When young workers describe a tougher labor market, this is what it looks like in the data.

Line chart showing unemployed-to-employed flow rates from 2017 to 2026 for young workers ages 16 to 24 (teal, thick line) and prime-age workers 25 to 54 (gold, thinner line). Both groups tracked near 28% before the pandemic. Starting in 2024, young workers' rate fell sharply to 24% while prime-age held near 26%. A shaded teal area highlights the persistent gap.

Before the pandemic, young (16–24) and prime-age (25–54) workers found jobs at nearly the same rate—about 28% transitioned from unemployment to employment each month. That symmetry broke in 2024. Job-finding rates for young workers dropped to around 24% while prime-age workers held near 26%. The gap has persisted into 2026 with no sign of closing.