More than 10 jobs before 40

Monthly Labor Review, Sept, 2004

Persons born from 1957 to 1964 held an average of 10.2 jobs from ages 18 to 38. These younger baby-boomers held an average of 4.4 jobs while ages 18 to 22. The average fell to 3.3 jobs while ages 23 to 27, to 2.6 jobs while ages 28 to 32, and to 2.5 jobs from ages 33 to 38. (Jobs that span more than one age group were counted once in each age group, so the overall average number of jobs held is less than the sum of the number of jobs across the age groups.)

On average, men held 10.4 jobs and women 9.9 jobs from age 18 to 38. Men held 4.5 jobs from ages 18 to 22, but only 2.5 jobs from ages 33 to 38. The reduction in the number of jobs held in successive age groups was similar for women. For more information, see "Number of Jobs Held, Labor Market Activity, and Earnings Growth Among Younger Baby Boomers: Recent Results From a Longitudinal Survey," news release USDL 04-1678.