For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, March 29, 2022 USDL-22-0554
Technical information: (202) 691-7410 * nls_info@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/nls
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 * PressOffice@bls.gov
LABOR MARKET EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION, PARTNER STATUS, AND
HEALTH FOR THOSE BORN 1980-1984
Americans born in the early 1980s held an average of 8.6 jobs from age 18 through age 34, the
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. These adults held more jobs at younger ages:
they held an average of 5.1 jobs from ages 18 to 23, compared with 2.1 jobs from ages 30 to
34. While ages 18 to 34, women with more education held more jobs than women with less
education. Regardless of education, men held a similar number of jobs.
These findings are from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997, a nationally
representative survey of about 9,000 men and women who were born during the years 1980 to
1984. These respondents were ages 12 to 17 when first interviewed in 1997 and ages 34 to 40
when interviewed for the 19th time in 2019-20. The survey provides information on work and
non-work experiences, training, schooling, income, assets, health, and other characteristics.
The information provided by respondents is representative of all men and women born in the
early 1980s and living in the United States when the survey began in 1997.
This news release focuses on the employment experiences, educational attainment, partner status,
and health of these individuals from their 18th birthday until they turned 35. Highlights
from the longitudinal survey among this group include:
--Individuals held an average of 8.6 jobs from ages 18 through 34, with over half of these
jobs being held between the ages of 18 and 23. (See table 1.)
--Among individuals who started jobs while ages 18 to 24, the average individual had 61
percent of their jobs end in less than a year, compared with an average of 35 percent
among those who started jobs while ages 25 to 35. In this older age range, job duration
is significantly longer for those with more education. Among individuals with less than
a high school education who started jobs while ages 25 to 35, the average individual had
49 percent of their jobs end in less than a year, compared with 28 percent among those
with a bachelor's degree and higher. (See table 2.)
--Women with less than a high school diploma were employed an average of 39 percent of
weeks from ages 18 to 34, while men with less than a high school diploma were employed
64 percent of weeks. Among individuals with a bachelor's degree and higher, women were
employed an average of 81 percent of weeks and men were employed an average of 82 percent
of weeks. (See table 3.)
--Individuals were employed for an average of 75 percent of weeks from ages 18 to 34. This
varied across age brackets: from ages 18 to 23 individuals were employed 70 percent of
weeks, from ages 24 to 29 individuals were employed 78 percent of weeks, and from ages 30
to 34 individuals were employed 79 percent of weeks. (See table 4.)
--At their 25th birthday, 29 percent of women had received a bachelor's degree and higher,
compared with 21 percent of men. By their 35th birthday, 39 percent of women held a
bachelor's degree and higher, compared with 29 percent of men. Seventy-six percent of
women had at least attended some college by age 35, compared with 66 percent of men.
(See table 5.)
--At the time of their 35th birthday, 53 percent of individuals were married, 17 percent
were cohabiting, and 31 percent were single. The percent of individuals who were married
varied by education; those with higher levels of education were more likely to be married
and less likely to be cohabiting than those with lower levels of education. (See table 6.)
--Men who were single at age 35 were employed 71 percent of the weeks from ages 18 to 34,
compared with 84 percent of weeks for those who were married at age 35 and 77 percent for
those who were cohabiting. The percentage of weeks employed varied less by partner status
for women; women who were single at age 35 were employed 70 percent of the weeks from ages
18 to 34, compared with 73 percent of weeks for those who were married and 72 percent for
those who were cohabiting. (See table 7.)
--The percent of individuals reporting that their health limits the kind or amount of work
they can do increased as they aged. At 25 years of age, 6 percent of individuals reported
that their health limits the kind or amount of work they can do, while at 35 years of age,
9 percent were limited. (See table 8.)
Employment Experiences from Age 18 through Age 34
Americans born in 1980-84 held an average of 8.6 jobs from ages 18 through 34, with over half
of these jobs held from ages 18 to 23. Men held an average of 8.5 jobs and women held an average
of 8.7 jobs. Women at higher levels of educational attainment held more jobs than women at lower
levels. Women with a bachelor's degree and higher held 9.1 jobs from ages 18 through 34, compared
with 6.8 jobs for female high school dropouts. Men held a similar number of jobs regardless of
their level of educational attainment. (See table 1.) A job is defined as a period of work,
including gaps, with a particular employer. (See the Technical Note for additional information
on the definition of a job.)
Examining employment experiences by smaller age brackets shows individuals held fewer jobs in
each subsequent age bracket. Individuals held an average of 5.1 jobs in the 6-year period from
ages 18 to 23. The number of jobs individuals held dropped to 3.3 jobs in the 6-year period from
ages 24 to 29, and then dropped further to 2.1 jobs in the 5-year period from ages 30 to 34. The
pattern of individuals holding fewer jobs as they aged was similar across groupings by sex, race
and ethnicity, and level of educational attainment.
Duration of Employment Relationships
The length of time a worker remains with an employer increased with the age at which the worker
began the job. Of the jobs begun between ages 18 to 24, the average worker had 61 percent of
jobs end in less than a year and 95 percent of jobs end in less than 6 years. Among jobs begun
when 25 to 34 years old, the average worker had 35 percent of jobs end in less than a year
and 71 percent end in less than 6 years.
Job duration is also related to education. Seventy percent of the jobs started by those with
less than a high school diploma while ages 18 to 24 ended within a year, compared with 60
percent of jobs started at those ages by the average individual with a bachelor's degree and
higher. (See table 2.)
Among individuals with less than a high school diploma who started jobs when they were 25 to
34 years of age, the average individual had 49 percent of these jobs end in less than a year
and 81 percent end in less than 6 years. In comparison, for the average individual with a
bachelor's degree and higher who started jobs at those ages, 28 percent of the jobs ended in
under 1 year and only 65 percent ended in less than 6 years.
Percent of Weeks Employed, Unemployed, and Not in the Labor Force
On average, individuals born in 1980-84 were employed during 75 percent of all the weeks from
age 18 through age 34, unemployed--that is, without a job but seeking work--6 percent of the
weeks, and not in the labor force--that is, neither working nor seeking work--19 percent of the
weeks. (See table 3.)
As a group, individuals with higher levels of educational attainment were employed for a higher
percentage of weeks and unemployed for a lower percentage of weeks than individuals with lower
levels of education. The percentage of weeks not in the labor force decreased with increases
in educational attainment.
Men were more active in the labor market than women from ages 18 to 34. As a group, they spent
less time not in the labor force than women (15 percent compared with 23 percent) and more
time employed (79 percent compared with 72 percent). This pattern is also seen at each level
of educational attainment except among those with a bachelor's degree and higher. Women with a
bachelor's degree and higher spent almost the same proportion of weeks employed as similarly
educated men (81 percent and 82 percent, respectively).
Employment gaps existed between racial and ethnic groups. On average, White individuals were
employed during 78 percent of the weeks that occurred from age 18 through age 34, Hispanic or
Latino individuals were employed during 75 percent of the weeks, and Black individuals were
employed during 67 percent of the weeks.
The employment gap between White and Black individuals is more pronounced at lower levels of
educational attainment. White high school dropouts spent 57 percent of weeks employed from
ages 18 through 34, while Black dropouts spent 39 percent of weeks employed during these ages.
The gap is smaller among those who held a bachelor's degree and higher. White college graduates
spent 82 percent of weeks employed, while Black college graduates spent 80 percent of weeks
employed.
The employment gap between Hispanic or Latino and Black individuals is also more pronounced at
lower levels of educational attainment. Hispanic or Latino dropouts spent 60 percent of weeks
employed from ages 18 through 34, while Black dropouts spent 39 percent of weeks employed
during these ages. Hispanic or Latino and Black college graduates spent a similar percentage
of weeks employed (81 percent compared with 80 percent).
Individuals spent 70 percent of weeks employed from ages 18 to 23, 78 percent of weeks employed
from ages 24 to 29, and 79 percent of weeks employed from ages 30 to 34. Men spent 71 percent
of weeks employed from ages 18 to 23; this increased to 82 percent of weeks from ages 24 to 29
and then increased slightly to 84 percent from ages 30 to 34. Women spent 69 percent of weeks
employed from ages 18 to 23; this increased to 74 percent of weeks from ages 24 to 29 and
remained elevated, at 73 percent, from ages 30 to 34. Men were employed a higher percentage of
weeks than women within all age brackets. (See table 4.)
As these individuals aged, they generally spent less time out of the labor force. Men spent 22
percent of weeks not in the labor force from 18 to 23 years of age, and 11 percent of weeks out
of the labor force from ages 24 to 29 and ages 30 to 34. Women spent 26 percent of weeks out of
the labor force from ages 18 to 23, and 20 percent and 23 percent of weeks out of the labor
force at ages 24 to 29 and ages 30 to 34, respectively. At ages 30 to 34, women were about
twice as likely as men to not be in the labor force.
Employment gaps between racial and ethnic groups also existed within each age bracket analyzed.
Within each age bracket, White workers were employed a higher percentage of weeks than both Black
and Hispanic or Latino workers, and Hispanic or Latino workers were employed a higher percentage
of weeks than Black workers.
Educational Attainment at Age 35
At 35 years of age, 34 percent of individuals had received a bachelor's degree and higher while
37 percent had attended some college or received an associate degree without earning a bachelor's
degree and higher. Twenty-three percent had a high school diploma or General Education
Development (GED) credential and no further schooling. (See table 5.)
Women were more likely than men to have received a bachelor's degree and higher by age 25, and
this gap continued to be seen at age 35. Twenty-one percent of men had earned a bachelor's degree
and higher by age 25, compared with 29 percent of women. By 35 years of age, 29 percent of men
had earned a bachelor's degree and higher compared to 39 percent of women. In this age group, 66
percent of men had either attended some college or received a bachelor's degree, compared with 76
percent of women. In addition to being more likely to attend college, women were more likely to
have finished their college degree. Of the 76 percent of women who started college, 51 percent had
received a bachelor's degree and higher by age 35. In comparison, of the 66 percent of men who
started college, 44 percent had received a bachelor's degree and higher.
At age 35, there were large differences in educational attainment among racial and ethnic groups.
Black and Hispanic or Latino individuals were more likely than White individuals to have dropped
out of high school. In comparison, White individuals were more likely to have ever attended
college (73 percent of White individuals, compared to 64 percent of Black individuals and 62
percent of Hispanic or Latino individuals) and nearly twice as likely to have received a bachelor's
degree and higher by this age. Thirty-eight percent of White individuals had received a bachelor's
degree and higher at age 35, compared with 21 percent of both Black and Hispanic or Latino
individuals.
Within each racial and ethnic group examined at age 35, women were more likely to have a bachelor's
degree and than men. White women were more likely than White men to have received a bachelor's
degree and higher (43 percent compared with 34 percent), Black women were more likely than Black
men (27 percent compared with 16 percent), and Hispanic or Latino women were more likely than
Hispanic or Latino men (24 percent compared with 18 percent) to have received a bachelor's degree
and higher.
Partner Status and Employment Experiences
At 25 years of age, 27 percent of Americans born during 1980-84 were married, 20 percent were
cohabiting (unmarried and living with a partner), and 53 percent were single (not married and not
living with a partner). Comparatively, at 35 years of age, 53 percent were married, 17 percent
were cohabiting, and 31 percent were single. (See table 6.)
At age 35, those with higher levels of education were more likely to be married and less likely
to be cohabiting than those with lower levels of education. At the time of their 35th birthday,
37 percent of high school dropouts, 43 percent of high school graduates with no college, 50
percent of individuals with some college or an associate degree, and 65 percent of college
graduates were married. Twenty-five percent of those with less than a high school diploma were
cohabiting, compared with only 11 percent of those with a bachelor's degree and higher.
Partner status varied greatly by race and ethnicity. Black individuals were more likely to be
single than either White or Hispanic or Latino individuals. At 35 years of age, 53 percent of
Black individuals were single, compared with 25 percent of White individuals and 33 percent
of Hispanic or Latino individuals. Black individuals were significantly less likely to be
married than either White individuals or Hispanic or Latino individuals (33 percent compared
with 59 percent and 47 percent, respectively).
At both ages 25 and 35, women were more likely to be married and less likely to be single than
men. By their 35th birthday, 55 percent of women were married, 30 percent were single, and 15
percent were cohabiting, while 50 percent of men were married, 32 percent were single, and 18
percent were cohabiting.
Compared with individuals who were single at age 35, those who were married worked more weeks
from ages 18 to 34, spent fewer weeks unemployed, and spent fewer weeks not in the labor force.
From ages 18 to 34, single individuals spent 71 percent of weeks employed, 8 percent of weeks
unemployed, and 22 percent of weeks not in the labor force, while those who were married spent
78 percent of weeks employed, 4 percent of weeks unemployed, and 18 percent of weeks not in
the labor force. Cohabiting individuals spent 75 percent of weeks employed, 7 percent of weeks
unemployed, and 18 percent of weeks not in the labor force. (See table 7.)
Men accounted for most of the variation in employment experiences by partner status. Men married
at age 35 worked more weeks, were unemployed fewer weeks, and were less likely to be not in the
labor force than either single or cohabiting men during ages 18-34. Men married at 35 spent 84
percent of weeks employed, compared with 71 percent for single men and 77 percent for cohabiting
men. They spent 5 percent of weeks unemployed, compared with 9 percent for single men and 8
percent for cohabiting men. Married men spent 12 percent of weeks out of the labor force, compared
with 20 percent for single men and 16 percent for cohabiting men. In contrast, there were limited
differences in the employment experiences of women by partner status. Women who were married at
age 35 were employed a slightly higher percentage of weeks than non-married women (73 percent
compared with 70 percent for single women and 72 percent for cohabiting women) during ages 18-34
and were unemployed a lower percentage of weeks than either single or cohabiting women (4 percent
compared with 7 percent and 6 percent, respectively). (See table 7.)
Married individuals also spent a higher percentage of weeks employed than single individuals within
racial and ethnic groups. The differences were 80 percent compared with 73 percent among the White
population, 72 percent compared with 64 percent among the Black population, and 77 percent compared
with 73 percent among the Hispanic or Latino population.
Health Limits and Work
Individuals in this cohort report whether their health limits the kind or amount of work they can
do; the percent of individuals reporting such limitations increased as they aged. At 25 years of
age, 6 percent of Americans born during 1980-84 were limited in the kind or amount of work they
can do; at 35 years of age, 9 percent were limited. (See table 8.)
At ages 25 and 35, those with lower levels of education were generally more likely to be limited
in the kind or amount of work they can do than those with higher levels of education. By their
35th birthday, 23 percent of high school dropouts, 12 percent of high school graduates with no
college, 9 percent of individuals with some college or an associate degree, and 4 percent of
college graduates were limited in the kind or amount of work they can do.
Women were more likely than men to report that health limits the kind or amount of work they can
do. At 25 years of age, 7 percent of women and 5 percent of men were limited in the kind or amount
of work they can do; at 35 years of age, 11 percent of women and 7 percent of men were limited
in the kind or amount of work they can do.
United States Department of Labor
