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The unemployment rate for high school graduates was 4.3 percent in May 2024
June 14, 2024
In May 2024, the unemployment rate for high school graduates 25 years and older with no college was 4.3 percent; the rate was 4.0 percent in April. Over the past 20 years, the unemployment rate for this group has ranged from 3.3 percent in July 2023 to 17.7 percent in April 2020. The national unemployment rate was 4.0 percent in May 2024
Unemployment rates in percent for people 25 years and older by educational attainment, May 2004 to May 2024
Month
Less than a high school diploma
High school graduates, no college
Some college or associate degree
Bachelor's degree and higher
May 2004
8.8
5.1
4.0
2.9
Jun 2004
8.7
5.2
4.1
2.7
Jul 2004
8.2
5.0
4.2
2.6
Aug 2004
8.1
4.9
4.1
2.7
Sep 2004
8.7
4.7
4.1
2.6
Oct 2004
8.4
4.8
4.2
2.5
Nov 2004
8.0
4.8
4.3
2.5
Dec 2004
8.1
4.8
4.2
2.5
Jan 2005
7.7
4.7
4.1
2.4
Feb 2005
7.8
4.9
4.2
2.4
Mar 2005
7.8
4.7
3.9
2.4
Apr 2005
8.2
4.4
3.9
2.4
May 2005
7.8
4.5
3.9
2.4
Jun 2005
6.9
4.8
3.9
2.3
Jul 2005
7.5
4.8
3.7
2.3
Aug 2005
7.5
4.7
3.5
2.1
Sep 2005
8.2
4.9
3.7
2.3
Oct 2005
7.3
4.8
3.8
2.3
Nov 2005
7.4
4.8
3.9
2.3
Dec 2005
7.4
4.5
3.9
2.1
Jan 2006
7.0
4.4
3.6
2.1
Feb 2006
7.1
4.4
3.6
2.2
Mar 2006
6.9
4.1
3.7
2.2
Apr 2006
6.9
4.4
3.8
2.2
May 2006
7.0
4.3
3.8
2.1
Jun 2006
7.1
4.1
3.5
2.1
Jul 2006
7.1
4.5
3.6
2.0
Aug 2006
6.8
4.6
3.5
1.8
Sep 2006
6.4
4.1
3.6
2.1
Oct 2006
5.8
4.1
3.4
1.9
Nov 2006
6.6
4.3
3.4
1.8
Dec 2006
6.7
4.3
3.4
1.8
Jan 2007
6.9
4.3
3.8
2.1
Feb 2007
7.3
4.3
3.6
1.9
Mar 2007
6.9
4.0
3.6
1.8
Apr 2007
7.1
4.1
3.6
1.9
May 2007
6.6
4.4
3.4
2.0
Jun 2007
6.7
4.1
3.5
2.0
Jul 2007
7.3
4.6
3.6
2.1
Aug 2007
6.5
4.4
3.6
2.1
Sep 2007
7.6
4.5
3.4
2.0
Oct 2007
7.3
4.6
3.5
2.1
Nov 2007
7.7
4.5
3.3
2.2
Dec 2007
7.7
4.7
3.8
2.1
Jan 2008
7.7
4.7
3.7
2.1
Feb 2008
7.4
4.7
3.8
2.0
Mar 2008
8.4
5.1
3.9
2.1
Apr 2008
7.7
5.0
4.0
2.1
May 2008
8.1
5.0
4.3
2.2
Jun 2008
8.7
5.1
4.3
2.4
Jul 2008
8.6
5.4
4.6
2.5
Aug 2008
9.7
5.8
4.9
2.8
Sep 2008
9.8
6.2
5.0
2.6
Oct 2008
10.3
6.4
5.2
3.1
Nov 2008
10.8
7.0
5.5
3.2
Dec 2008
11.1
7.8
5.7
3.6
Jan 2009
12.4
8.2
6.5
3.9
Feb 2009
13.2
8.5
7.3
4.1
Mar 2009
14.0
9.2
7.5
4.3
Apr 2009
14.9
9.5
7.7
4.4
May 2009
15.2
10.0
7.8
4.8
Jun 2009
15.6
9.7
8.1
4.8
Jul 2009
15.3
9.5
8.0
4.8
Aug 2009
15.6
9.7
8.1
4.8
Sep 2009
14.9
10.6
8.3
5.0
Oct 2009
15.2
11.0
8.7
4.7
Nov 2009
14.7
10.3
8.8
4.8
Dec 2009
15.0
10.6
8.7
4.9
Jan 2010
15.3
10.2
8.6
4.9
Feb 2010
15.8
10.7
8.1
4.9
Mar 2010
14.9
11.0
8.4
4.9
Apr 2010
14.7
10.8
8.4
4.8
May 2010
14.6
10.9
8.2
4.6
Jun 2010
14.2
10.6
8.1
4.4
Jul 2010
13.5
10.0
8.3
4.5
Aug 2010
14.1
10.0
8.7
4.6
Sep 2010
15.6
9.7
8.9
4.5
Oct 2010
15.0
9.8
8.2
4.6
Nov 2010
15.4
10.0
8.6
5.0
Dec 2010
15.0
9.8
8.1
4.8
Jan 2011
14.3
9.5
8.1
4.3
Feb 2011
14.0
9.7
7.9
4.3
Mar 2011
14.1
9.7
7.5
4.4
Apr 2011
14.7
9.9
7.5
4.5
May 2011
14.5
9.6
7.8
4.5
Jun 2011
14.4
10.0
8.3
4.3
Jul 2011
14.5
9.1
8.3
4.2
Aug 2011
14.1
9.3
8.3
4.2
Sep 2011
14.3
9.4
8.5
4.2
Oct 2011
13.5
9.4
8.1
4.3
Nov 2011
12.8
8.8
7.7
4.4
Dec 2011
13.7
8.7
7.6
4.1
Jan 2012
13.0
8.5
7.1
4.3
Feb 2012
13.1
8.3
7.2
4.2
Mar 2012
12.8
8.1
7.5
4.1
Apr 2012
12.5
8.0
7.6
4.0
May 2012
12.9
8.3
7.7
3.9
Jun 2012
12.6
8.6
7.3
4.0
Jul 2012
12.4
8.5
7.2
4.1
Aug 2012
11.8
8.6
6.7
4.1
Sep 2012
11.7
8.5
6.6
4.0
Oct 2012
12.1
8.3
6.9
3.7
Nov 2012
12.0
8.0
6.5
3.9
Dec 2012
11.8
8.0
6.9
4.0
Jan 2013
12.0
8.1
6.9
3.8
Feb 2013
11.3
7.9
6.5
3.9
Mar 2013
11.1
7.7
6.3
3.8
Apr 2013
11.6
7.5
6.4
3.9
May 2013
11.0
7.3
6.5
3.9
Jun 2013
10.7
7.7
6.5
3.8
Jul 2013
10.8
7.5
6.1
3.8
Aug 2013
11.1
7.4
6.1
3.4
Sep 2013
10.5
7.6
6.1
3.7
Oct 2013
10.9
7.2
6.4
3.7
Nov 2013
10.7
7.2
6.4
3.4
Dec 2013
9.8
7.0
6.2
3.3
Jan 2014
9.4
6.5
5.9
3.3
Feb 2014
9.8
6.4
6.0
3.4
Mar 2014
9.4
6.3
6.0
3.4
Apr 2014
8.7
6.2
5.7
3.3
May 2014
9.2
6.5
5.5
3.2
Jun 2014
9.2
5.9
5.2
3.3
Jul 2014
9.5
6.1
5.3
3.1
Aug 2014
9.2
6.1
5.3
3.2
Sep 2014
8.5
5.4
5.4
2.9
Oct 2014
8.1
5.7
4.9
3.0
Nov 2014
8.6
5.7
4.9
3.2
Dec 2014
8.6
5.3
5.0
2.8
Jan 2015
8.3
5.4
5.2
2.8
Feb 2015
8.2
5.4
5.0
2.7
Mar 2015
8.6
5.3
4.8
2.4
Apr 2015
8.4
5.5
4.7
2.7
May 2015
8.7
5.8
4.4
2.8
Jun 2015
8.2
5.4
4.2
2.5
Jul 2015
8.3
5.5
4.3
2.5
Aug 2015
7.9
5.5
4.3
2.4
Sep 2015
7.9
5.3
4.3
2.5
Oct 2015
7.6
5.2
4.4
2.5
Nov 2015
6.8
5.4
4.4
2.5
Dec 2015
6.4
5.6
4.1
2.5
Jan 2016
7.1
5.1
4.3
2.5
Feb 2016
7.0
5.1
4.3
2.5
Mar 2016
7.3
5.3
4.1
2.6
Apr 2016
7.6
5.5
4.2
2.5
May 2016
7.4
5.1
3.9
2.5
Jun 2016
7.6
5.1
4.1
2.5
Jul 2016
6.5
5.1
4.2
2.4
Aug 2016
7.4
5.0
4.2
2.6
Sep 2016
8.7
5.2
4.2
2.5
Oct 2016
7.5
5.5
3.9
2.6
Nov 2016
7.9
5.0
3.9
2.4
Dec 2016
7.5
5.1
3.8
2.5
Jan 2017
7.4
5.2
3.9
2.5
Feb 2017
7.5
4.9
4.1
2.4
Mar 2017
6.5
4.9
3.6
2.5
Apr 2017
6.5
4.6
3.6
2.5
May 2017
6.1
4.7
4.0
2.3
Jun 2017
6.5
4.5
3.7
2.3
Jul 2017
7.1
4.5
3.7
2.3
Aug 2017
6.1
5.0
3.7
2.4
Sep 2017
6.7
4.3
3.6
2.3
Oct 2017
6.0
4.2
3.7
2.1
Nov 2017
5.4
4.4
3.7
2.1
Dec 2017
6.3
4.2
3.6
2.2
Jan 2018
5.4
4.5
3.4
2.1
Feb 2018
5.7
4.4
3.5
2.2
Mar 2018
5.5
4.3
3.5
2.3
Apr 2018
5.9
4.3
3.4
2.1
May 2018
5.2
3.9
3.2
2.0
Jun 2018
5.5
4.1
3.3
2.3
Jul 2018
5.0
4.1
3.1
2.2
Aug 2018
5.6
4.0
3.5
2.0
Sep 2018
5.7
3.7
3.2
2.0
Oct 2018
5.9
4.0
3.0
2.0
Nov 2018
5.9
3.5
3.2
2.2
Dec 2018
5.9
3.8
3.3
2.2
Jan 2019
5.7
3.8
3.5
2.4
Feb 2019
5.3
3.8
3.2
2.2
Mar 2019
5.9
3.7
3.4
2.1
Apr 2019
5.3
3.4
3.1
2.1
May 2019
5.1
3.5
2.7
2.1
Jun 2019
5.2
3.8
3.0
2.1
Jul 2019
4.9
3.6
3.1
2.2
Aug 2019
5.4
3.6
3.0
2.1
Sep 2019
4.9
3.5
2.9
2.0
Oct 2019
5.6
3.7
2.8
2.1
Nov 2019
5.5
3.6
3.0
1.9
Dec 2019
5.4
3.7
2.8
2.0
Jan 2020
5.6
3.9
2.9
1.9
Feb 2020
5.7
3.7
3.0
1.9
Mar 2020
7.1
4.5
3.8
2.5
Apr 2020
21.3
17.7
15.6
8.4
May 2020
19.6
15.9
13.6
7.4
Jun 2020
16.4
12.3
10.8
6.8
Jul 2020
15.0
10.8
9.6
6.7
Aug 2020
12.5
9.9
7.7
5.3
Sep 2020
10.6
9.1
8.2
4.8
Oct 2020
9.8
8.2
6.6
4.2
Nov 2020
9.4
7.8
6.5
4.2
Dec 2020
9.9
7.9
6.4
3.8
Jan 2021
9.0
7.0
6.2
4.0
Feb 2021
10.2
7.1
5.7
3.8
Mar 2021
8.4
6.6
5.9
3.7
Apr 2021
9.4
7.0
6.0
3.5
May 2021
9.0
6.9
5.9
3.1
Jun 2021
10.3
7.0
5.8
3.4
Jul 2021
9.4
6.2
4.9
3.1
Aug 2021
7.7
6.0
5.0
2.8
Sep 2021
7.7
5.7
4.5
2.5
Oct 2021
7.1
5.3
4.3
2.4
Nov 2021
5.6
5.1
3.7
2.2
Dec 2021
5.3
4.5
3.6
2.1
Jan 2022
6.3
4.6
3.5
2.3
Feb 2022
4.4
4.4
3.7
2.2
Mar 2022
5.3
4.0
3.1
2.0
Apr 2022
5.4
3.8
3.1
2.0
May 2022
5.2
3.7
3.3
1.9
Jun 2022
5.7
3.6
3.1
2.1
Jul 2022
5.9
3.6
2.8
2.0
Aug 2022
6.2
4.4
2.9
1.9
Sep 2022
5.6
3.7
2.9
1.8
Oct 2022
6.2
4.0
3.0
1.9
Nov 2022
4.3
3.9
3.2
2.0
Dec 2022
5.0
3.6
3.0
1.9
Jan 2023
4.5
3.8
2.9
2.0
Feb 2023
5.8
3.6
3.3
2.1
Mar 2023
4.8
4.0
3.0
2.0
Apr 2023
5.4
3.9
2.9
1.9
May 2023
5.7
3.9
3.2
2.0
Jun 2023
6.0
3.9
3.0
2.0
Jul 2023
5.3
3.3
3.1
2.0
Aug 2023
5.4
3.9
3.1
2.2
Sep 2023
5.5
4.1
3.0
2.2
Oct 2023
5.8
4.0
3.1
2.1
Nov 2023
6.3
4.1
2.8
2.1
Dec 2023
6.0
4.2
3.1
2.1
Jan 2024
6.0
4.3
3.3
2.1
Feb 2024
6.1
4.2
3.1
2.2
Mar 2024
4.9
4.1
3.4
2.1
Apr 2024
6.0
4.0
3.3
2.2
May 2024
5.9
4.3
3.1
2.1
Note: Data are seasonally adjusted
For those with no high school diploma, the unemployment rate was 5.9 percent in May, little changed from 6.0 percent in April. For people 25 and older with some college or an associate degree, the May 2024 unemployment rate was 3.1 percent, while holders of a bachelor's degree or higher were unemployed at a rate of 2.1 percent during the same month.
United States Department of Labor
