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.
| 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% |
