Data Bank Focus: Age and Unemployment

Just as a low level of education is a significant indicator of unemployment, so is youth. The older the age group, the lower the rate of unemployment.

Recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show that while the number of unemployed people who are 16 to 19 years old is relatively small, the current unemployment rate is about 24 percent, well above the national average of 9 percent. For those age 25 to 34, the unemployment rate is slightly higher at 9.8 percent.

Sixteen- to 17-year-olds have had the benefit of the greatest reduction in the unemployment rate, with a drop of 5 percentage points over the past year.

Workforce Management, December 2011, p. 14-15 Subscribe Now!