U.S. Youth Unemployment Rate 1991-2021
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.
- U.S. youth unemployment rate for 2019 was 8.30%, a 0.22% decline from 2018.
- U.S. youth unemployment rate for 2018 was 8.52%, a 0.62% decline from 2017.
- U.S. youth unemployment rate for 2017 was 9.14%, a 1.18% decline from 2016.
- U.S. youth unemployment rate for 2016 was 10.32%, a 1.19% decline from 2015.
| Similar Country Ranking | |
|---|---|
| Country Name | % of Total Labor Force Ages 15-24 |
| New Caledonia | 39.33% |
| French Polynesia | 37.78% |
| Greece | 35.11% |
| Spain | 32.61% |
| Barbados | 30.15% |
| Saudi Arabia | 29.63% |
| Uruguay | 29.40% |
| Italy | 29.22% |
| Argentina | 25.97% |
| Bahamas | 24.50% |
| Brunei | 21.70% |
| Puerto Rico | 20.43% |
| Sweden | 20.22% |
| Virgin Islands (U.S.) | 19.88% |
| Chile | 19.62% |
| France | 19.54% |
| Portugal | 18.29% |
| Finland | 17.09% |
| Luxembourg | 16.82% |
| Croatia | 16.62% |
| Slovak Republic | 16.11% |
| Cyprus | 16.04% |
| Kuwait | 15.73% |
| Guam | 15.54% |
| Channel Islands | 15.34% |
| Belgium | 14.25% |
| Panama | 13.03% |
| Ireland | 12.56% |
| Latvia | 12.48% |
| Lithuania | 11.87% |
| Australia | 11.84% |
| Oman | 11.55% |
| Singapore | 11.50% |
| Hungary | 11.40% |
| New Zealand | 11.16% |
| Estonia | 11.09% |
| United Kingdom | 11.08% |
| Canada | 11.04% |
| Denmark | 10.05% |
| Norway | 9.88% |
| Poland | 9.84% |
| South Korea | 9.82% |
| Malta | 9.16% |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 9.12% |
| Hong Kong | 8.57% |
| Austria | 8.51% |
| Iceland | 8.48% |
| United States | 8.30% |
| Slovenia | 8.15% |
| Switzerland | 7.98% |
| Bahrain | 7.31% |
| UAE | 7.19% |
| Netherlands | 6.77% |
| Israel | 6.68% |
| Germany | 5.75% |
| Czech Republic | 5.63% |
| Macao | 4.95% |
| Japan | 3.89% |
| Qatar | 0.47% |
| U.S. Youth Unemployment Rate - Historical Data | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | % of Total Labor Force Ages 15-24 | Annual Change |
| 2019 | 8.30% | -0.22% |
| 2018 | 8.52% | -0.62% |
| 2017 | 9.14% | -1.18% |
| 2016 | 10.32% | -1.19% |
| 2015 | 11.51% | -1.77% |
| 2014 | 13.28% | -2.15% |
| 2013 | 15.43% | -0.97% |
| 2012 | 16.40% | -0.80% |
| 2011 | 17.20% | -1.09% |
| 2010 | 18.29% | 0.85% |
| 2009 | 17.44% | 4.76% |
| 2008 | 12.68% | 2.28% |
| 2007 | 10.40% | 0.04% |
| 2006 | 10.36% | -0.81% |
| 2005 | 11.17% | -0.57% |
| 2004 | 11.74% | -0.58% |
| 2003 | 12.32% | 0.42% |
| 2002 | 11.90% | 1.46% |
| 2001 | 10.44% | 1.23% |
| 2000 | 9.21% | -0.58% |
| 1999 | 9.79% | -0.52% |
| 1998 | 10.31% | -0.98% |
| 1997 | 11.29% | -0.65% |
| 1996 | 11.94% | -0.12% |
| 1995 | 12.06% | -0.37% |
| 1994 | 12.43% | -0.88% |
| 1993 | 13.31% | -0.86% |
| 1992 | 14.17% | 0.83% |
| 1991 | 13.34% | 0.83% |
