Breaking Down the Numbers: What Does COVID-19 Mean for Youth Unemployment?

Since the COVID-19 pandemic led to a sharp economic downturn in March 2020, young people ages 16 to 24 have experienced higher rates of unemployment, compared to older adults, according to data recently analyzed  by Mathematica for the Schultz Family Foundation. More than a quarter of young people were unemployed within a month after most states implemented stay-at-home policies (April 2020). Breaking it down even further, 32 percent of youth ages 16 to 19, and 26 percent of youth ages 20 to 24 were unemployed. In May 2020, the unemployment rate decreased slightly, but a quarter of young people ages 16 to 24 were still unemployed. This is a significant change, compared to January 2020 data.