Figure 1. Labor force participation rates for teens ages 16‒19, 1948‒2015 and projected 2024
Year Percent

1948

52.5

1949

52.2

1950

51.8

1951

52.2

1952

51.3

1953

50.2

1954

48.3

1955

48.9

1956

50.9

1957

49.6

1958

47.4

1959

46.7

1960

47.5

1961

46.9

1962

46.1

1963

45.2

1964

44.5

1965

45.7

1966

48.2

1967

48.4

1968

48.3

1969

49.4

1970

49.9

1971

49.7

1972

51.9

1973

53.7

1974

54.8

1975

54.0

1976

54.5

1977

56.0

1978

57.8

1979

57.9

1980

56.7

1981

55.4

1982

54.1

1983

53.5

1984

53.9

1985

54.5

1986

54.7

1987

54.7

1988

55.3

1989

55.9

1990

53.7

1991

51.6

1992

51.3

1993

51.5

1994

52.7

1995

53.5

1996

52.3

1997

51.6

1998

52.8

1999

52.0

2000

52.0

2001

49.6

2002

47.4

2003

44.5

2004

43.9

2005

43.7

2006

43.7

2007

41.3

2008

40.2

2009

37.5

2010

34.9

2011

34.1

2012

34.3

2013

34.5

2014

34.0

2015

34.3

Projected 2024

24.6

Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey and Employment Projections Program.