May 25, 2000 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Over half of youth are students; half of students are in labor force

Over half of America’s 16-to-24-year-olds were enrolled in school in October 1999. About 9 million were in high school and 9.4 million were in college.

[Chart data—TXT]

Overall, the labor force participation rate for 16-to-24-year-olds enrolled in college was 58.5 percent. Among high school students, 41.2 percent were in the labor force. The labor force participation rate among all youths attending school was 50.1 percent.

Labor force participation was very different for full-time and part-time college students. Of those in college on a full-time basis, 53.4 percent were either working or looking for work. In contrast, fully 87.4 percent of part-time collegians were in the labor force.

This information is from a supplement to the October 1999 Current Population Survey (CPS). Find additional information in "College Enrollment and Work Activity of 1999 High School Graduates,"