In 2006, about 8 percent of youth ages 16–19 were neither enrolled in school nor working.

There are many reasons why youth between the ages of 16 and 19 may neither be enrolled in school nor working. For example, they may be seeking but unable to find work, or they may have left the workforce or school, either temporarily or permanently, to start a family. This indicator provides information on youth at a time when most are transitioning into postsecondary education or the workforce. This is a critical period for young people as they pursue their educational goals and career paths.

From 1986 through 2006, the percentage of youth ages 16–19 neither enrolled in school nor working remained between 7 and 10 percent annually (see table 19-1). Within any single year, the percentage of such youth varied across certain subgroups of the population. In 2006, for example, the percentage of such youth varied by age, education, race/ethnicity, citizenship, and family poverty, though it was not measurably different by sex.

Differences were found by race/ethnicity and citizenship. In each year observed, higher percentages of Black and Hispanic youth than White youth were neither enrolled in school nor working. In 2006, 11 percent each of Hispanic and Black youth were neither enrolled in school nor working, compared with 6 percent each of White and Asian youth. A greater percentage of non-U.S. citizen youth (13 percent) were neither enrolled in school nor working than U.S.-born youth (7 percent).

Family poverty was positively related to the prevalence of youth who were neither enrolled in school nor working. In each year observed from 1986 to 2006, the percentage of such youth was higher among youth from poor and near-poor families than among youth from nonpoor families. In 2006, these percentages were 17 percent, 10 percent, and 5 percent, respectively.

In 2006, about 12 percent of youth ages 18–19 were neither in school nor working, compared with 4 percent of youth ages 16–17. Higher percentages of youth ages 18–19 than youth ages 16–17 were neither in school nor working across all years observed. Of youth with less than a high school diploma or the equivalent, a greater percentage of youth ages 18–19 than youth ages 16–17 were neither in school nor working in 2006 (13 vs. 3 percent). This pattern held true for all years observed.