Both metro and nonmetro areas face severe youth employment problems. Twenty-five percent of the total U.S. labor force is comprised of youth aged 16-24; however, youth account for 50 percent of the total number of persons unemployed. Unemployment rates for metro and nonmetro youth are equal; however, a lower proportion of nonmetro youth are in the labor force. This means a lower proportion of nonmetro youth are employed. Youth employment is concentrated in clerical and service occupations. Nonmetro female youth are less likely to be employed as clerical workers when compared with metro females. However, a higher proportion of nonmetro females are classified as operative workers.