The U.S. Census Bureau has released new data on educational attainment in the United States for 2024, focusing on adults aged 18 and older. The findings come from the Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement, which is a primary source of labor force statistics in partnership with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
According to the data, 42.8% of individuals ages 25 to 39, 41.5% of those ages 40 to 54, and 34.2% of people age 55 and older had earned at least a bachelor’s degree in 2024. Among adults age 25 and older, women were more likely than men to have a bachelor’s degree or higher, with rates at 40.1% for women compared to 37.1% for men.
In terms of employment status, nearly half (49.3%) of employed workers held either a high school diploma or an associate degree as their highest level of education, while another 44.5% had attained a bachelor’s degree or higher. Only 6.1% did not have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Educational attainment also varied by occupation and industry in 2024. In professional and related occupations, 76.5% held at least a bachelor’s degree; in management, business, and financial occupations this figure was 64.2%. Installation, maintenance, and repair jobs saw the highest proportion (78.3%) of workers whose highest credential was a high school diploma or associate degree.
Looking at industries overall, transportation and utilities had the largest share (67.5%) of employees with no more than a high school diploma or associate degree as their top qualification. By contrast, information (64.9%) and education and health services (61.2%) industries had the highest percentages of workers holding bachelor’s degrees or higher.
The Census Bureau notes that all comparative statements are statistically significant at the ten percent significance level unless otherwise specified.
“All comparative statements in this tip sheet have undergone statistical testing, and, unless otherwise noted, all are statistically significant at the 10 percent significance level,” according to technical documentation provided by the Census Bureau.
The Current Population Survey provides further details on confidentiality protection, methodology, sampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions through its technical documentation.
