Youth discouraged: ICLS13) (15-29) in United States
United States: Youth discouraged: ICLS13) (15-29) was 83.78 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Youth discouraged jobseekers (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in United States, 2005–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, youth discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) in United States stood at 83.78.
That represents a change of up 46.5% on the previous year and down 6.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) in United States peaked at 166.01 in 2010 and was at its lowest, 52.58, in 2019.
United States ranks 19th of 79 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.
Youth discouraged: ICLS13) (15-29) in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 71.91 | — |
| 2006 | 69.29 | -3.6% |
| 2007 | 63.24 | -8.7% |
| 2008 | 78.39 | +24.0% |
| 2009 | 124.11 | +58.3% |
| 2010 | 166.01 | +33.8% |
| 2011 | 126.44 | -23.8% |
| 2012 | 110.2 | -12.8% |
| 2013 | 117.72 | +6.8% |
| 2014 | 99.92 | -15.1% |
| 2015 | 89.32 | -10.6% |
| 2016 | 79.29 | -11.2% |
| 2017 | 68.42 | -13.7% |
| 2018 | 62.8 | -8.2% |
| 2019 | 52.58 | -16.3% |
| 2020 | 95.29 | +81.2% |
| 2021 | 75.17 | -21.1% |
| 2022 | 62.17 | -17.3% |
| 2023 | 65.01 | +4.6% |
| 2024 | 57.19 | -12.0% |
| 2025 | 83.78 | +46.5% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 83.78 is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.52, 18.5× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Youth discouraged: ICLS13) (15-29) in United States changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +81.2% | 52.58 | 95.29 |
| 2009 | +58.3% | 78.39 | 124.11 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 81.39 | 63.24 | 124.11 | 5 |
| 2010s | 97.27 | 52.58 | 166.01 | 10 |
| 2020s | 73.1 | 57.19 | 95.29 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 16 Tanzania 129.69 compare
- 17 Madagascar 128.14 compare
- 18 Afghanistan 97.9 compare
- 20 Cote d'Ivoire 83.02 compare
- 21 Namibia 72.75 compare
- 22 Germany 69.62 compare
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)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 4.4 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.05 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 159,991 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 141,322 (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) in United States?
- Youth discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) in United States was 83.78 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest youth discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 166.01 in 2010.
- What is the lowest youth discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 52.58 in 2019.
- How does United States rank for youth discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
- United States ranks 19th out of 79 countries with data for 2025.
- Is youth discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.2%. 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 Youth discouraged jobseekers (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15-29). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. Discouraged job-seekers refer to those persons of working age who during a specified reference period were without work and available for work, but did not look for work in the recent past for specific reasons (for example, believing that there were no jobs available, believing there were none for which they would qualify, or having given up hope of finding employment). For more information, refer to the Youth Labour Market Indicators (YouthSTATS) database description.