Youth unemployment rate in United States
United States: Youth unemployment rate was 9.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Youth unemployment rate in United States, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, youth unemployment rate in United States stood at 9.3%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.7% on the previous year and down 19.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth unemployment rate in United States peaked at 18.4% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 8.0%, in 2023.
United States ranks 124th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Youth unemployment rate in United States, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 13.5% | — |
| 1992 | 14.3% | +5.9% |
| 1993 | 13.4% | -6.2% |
| 1994 | 12.6% | -6.5% |
| 1995 | 12.2% | -2.9% |
| 1996 | 12.1% | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 11.4% | -5.5% |
| 1998 | 10.4% | -8.8% |
| 1999 | 9.9% | -5.1% |
| 2000 | 9.3% | -6.2% |
| 2001 | 10.5% | +13.1% |
| 2002 | 11.9% | +13.8% |
| 2003 | 12.4% | +3.6% |
| 2004 | 11.8% | -4.6% |
| 2005 | 11.2% | -4.7% |
| 2006 | 10.4% | -7.2% |
| 2007 | 10.5% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 12.8% | +21.8% |
| 2009 | 17.5% | +37.3% |
| 2010 | 18.4% | +4.8% |
| 2011 | 17.3% | -5.9% |
| 2012 | 16.2% | -6.1% |
| 2013 | 15.6% | -4.0% |
| 2014 | 13.4% | -13.8% |
| 2015 | 11.6% | -13.3% |
| 2016 | 10.4% | -10.3% |
| 2017 | 9.2% | -11.4% |
| 2018 | 8.6% | -6.8% |
| 2019 | 8.4% | -2.7% |
| 2020 | 14.9% | +77.8% |
| 2021 | 9.7% | -34.8% |
| 2022 | 8.1% | -16.5% |
| 2023 | 8.0% | -1.9% |
| 2024 | 8.9% | +12.2% |
| 2025 | 9.3% | +4.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.2% | 9.9% | 14.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 11.8% | 9.3% | 17.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.9% | 8.4% | 18.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.8% | 8.0% | 14.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
More work & labour data for United States
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 113,208 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 61.24 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 178,849 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 58.55 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.27 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.3372 % change on previous year (2027)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 61.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth unemployment rate in United States?
- Youth unemployment rate in United States was 9.3% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest youth unemployment rate recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 18.4% in 2010.
- What is the lowest youth unemployment rate recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.0% in 2023.
- How does United States rank for youth unemployment rate?
- United States ranks 124th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is youth unemployment rate rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Youth unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the labor force aged 15-24 without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.