: A Look at 16-24Year Olds Who Are Not Working or In School

Prepared By:Joseph McLaughlin, Boston Private Industry CouncilIshwar Khatiwada, Center for Labor Market Studies

July 2013

Opportunity YouthDisconnected Youth

Opportunity Youth and Disconnected Youth are often used interchangeably.

The size of the disconnected pool of youth can be measured in a few differentways. The most common measure is the number of 16-24 year olds who are notin school or working at a point in time (Based on CPS and ACS/ Census surveys).

-24 year oldswho are insufficiently attached to the labor market or schooling. The phraseinsufficiently attached has led some researchers and policymakers to include thefollowing three groups as members of the Opportunity Youth population:

Enrolled dropouts- students enrolled in school, but not showing up regularly and notprogressing;

Youth who are enrolled in college half-time, and not employed; and

Youth who are not-enrolled in school, and only working part-time.

Demographic Characteristics and Rates of DisconnectionAmong-24 Year Old Population:

Based on Findings From the 2009-2011 American CommunitySurveys

GroupTotal

Population# of

Disconnected%

Disconnected

All (16-24) 122,408 11,765 9.6%

Male 58,219 6,328 10.9%

Female 64,190 5,438 8.5%

16-19 43,246 2,119 4.9%

20-24 79,162 9,646 12.2%

24% of disconnected females are single mothers.

Comparing Disconnection Rates of -24 YearOlds to State and National Averages

Group Boston Massachusetts U.S.

All (16-24) 9.6% 10.1% 14.6%

Male 10.9% 11.4% 15.1%

Female 8.5% 8.9% 14.1%

16-19 4.9% 5.6% 8.7%

20-24 12.2% 13.8% 19.4%

Youth

White,15.1%

Black,39.1%

Asian,7.4%

Hispanic,34.0%

Other,4.4%

Race-Ethnic Distribution

Foreign-Born,27%

NativeBorn,73%

Native and Foreign BornShares

Disconnection Rates By Race-Ethnic Group and NativityStatus, Boston, 2009-2011

GroupTotal

Population# of

Disconnected%

Disconnected

White 60,269 1,774 2.9%

Black 23,129 4,601 19.9%

Asian 12,291 868 7.1%

Hispanic 21,579 3,999 18.5%

Other 5,140 523 10.2%

Foreign-Born 22,587 3,133 13.9%

Native Born 99,822 8,633 8.7%

Comparison of Disconnection Rates of 16-24 Year OldsAcross Race-Ethnic Groups, Boston vs. U.S., 2009-2011

2.9%

19.9%

7.1%

18.5%

11.6%

22.4%

7.9%

18.4%

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

White Black Asian Hispanic

Boston U.S.

Country of Origin of Foreign Born OpportunityYouth in Boston, 2009-2011

Country of Birth Number Percent

Dominican Republic 603 19.3%

Puerto Rico* 454 14.5%

Colombia 328 10.5%

China 208 6.6%

Jamaica 201 6.4%

El Salvador 201 6.4%

Somalia 198 6.3%

Vietnam 180 5.7%

Haiti 150 4.8%

Cape Verde 137 4.4%

Guatemala 135 4.3%

Above Countries Combined 2,794 89.2%

Total 3,133 100%

Disconnection Rates Across Census Subdivisions of Boston

Area of Boston 16-19 20-24 All, 16-24

Allston/Brighton/Fenway/Kenmore

1.0% 4.3% 3.0%

Charlestown/EastBoston/Central/South Boston

5.9% 12.6% 10.4%

Roxbury/Mission Hill/Mattapan

11.7% 19.5% 16.6%

South Boston/NorthDorchester/South Dorcester

11.1% 15.1% 13.6%

Jamaica Plain/WestRoxbury/Roslindale/Hyde Park

4.5% 11.4% 8.9%

Educational Attainment Levels of Opportunity Youth inBoston By Age Group, 2009-2011

16-19 20-24

Educational Attainment # % # %

High School Dropout 1,077 51% 2,211 23%

GED or Alternative Credential 176 8% 1,102 11%

Regular High School Diploma 632 30% 3,185 33%

Some College, but less than 1year 163 8% 515 5%

1 or more years of college credit,no degree 71 3% 1,525 16%

Associate's degree 0 0% 179 2%

Bachelor's or Higher degree 0 0% 928 10%

Total 2,119 100% 9,645 100%

Percent of 16-24 Year Olds Reporting a Disability: Connectedvs. Disconnected, 2009-2011

3.2%4.4%

11.9%

16.4%

0.0%

2.0%

4.0%

6.0%

8.0%

10.0%

12.0%

14.0%

16.0%

18.0%

Boston Massachusetts

Connected Disconnected

Poverty and Low Income Status of 16-24 Year Olds inBoston (Connected Vs. Disconnected)

Group Connected Disconnected

DisconnectedConnected

(in PercentagePoints)

Poor 20.5% 37.9% +17.4

Poor or NearPoor 24.9% 43.4% +18.5

Low Income 35.8% 54.7% +18.9

Employment/Population Ratios of 20-24 Year Olds in SelectedEducational Attainment Groups in the U.S., 2000-2012

60.2

75.471.9

80.5

45.5

60.5 61.7

74.7

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

90.0

H.S. Dropout H.S. Graduate 13-15 Years BA or HigherDegree

Pe

rC

en

t

2000 2012

The Full-Time Employment / Population Ratios ofNon-College Bound High School Graduates in October 2011,

Class of 2011, All and by Race-Ethnic Group, U.S.

21.0

7.0

24.025.0

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

All Black Hispanic White, notHispanic

Pe

rC

en

t

Group

Median Weekly Earnings of Young Men (16-24) Relative toOlder Men (25 and Over), Selected Years, 1967-2010 (in %)

74.0

67.0

62.4

54.3 54.4

51.2 52.253.7 54.3

52.553.8 53.8

52.550.7

40.0

45.0

50.0

55.0

60.0

65.0

70.0

75.0

80.0

ComparisonsoftheActualMedianRealWeeklyEarningsofFull-TimeEmployedYoungMen and theMedianWeeklyWagesThey WouldHaveEarnedIfThey HadMaintainedTheir1967-1973 RealWeeklyEarnings

GrowthRates,SelectedYears1973-2010 (in 2010 Dollars)

629577

510477

426483 466 466 443

629680

707

774

847904

976 1002 1014

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1973 1979 1982 1989 1996 2001 2007 2009 2010

Actual Weekly Earnings Hypothetical Weekly Earnings

Program Features

Extended schoolday/year to allow foracademic program,

vocational training, &field work

Specific career-trackprograms with

experience and/or anindustry-recognized

credential

Engages local employersin curriculum design,instruction, and job

placement

Program Type: Dropout Recovery High School Plus

Status / Age: Dropouts / 16-21

Focus: Diploma + Career Focus and/or Industry-Recognized Credential

Program Type: Gateway to College

Status / Age: Dropouts / 16-21

Focus: Diploma + Significant College Credit Attainment

Transition to Partner Community College

Students take classes at partnercommunity college

along with general studentpopulation for dual credit

Students focus in a pathway/majorthat is aligned with high school

completion.

(Allows for maximum college creditacquisition while students complete diploma)

Students have total access to college resources.

(Fosters sense of engagement and attachment to college and community)

Foundation Term

Small cohort, intensive instruction Learn and practice college readybehaviors

Program Type: National Comprehensive Programs for Dropouts

YouthBuild, Job Corps, Conservation & Service Corps, National Guard YouthChalleNGe

Status / Age: Dropouts / 16-24

Focus: Secondary Credential to Employment

Program Features

Integrate HS education &job training through

work/service experience

Paid work-basedlearning & job training

Individualized or smallgroup instructiontowards HSD/GED

Leadership development;

play role in programdecisions

Develop sense ofconnection to

community throughservice

Transition supports toemployment or further

training(& education to a lesser degree)

*Conservation & Service Corps serves dropouts AND graduates

GED to College Programs More Traditional GED Programs

College access & completion = indicator of success GED pass = indicator of success

Academic program to prepare students for college courses

(GED preparation supplemental, not the goal)

Academic program to prepare students to

pass GED test

career-oriented curriculum GED textbook

Use pre/post assessments to measure college readiness Limited/no assessment

Clear entry / exit points to build cohorts of students Multiple entry/exit points for individuals

Postsecondary bridging & support services

(See page on Postsecondary Bridging & First Year College

Supports for details)

Limited/no bridging or support services

More hours/week over longer period of time 6 months or less / 15-20 hours per week

Program Type: GED to College

Status / Age: Dropouts / 18 - 24

Focus: GED + Bridging to Postsecondary Education

Program Type: Year Up

Status / Age: Graduates / 18-24

Focus: Employment (and postsecondary education to lesser degree)

First 6 Months

Full time coursework in technicaland professional skills training in IT

or financial services

Employers & community collegesengaged in designing curriculum

Students earn college credits(avg. 16) for coursework

Professional & communication classes

(time management, conflict resolution,business writing, etc)

Second 6 Months

Paid internship placements atleading US Companies

(AOL, American Express, JP Morgan, etc.)

Weekly meetings for students tomeet as a cohort & debrief

internship experiences

Employability skills development

(resume writing, mock interviews, etc.)

Support from Year Up staff &business community members

Program Type: Postsecondary bridging & first year college supports

Status / Age: Graduates / 18-24

Focus: Postsecondary education

Enriched Preparation for College

Explicit college going culture College ready curriculum Development of individualizedpostsecondary plans

Postsecondary Bridging

Bridging coursework mimicscollege instruction

Development of college-readybehaviors & navigation skills

Application & financial aidassistance

Programming to build strong peer-to-peer support systems for cohorts that will be enrolling together

First Year College Supports

Students check in regularly witha designated staff member

(min. once a month)

Connection to college-friendlywork opportunities to help

mitigate costs

Intensive, unstigmatizedacademic support to ensure

success in credit-bearing courses

Performance / effort basedincentives & emergency funds

available

Engage program alumni as mentors

Through College Model

*There are few standalone bridging programs.*Most located within existing programs (dropout recovery HS, GED to College programs,programs serving homelessness youth, etc.)

Dropout Recovery HS:

South BrooklynCommunity High

School (NYC)

65% graduation rate

More than 90% go on topostsecondary education

and/or employment

*Funded by Bill & MelindaGates Foundation to codify &

replicate model

Dropout Recovery HS Plus:

Mound StreetAcademies

One year follow up on 2010grads:

40% attending school full time

20% working full time

30% attending school ANDworking

Gateway to CollegeNational Network

49% fall-to-fall persistence rate

(9% higher than persistence forregular students at same

partner colleges)

32 college credits accruedon average during time in

program

Approximately 75% of Gatewaystudents continue in college

after completing program

National ComprehensiveProgram for Dropouts:

YouthBuild USA

78% enrollees complete program

63% completers obtainedHSD/GED

60% went on to jobs averaging$9.20 per hour

Recidivism rates for court-involved YB students 40% lower

than national average

GED to College:

LaGuardia Community

Business Program

68% GED course completion

vs. 47% for comparison traditional GEDprogram

53% GED Exam passing rate

44% passed GED in first 6 months afterprogram

24% enrolled in CUNY

12% college persistence rate

Year Up

84% graduates employed orattending college full time

within 4 monthsof graduation

Employed Year Up gradsearn average of $15 per

hour

90% corporate partnerswould recommend Year Up

program to colleague