"disconnected" -- aka no longer in school and gave up on finding a job -- is 16%. Added to the 9% unemployed gives 25%. Add in the underemployed who have a job, but are only given a few hours per week and that number jumps way higher.

https://www.stlouisfed.org/on-the-economy/2026/jul/how-are-d...

30% sounds correct to me. None of my friend have gotten any jobs after they were laid off. Some of them are doing some part time job like uber or doordash, and those aren't counted.

Same in China, PHD people are working as delivery driver....