U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Data Shows College Graduates Have Lowest Unemployment Rate
Workers aged 25 and over with a bachelor's degree recorded the lowest unemployment rate among education groups in early 2026. The pattern has held since at least 2006 according to government figures.
calgaryherald.comU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that among workers aged 25 and over, people with a bachelor's degree have the lowest unemployment rate of any education group. Those without a high school diploma face the highest risk of being out of work, with jobless rates more than twice those of college grads.
2% for college grads. 8%. The same ordering held in 2019 before the pandemic and before ChatGPT entered the job market.
Bachelor's degree holders earn about 66% more per week than high school graduates. Research from Ladders found that degree requirements have the biggest impact on top-tier salaries, with jobs paying $200,000 or more overwhelmingly requiring advanced degrees.
Companies including Google, Microsoft, and Apple have removed degree requirements from some job postings. Goodwill CEO Steve Preston previously told Fortune that hiring managers often still prefer candidates with degrees despite official policy changes.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
3 events- 2006
Unemployment rate for workers without high school diploma was 6.9% versus 2.2% for college graduates.
1 source@FortuneMagazine - 2019
College graduates recorded the lowest unemployment rate among education groups before the pandemic.
1 source@FortuneMagazine - Early 2026
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows bachelor's degree holders maintain the lowest unemployment rate.
1 source@FortuneMagazine
Potential Impact
- 01
Job seekers without college degrees may continue to face higher unemployment rates than graduates.
- 02
Employers may maintain informal degree preferences despite removing formal requirements from postings.
Transparency Panel
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