U.S. Youth Unemployment Rate 1991-2023

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 2021 was 9.57%, a 5.28% decline from 2020.
  • U.S. youth unemployment rate for 2020 was 14.85%, a 6.51% increase from 2019.
  • U.S. youth unemployment rate for 2019 was 8.34%, a 0.24% decline from 2018.
  • U.S. youth unemployment rate for 2018 was 8.58%, a 0.63% decline from 2017.
Data Source: World Bank

MLA Citation:
Similar Country Ranking
Country Name % of Total Labor Force Ages 15-24
New Caledonia 40.97%
French Polynesia 38.91%
Spain 36.93%
Greece 36.87%
Uruguay 32.86%
Italy 30.92%
Bahamas 30.78%
Barbados 30.58%
Panama 29.96%
Argentina 29.89%
Saudi Arabia 28.84%
Virgin Islands (U.S.) 27.02%
Kuwait 25.48%
Sweden 24.54%
Croatia 23.63%
Brunei 23.41%
Portugal 23.13%
Slovak Republic 21.47%
Chile 21.39%
France 20.09%
Belgium 19.57%
Lithuania 19.02%
Puerto Rico 18.47%
Finland 18.05%
Ireland 17.43%
Estonia 17.14%
Channel Islands 15.78%
Latvia 15.53%
Guam 15.31%
Luxembourg 15.23%
Hong Kong 14.97%
Oman 14.58%
Canada 14.04%
Slovenia 13.91%
Hungary 13.52%
Poland 13.42%
Iceland 13.36%
United Kingdom 13.23%
Norway 13.02%
Trinidad and Tobago 12.68%
Cyprus 11.83%
New Zealand 11.39%
Austria 11.37%
Australia 10.80%
UAE 10.67%
Denmark 10.13%
Bahrain 9.90%
Malta 9.78%
Netherlands 9.61%
United States 9.57%
Macao 9.24%
Singapore 9.12%
Switzerland 9.11%
Israel 8.79%
South Korea 7.78%
Czech Republic 7.62%
Germany 6.95%
Japan 4.36%
Qatar 1.08%
U.S. Youth Unemployment Rate - Historical Data
Year % of Total Labor Force Ages 15-24 Annual Change
2021 9.57% -5.28%
2020 14.85% 6.51%
2019 8.34% -0.24%
2018 8.58% -0.63%
2017 9.20% -1.16%
2016 10.36% -1.19%
2015 11.56% -1.79%
2014 13.34% -2.13%
2013 15.47% -0.68%
2012 16.15% -1.07%
2011 17.23% -1.10%
2010 18.33% 0.84%
2009 17.49% 4.76%
2008 12.74% 2.28%
2007 10.46% 0.03%
2006 10.43% -0.80%
2005 11.23% -0.58%
2004 11.81% -0.57%
2003 12.38% 0.42%
2002 11.96% 1.43%
2001 10.53% 1.23%
2000 9.30% -0.61%
1999 9.91% -0.51%
1998 10.43% -1.00%
1997 11.43% -0.65%
1996 12.08% -0.11%
1995 12.19% -0.36%
1994 12.56% -0.86%
1993 13.42% -0.86%
1992 14.28% 0.82%
1991 13.46% 0.82%