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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Increase employment in working-age people — SDOH‑02 Infographic

This objective is a Leading Health Indicator (LHI). Learn about LHIs.

Status: Improving

  Improving

Most Recent Data:
71.3 percent (2022)

Target:
75.0 percent

Desired Direction:
Increase desired

Baseline:
70.6 percent of the working-age population aged 16 to 64 years were employed in 2018

Work influences many aspects of life that affect people’s health — including income, social status, health care access, housing, and economic security. Level of educational attainment is closely linked to employment because it affects the type of job people can get, their working conditions, earned income, and the benefits they receive. Work is an important social determinant of health that impacts health inequities, which lead to health disparities. Strategies that support educational attainment — such as student support services, financial aid programs for higher education, employment skill building, and job training programs — can help increase employment and positively affect the socioeconomic factors related to work. Additionally, resources and benefits in the workplace, including access to health insurance, paid sick leave, and remote work, can support positive health outcomes.

In 2021, 70.7 percent of working-age people aged 16 to 64 years were employed.

Data Source:  Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS-ASEC), Census and DOL/BLS

Disparities in employment rates by educational attainment (for adults aged 25–64 years): Highest/lowest rate ‡ ‡

In 2021, adults aged 25–64 years with less than a high school education had the lowest group rate of employment (56.2 percent). Adults with a 4-year college degree or more (reference group) had the highest group rate (84.1 percent).

The employment rate among adults with a 4-year college degree or more was 49.5 percent higher than the rate among adults with less than a high school education (maximal rate ratio = 1.495). The difference between the highest and lowest group rates was 27.8 percentage points (maximal rate difference).

Learn about how we calculate disparities data.

Disparities in employment rates by educational attainment (for adults aged 25–64 years): All groups ‡ ‡

In 2021, adults aged 25–64 years with a 4-year college degree or more had the highest group rate of employment (84.1 percent).

  • The highest group rate was 11.7 percent higher than the employment rate among adults with some college education or an associate degree.
  • The highest group rate was 21.7 percent higher than the employment rate among adults with a high school education.
  • The highest group rate was 49.5 percent higher than the employment rate among adults with less than a high school education.

Percentage of people aged 25 to 64 years who were employed, 2021

84.1% Adults with a 4-year college degree or more
75.2% Adults with some college education or an associate degree
69.1% Adults with a high school education
56.2% Adults with less than a high school education

Find data for additional demographic groups.