Unemployment with intermediate education in North America
North America: Unemployment with intermediate education was 6.2% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Unemployment with intermediate education in North America, 1994–2025
Source: Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO). Measured in % of total labor force with intermediate education.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment with intermediate education in North America is 6.2%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 4.6% on the previous year and down 14.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment with intermediate education in North America peaked at 12.0% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 5.1%, in 2000.
North America ranks 17th of 20 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Unemployment with intermediate education in North America, year by year
| Year | % of total labor force with intermediate education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 7.6% | — |
| 1995 | 7.0% | -7.8% |
| 1996 | 7.0% | -1.0% |
| 1997 | 6.5% | -6.3% |
| 1998 | 6.0% | -8.3% |
| 1999 | 5.5% | -8.6% |
| 2000 | 5.1% | -5.8% |
| 2001 | 5.9% | +13.9% |
| 2002 | 7.1% | +20.5% |
| 2003 | 7.3% | +3.4% |
| 2004 | 6.8% | -6.3% |
| 2005 | 6.5% | -5.6% |
| 2006 | 5.9% | -7.8% |
| 2007 | 6.0% | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 7.3% | +22.6% |
| 2009 | 11.5% | +56.9% |
| 2010 | 12.0% | +4.5% |
| 2011 | 11.3% | -6.2% |
| 2012 | 10.2% | -9.6% |
| 2013 | 9.5% | -6.6% |
| 2014 | 8.1% | -15.1% |
| 2015 | 7.2% | -10.4% |
| 2016 | 6.7% | -7.1% |
| 2017 | 6.0% | -10.6% |
| 2018 | 5.4% | -9.6% |
| 2019 | 5.2% | -4.3% |
| 2020 | 10.8% | +107.3% |
| 2021 | 7.5% | -30.4% |
| 2022 | 5.2% | -30.2% |
| 2023 | 5.2% | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 6.0% | +14.0% |
| 2025 | 6.2% | +4.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.6% | 5.5% | 7.6% | 6 |
| 2000s | 6.9% | 5.1% | 11.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.2% | 5.2% | 12.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.8% | 5.2% | 10.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near North America
- 14 North Macedonia 12.8% compare
- 15 Tunisia 12.6% compare
- 16 Panama 12.0% compare
- 17 Greece 11.8% compare
- 18 Spain 11.5% compare
- 19 Burkina Faso 11.3% compare
- 20 Bosnia and Herzegovina 11.1% compare
More work & labour data for North America
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 56.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 62.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 51.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 52.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 52.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 69.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 74.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 78.8% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 84.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 67.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment with intermediate education in North America?
- Unemployment with intermediate education in North America was 6.2% in 2025, according to Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment with intermediate education recorded in North America?
- The highest recorded value was 12.0% in 2010.
- What is the lowest unemployment with intermediate education recorded in North America?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.1% in 2000.
- How does North America rank for unemployment with intermediate education?
- North America ranks 17th out of 20 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment with intermediate education rising or falling in North America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this North America data come from?
- The figures come from Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment with intermediate education (% of total labor force with intermediate education). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The percentage of the labor force with an intermediate level of education who are unemployed. Intermediate education comprises upper secondary or post-secondary non tertiary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).