By The Numbers

Joblessness by Education

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Chart Data

Sept-07 Sept-08
Less than high school diploma7.5 %9.6 %
High school graduate4.6 %6.3 %
Some college3.4 %5 %
College diploma2 %2.5 %

As the economy slows and unemployment rises, sharp differences are emerging among workers with various educational backgrounds. Unskilled workers, those defined as without a high school education, have the highest levels of unemployment and the largest growth in joblessness over the last year, while those with a college education have so far experienced only a modest uptick in unemployment. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics