Children in employment in United States
United States: Children in employment was 2,174 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Children in employment in United States, 2003–2023
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for children in employment in United States is 2,174, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 10.2% on the previous year and up 48.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, children in employment in United States peaked at 2,444 in 2006 and was at its lowest, 1,347, in 2011.
That places United States 3rd out of 40 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 20 years of available data.
Children in employment in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 2,312 | — |
| 2004 | 2,193 | -5.2% |
| 2005 | 2,284 | +4.2% |
| 2006 | 2,444 | +7.0% |
| 2007 | 2,286 | -6.5% |
| 2008 | 1,989 | -13.0% |
| 2009 | 1,651 | -17.0% |
| 2010 | 1,418 | -14.1% |
| 2011 | 1,347 | -5.0% |
| 2012 | 1,380 | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 1,462 | +5.9% |
| 2014 | 1,522 | +4.1% |
| 2015 | 1,605 | +5.5% |
| 2016 | 1,729 | +7.7% |
| 2017 | 1,858 | +7.5% |
| 2018 | 1,799 | -3.2% |
| 2019 | 1,776 | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 1,700 | -4.3% |
| 2021 | 1,972 | +16.0% |
| 2023 | 2,174 | +10.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2,165 | 1,651 | 2,444 | 7 |
| 2010s | 1,590 | 1,347 | 1,858 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,948 | 1,700 | 2,174 | 3 |
Countries ranked near United States
More work & labour data for United States
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 61.24 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 178,849 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.3372 % change on previous year (2027)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (2023)
- Criminal penalties or civil remedies sexual harassment in employment 1 (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 61.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 67.1% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 84.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 56.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is children in employment in United States?
- Children in employment in United States was 2,174 in 2023, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest children in employment recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 2,444 in 2006.
- What is the lowest children in employment recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,347 in 2011.
- How does United States rank for children in employment?
- United States ranks 3rd out of 40 countries with data for 2023.
- Is children in employment rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 48.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Children in employment (15-17). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 20 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
This indicator is based on harmonized definitions used by the ILO in the context of producing global estimates. Data may differ from nationally reported figures. This indicator refers to children ages 5-17 years old engaged in any form of market production and certain types of non-market production (principally that of goods such as agricultural produce for own use). This includes work in both the formal and informal economy, inside and outside family settings, for pay or profit (cash or in-kind, part-time or full-time) and domestic work outside the child's own household for an employer (paid or unpaid). Data disaggregated by economic activity are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) available for that year. Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISIC. For more information, refer to the Child Labour Statistics (CHILD) database description.