The sluggish economic recovery has resulted in a worrisome financial situation for young Americans, who've faced high education expenses, mediocre employment prospects and limited earnings opportunities.

Wages have been shrinking dramatically for the youngest segment of the workforce in recent years, and a new compilation of data from the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics reveal the scope of those financial losses.

Figures from 22 agencies, including the U.S. Department of Commerce, Department of Labor and Census Bureau, show that Americans ages 20-24 who weren’t enrolled in school could expect to earn a median $17,460 in 2012. In 2012 dollars, that’s 22% less than they would have brought home in 1980, and 16% less than they would have earned five years earlier.

Earnings are down regardless of workers’ educational attainment, but young Americans with some college credits but no degree have fared the worst in recent years: Median earnings for that group slid by more than 25% to $15,640 between 2007 and 2012.

In fact, people who have completed some college now earn less than those who only have a high school diploma, and nearly $1,000 less than people who didn’t even finish high school five years earlier.