6 1,531

5.4 1,158

4.1 373 304

69 1.6 -1,537

3 251 4.4 -88 -1.6 339 266

73 10.3 -248

0.1 10.4 10.3

6.9 7.0 67.0 72.5 55.3 52.6 -12.3

0.1 10.0

9.8 6.6 6.6 60.3 66.8 45.2 46.0 -12.0

0.1 10.8 10.9

7.3 7.4 75.5 80.2 66.1 57.7 -12.7

0.0 9.3 9.4 7.5 7.6 42.2 53.1 22.1 29.6 -12.5

0.1 8.9 9.0 -3.4 -3.5 156.2 172.7 115.9 133.8 -8.5

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 2023 -- Continued

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

Employment status, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

April-July changes

April

May

June

July

Number

Percent

Asian

Civilian noninstitutional population.................................. .

2,417

2,404

2,393

2,422

5

0.2

Civilian labor force. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

962

1,018

1,189

1,205

243

25.3

Participation rate................................................. .

39.8

42.3

49.7

49.8

10.0

25.1

Employed......................................................... . Employment-population ratio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Unemployed...................................................... .

931 38.5

31

949

1,069

1,137

39.5

44.7

47.0

69

120

68

206

22.1

8.5

22.1

37

119.4

Looking for full-time work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

26

64

90

37

11

42.3

Looking for part-time work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5

5

30

31

26

520.0

Unemployment rate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3.2

6.7

10.1

5.6

2.4

75.0

Not in labor force................................................... .

1,455

1,386

1,204

1,217

-238

-16.4

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Civilian noninstitutional population.................................. .

9,654

9,670

9,686

9,704

50

0.5

Civilian labor force. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5,358

5,277

5,677

5,578

220

4.1

Participation rate................................................. .

55.5

54.6

58.6

57.5

2.0

3.6

Employed......................................................... .

4,999

4,941

5,141

4,993

-6

-0.1

Employment-population ratio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

51.8

51.1

53.1

51.5

-0.3

-0.6

Unemployed...................................................... .

359

336

537

585

226

63.0

Looking for full-time work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

270

261

426

423

153

56.7

Looking for part-time work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

89

75

111

162

73

82.0

Unemployment rate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6.7

6.4

9.5

10.5

3.8

56.7

Not in labor force................................................... .

4,296

4,393

4,009

4,125

-171

-4.0

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.

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