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| 2010 Tables and Figures | All Years of Tables and Figures | Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest |
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| Table 396. | Labor force status of high school dropouts, by sex and race/ethnicity: Selected years, 1980 through 2009 |
| Year, sex, and race/ ethnicity |
Number of dropouts (in thousands) | Percent of all dropouts | Percentage distribution of dropouts | Labor force participation rate of dropouts1 | Dropouts in civilian labor force2 | Dropouts not in labor force (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed | Unemployed (seeking employment) | Not in labor force | Number (in thousands) | Unemploy- ment rate |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | Unemployed (seeking employment) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||
| All dropouts | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1980 | 738 | (44.0) | 100.0 | (†) | 43.8 | (2.97) | 20.0 | (2.37) | 36.2 | (2.87) | 63.8 | (2.87) | 471 | (35.2) | 148 | (19.5) | 31.4 | (3.44) | 267 | (26.5) | ||||||||
| 1985 | 610 | (42.3) | 100.0 | (†) | 43.5 | (3.45) | 24.0 | (2.94) | 32.5 | (3.25) | 67.5 | (3.25) | 412 | (34.8) | 147 | (20.6) | 35.6 | (4.01) | 198 | (24.1) | ||||||||
| 1990 | 412 | (36.0) | 100.0 | (†) | 46.3 | (4.37) | 21.6 | (3.57) | 32.2 | (4.09) | 67.8 | (4.09) | 279 | (29.7) | 89 | (16.6) | 31.8 | (4.90) | 132 | (20.4) | ||||||||
| 1995 | 604 | (43.6) | 100.0 | (†) | 47.7 | (3.61) | 20.0 | (2.86) | 32.3 | (3.38) | 67.7 | (3.38) | 409 | (35.9) | 121 | (19.3) | 29.6 | (3.97) | 195 | (24.8) | ||||||||
| 2000 | 515 | (28.5) | 100.0 | (†) | 48.7 | (2.77) | 19.2 | (3.01) | 32.0 | (2.59) | 68.0 | (2.59) | 350 | (23.5) | 99 | (17.2) | 28.1 | (4.16) | 165 | (16.2) | ||||||||
| 2004 | 496 | (39.0) | 100.0 | (†) | 32.5 | (3.68) | 21.4 | (3.19) | 46.3 | (3.03) | 53.7 | (3.92) | 267 | (28.6) | 106 | (17.8) | 39.9 | (5.20) | 229 | (20.5) | ||||||||
| 2005 | 407 | (35.3) | 100.0 | (†) | 38.3 | (4.22) | 18.9 | (3.42) | 42.8 | (3.32) | 57.2 | (4.30) | 233 | (26.7) | 77 | (15.4) | 32.9 | (5.42) | 174 | (17.9) | ||||||||
| 2006 | 445 | (36.9) | 100.0 | (†) | 40.3 | (4.07) | 12.5 | (2.75) | 47.2 | (3.20) | 52.8 | (4.15) | 235 | (26.8) | 55 | (13.1) | 23.6 | (4.87) | 210 | (19.6) | ||||||||
| 2007 | 426 | (36.1) | 100.0 | (†) | 41.1 | (4.17) | 15.1 | (3.05) | 43.8 | (3.25) | 56.2 | (4.21) | 239 | (27.1) | 64 | (14.1) | 26.9 | (5.04) | 187 | (18.5) | ||||||||
| 2008 | 400 | (35.0) | 100.0 | (†) | 29.3 | (3.98) | 19.1 | (3.46) | 51.6 | (3.38) | 48.4 | (4.38) | 194 | (24.4) | 77 | (15.4) | 39.5 | (6.18) | 206 | (19.4) | ||||||||
| 2009 | 383 | (34.3) | 100.0 | (†) | 21.8 | (3.69) | 26.7 | (3.98) | 51.5 | (3.46) | 48.5 | (4.47) | 186 | (23.9) | 103 | (17.8) | 55.1 | (6.42) | 198 | (19.0) | ||||||||
| Male | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1980 | 422 | (32.5) | 57.2 | (2.89) | 50.3 | (3.86) | 22.0 | (3.20) | 27.7 | (3.45) | 72.3 | (3.45) | 305 | (27.7) | 93 | (15.3) | 30.5 | (4.18) | 117 | (17.1) | ||||||||
| 1985 | 319 | (29.9) | 52.3 | (3.39) | 50.8 | (4.69) | 30.6 | (4.32) | 18.6 | (3.65) | 81.4 | (3.65) | 260 | (27.0) | 98 | (16.6) | 37.6 | (5.04) | 59 | (12.9) | ||||||||
| 1990 | 217 | (25.6) | 52.8 | (4.27) | 51.3 | (5.89) | 28.0 | (5.29) | 20.7 | (4.77) | 79.3 | (4.77) | 172 | (22.8) | 61 | (13.5) | 35.3 | (6.32) | 45 | (11.6) | ||||||||
| 1995 | 339 | (31.5) | 56.2 | (3.45) | 52.8 | (4.64) | 21.3 | (3.80) | 26.0 | (4.07) | 74.0 | (4.07) | 251 | (27.1) | 72 | (14.5) | 28.7 | (4.88) | 88 | (16.1) | ||||||||
| 2000 | 295 | (29.3) | 57.3 | (3.73) | 56.3 | (4.94) | 18.3 | (3.85) | 25.6 | (4.35) | 74.4 | (4.35) | 220 | (25.3) | 54 | (12.6) | 24.5 | (4.96) | 76 | (14.9) | ||||||||
| 2004 | 278 | (28.7) | 56.0 | (3.84) | 35.6 | (4.95) | 24.1 | (4.42) | 40.1 | (5.07) | 59.9 | (5.07) | 166 | (22.2) | 67 | (14.1) | 40.4 | (6.56) | 112 | (18.2) | ||||||||
| 2005 | 227 | (25.9) | 55.8 | (4.24) | 38.3 | (5.56) | 21.6 | (4.71) | 40.3 | (5.61) | 59.7 | (5.61) | 136 | (20.1) | 49 | (12.1) | 35.9 | (7.09) | 91 | (16.4) | ||||||||
| 2006 | 256 | (27.6) | 57.6 | (4.04) | 46.3 | (5.37) | 11.2 | ! | (3.39) | 42.5 | (5.32) | 57.5 | (5.32) | 147 | (20.9) | 29 | ! | (9.2) | 19.4 | (5.62) | 109 | (18.0) | ||||||
| 2007 | 233 | (26.3) | 54.6 | (4.16) | 41.4 | (5.57) | 19.0 | (4.43) | 39.6 | (5.53) | 60.4 | (5.53) | 141 | (20.4) | 44 | (11.5) | 31.5 | (6.75) | 92 | (16.5) | ||||||||
| 2008 | 191 | (23.8) | 47.6 | (4.30) | 29.3 | (5.69) | 24.6 | (5.38) | 46.1 | (6.22) | 53.9 | (6.22) | 103 | (17.5) | 47 | (11.8) | 45.6 | (8.47) | 88 | (16.1) | ||||||||
| 2009 | 205 | (24.6) | 53.4 | (4.39) | 27.5 | (5.37) | 33.5 | (5.68) | 39.1 | (5.88) | 60.9 | (5.88) | 125 | (19.2) | 69 | (14.3) | 54.9 | (7.68) | 80 | (15.4) | ||||||||
| Female | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1980 | 316 | (27.0) | 42.8 | (2.77) | 35.0 | (4.08) | 17.4 | (3.24) | 47.6 | (4.28) | 52.4 | (4.28) | 165 | (19.6) | 55 | (11.3) | 33.2 | (5.57) | 150 | (18.7) | ||||||||
| 1985 | 291 | (27.4) | 47.7 | (3.25) | 35.5 | (4.51) | 16.8 | (3.52) | 47.8 | (4.71) | 52.2 | (4.71) | 152 | (19.8) | 49 | (11.2) | 32.1 | (6.09) | 139 | (18.9) | ||||||||
| 1990 | 194 | (23.2) | 47.2 | (4.10) | 40.6 | (5.87) | 14.4 | (4.19) | 45.0 | (5.94) | 55.0 | (5.94) | 107 | (17.2) | 28 | ! | (8.8) | 26.1 | (7.08) | 87 | (15.6) | |||||||
| 1995 | 265 | (26.6) | 43.8 | (3.31) | 41.1 | (4.96) | 18.4 | (3.91) | 40.5 | (4.95) | 59.5 | (4.95) | 157 | (20.6) | 49 | (11.5) | 30.9 | (6.05) | 107 | (17.0) | ||||||||
| 2000 | 220 | (24.3) | 42.7 | (3.58) | 39.1 | (5.40) | 20.5 | (4.46) | 40.6 | (5.43) | 59.4 | (5.43) | 131 | (18.8) | 45 | (11.0) | 34.2 | (6.80) | 90 | (15.6) | ||||||||
| 2004 | 218 | (24.6) | 44.0 | (3.72) | 28.0 | (5.07) | 17.9 | (4.33) | 54.1 | (5.63) | 45.9 | (5.63) | 100 | (16.7) | 39 | (10.4) | 38.9 | (8.13) | 118 | (18.1) | ||||||||
| 2005 | 180 | (22.4) | 44.2 | (4.11) | 38.3 | (6.04) | 15.6 | (4.51) | 46.0 | (6.20) | 54.0 | (6.20) | 97 | (16.4) | 28 | ! | (8.8) | 28.8 | (7.67) | 83 | (15.2) | |||||||
| 2006 | 189 | (22.9) | 42.4 | (3.91) | 32.3 | (5.68) | 14.2 | (4.24) | 53.5 | (6.06) | 46.5 | (6.06) | 88 | (15.6) | 27 | ! | (8.6) | 30.6 | (8.21) | 101 | (16.8) | |||||||
| 2007 | 193 | (23.2) | 45.4 | (4.02) | 40.6 | (5.89) | 10.4 | ! | (3.66) | 48.9 | (5.99) | 51.1 | (5.99) | 99 | (16.6) | 20 | ! | (7.5) | 20.4 | ! | (6.76) | 95 | (16.2) | |||||
| 2008 | 210 | (24.1) | 52.4 | (4.16) | 29.2 | (5.24) | 14.2 | (4.02) | 56.6 | (5.71) | 43.4 | (5.71) | 91 | (15.9) | 30 | ! | (9.1) | 32.7 | (8.20) | 119 | (18.2) | |||||||
| 2009 | 179 | (22.3) | 46.6 | (4.25) | 15.2 | (4.48) | 19.0 | (4.90) | 65.8 | (5.92) | 34.2 | (5.92) | 61 | (13.0) | 34 | (9.7) | ‡ | (†) | 117 | (18.1) | ||||||||
| White | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1980 | 489 | (35.9) | 66.2 | (2.83) | 50.3 | (3.67) | 18.0 | (2.79) | 31.7 | (3.42) | 68.3 | (3.42) | 334 | (29.7) | 88 | (15.1) | 26.3 | (3.87) | 155 | (20.2) | ||||||||
| 1985 | 354 | (32.3) | 58.1 | (3.43) | 49.2 | (4.56) | 23.3 | (3.82) | 27.5 | (4.07) | 72.5 | (4.07) | 257 | (27.5) | 83 | (15.4) | 32.2 | (4.95) | 98 | (16.9) | ||||||||
| 1990 | 242 | (27.6) | 58.8 | (4.31) | 56.3 | (5.67) | 18.7 | (4.41) | 25.0 | (4.95) | 75.0 | (4.95) | 181 | (23.9) | 45 | (11.8) | 25.0 | (5.65) | 60 | (13.8) | ||||||||
| 1995 | 316 | (31.6) | 52.3 | (3.61) | 51.6 | (5.00) | 18.3 | (3.83) | 30.1 | (4.59) | 69.9 | (4.59) | 221 | (26.4) | 58 | (13.4) | 26.2 | (5.21) | 95 | (17.3) | ||||||||
| 2000 | 288 | (21.4) | 55.9 | (2.76) | 60.2 | (3.63) | 16.5 | (3.79) | 23.4 | (3.14) | 76.6 | (3.14) | 221 | (18.7) | 47 | (11.9) | 21.5 | (4.79) | 67 | (10.3) | ||||||||
| 2004 | 239 | (27.1) | 48.2 | (3.93) | 36.1 | (5.44) | 14.9 | (4.05) | 49.0 | (5.66) | 51.0 | (5.66) | 122 | (19.3) | 36 | (10.5) | 29.2 | (7.25) | 117 | (18.9) | ||||||||
| 2005 | 194 | (24.4) | 47.6 | (4.34) | 40.3 | (6.17) | 20.0 | (5.05) | 39.7 | (6.16) | 60.3 | (6.16) | 117 | (18.9) | 39 | (10.9) | 33.2 | (7.67) | 77 | (15.4) | ||||||||
| 2006 | 214 | (25.6) | 48.0 | (4.15) | 48.9 | (5.99) | 8.2 | ! | (3.31) | 42.8 | (5.93) | 57.2 | (5.93) | 122 | (19.4) | 18 | ! | (7.4) | 14.4 | ! | (5.59) | 92 | (16.8) | |||||
| 2007 | 178 | (23.4) | 41.8 | (4.18) | 40.8 | (6.45) | 11.4 | ! | (4.19) | 47.7 | (6.56) | 52.3 | (6.56) | 93 | (16.9) | 20 | ! | (7.9) | 21.8 | ! | (7.54) | 85 | (16.1) | |||||
| 2008 | 152 | (21.6) | 38.1 | (4.25) | 38.6 | (6.90) | 20.6 | (5.76) | 40.9 | (6.97) | 59.1 | (6.97) | 90 | (16.6) | 31 | ! | (9.8) | 34.8 | (8.83) | 62 | (13.8) | |||||||
| 2009 | 164 | (22.5) | 42.9 | (4.43) | 33.9 | (6.47) | 24.1 | (5.87) | 42.0 | (6.74) | 58.0 | (6.74) | 95 | (17.1) | 40 | (11.1) | 41.5 | (8.88) | 69 | (14.6) | ||||||||
| Black | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1980 | 141 | (19.9) | 19.1 | (2.43) | 20.9 | (5.77) | 28.4 | (6.40) | 50.7 | (7.09) | 49.3 | (7.09) | 69 | (14.0) | 40 | (10.6) | ‡ | (†) | 71 | (14.2) | ||||||||
| 1985 | 130 | (20.2) | 21.4 | (2.95) | 29.9 | (7.13) | 22.7 | (6.52) | 47.5 | (7.78) | 52.5 | (7.78) | 68 | (14.7) | 30 | ! | (9.7) | ‡ | (†) | 62 | (14.0) | |||||||
| 1990 | 82 | (16.6) | 19.9 | (3.62) | 30.9 | ! | (9.42) | 35.2 | (9.74) | 33.9 | (9.64) | 66.1 | (9.64) | 54 | (13.5) | 29 | ! | (9.9) | ‡ | (†) | 28 | ! | (9.7) | |||||
| 1995 | 104 | (18.5) | 17.2 | (2.79) | 33.5 | (8.40) | 25.8 | ! | (7.78) | 40.8 | (8.75) | 59.2 | (8.75) | 62 | (14.2) | 27 | ! | (9.4) | ‡ | (†) | 42 | (11.8) | ||||||
| 2000 | 106 | (18.7) | 20.6 | (3.24) | 26.7 | (7.79) | 25.5 | ! | (7.68) | 47.8 | (8.80) | 52.2 | (8.80) | 55 | (13.5) | 27 | ! | (9.4) | ‡ | (†) | 51 | (12.9) | ||||||
| 2004 | 86 | (17.2) | 17.3 | (3.16) | 9.9 | ! | (5.99) | 44.9 | (9.97) | 45.2 | (9.98) | 54.8 | (9.98) | 47 | (12.7) | 39 | (11.5) | ‡ | (†) | 39 | (11.6) | |||||||
| 2005 | 108 | (19.3) | 26.5 | (4.07) | 26.5 | (7.89) | 16.0 | ! | (6.56) | 57.5 | (8.84) | 42.5 | (8.84) | 46 | (12.6) | 17 | ! | (7.7) | ‡ | (†) | 62 | (14.6) | ||||||
| 2006 | 69 | (15.4) | 15.5 | (3.19) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | 36 | ! | (11.2) | 17 | ! | (7.6) | ‡ | (†) | 33 | ! | (10.6) | |||||
| 2007 | 73 | (15.9) | 17.2 | (3.40) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | 43 | (12.2) | 17 | ! | (7.6) | ‡ | (†) | 30 | ! | (10.2) | ||||||
| 2008 | 109 | (19.4) | 27.3 | (4.14) | 18.1 | ! | (6.84) | 15.0 | ! | (6.34) | 67.0 | (8.36) | 33.0 | (8.36) | 36 | ! | (11.2) | 16 | ! | (7.5) | ‡ | (†) | 73 | (15.9) | ||||
| 2009 | 77 | (16.2) | 20.0 | (3.80) | 5.1 | ! | (4.66) | 38.6 | (10.33) | 56.4 | (10.53) | 43.6 | (10.53) | 33 | ! | (10.7) | 30 | ! | (10.1) | ‡ | (†) | 43 | (12.2) | |||||
| Hispanic | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1980 | 91 | (18.9) | 12.3 | (2.41) | 47.2 | (10.42) | 17.9 | ! | (8.00) | 34.8 | (9.94) | 65.2 | (9.94) | 59 | (15.3) | 16 | ! | (8.0) | ‡ | (†) | 32 | ! | (11.2) | |||||
| 1985 | 105 | (18.2) | 17.3 | (2.72) | 37.9 | (8.41) | 32.0 | (8.09) | 30.1 | (7.95) | 69.9 | (7.95) | 74 | (15.2) | 34 | ! | (10.3) | ‡ | (†) | 32 | ! | (10.0) | ||||||
| 1990 | 72 | (15.6) | 17.4 | (3.44) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | 32 | ! | (10.5) | 10 | ! | (5.9) | ‡ | (†) | 39 | (11.5) | ||||||
| 1995 | 174 | (23.8) | 28.8 | (3.34) | 48.5 | (6.88) | 20.1 | (5.52) | 31.4 | (6.40) | 68.6 | (6.40) | 119 | (19.7) | 35 | ! | (10.7) | 29.3 | (7.57) | 55 | (13.4) | |||||||
| 2000 | 101 | (18.2) | 19.6 | (3.18) | 39.0 | (8.83) | 22.2 | ! | (7.52) | 38.9 | (8.82) | 61.1 | (8.82) | 62 | (14.2) | 22 | ! | (8.6) | ‡ | (†) | 39 | (11.3) | ||||||
| 2004 | 154 | (23.0) | 31.0 | (3.86) | 39.3 | (7.32) | 17.4 | ! | (5.68) | 43.2 | (7.42) | 56.8 | (7.42) | 87 | (17.3) | 27 | ! | (9.6) | 30.7 | (9.17) | 67 | (15.1) | ||||||
| 2005 | 86 | (17.2) | 21.1 | (3.76) | 45.1 | (9.96) | 19.2 | ! | (7.89) | 35.7 | (9.59) | 64.3 | (9.59) | 55 | (13.8) | 17 | ! | (7.6) | ‡ | (†) | 31 | ! | (10.3) | |||||
| 2006 | 136 | (21.6) | 30.5 | (4.06) | 35.3 | (7.62) | 12.6 | ! | (5.29) | 52.2 | (7.97) | 47.8 | (7.97) | 65 | (15.0) | 17 | ! | (7.7) | ‡ | (†) | 71 | (15.6) | ||||||
| 2007 | 119 | (20.3) | 28.0 | (4.04) | 37.6 | (8.24) | 23.0 | ! | (7.16) | 39.5 | (8.32) | 60.5 | (8.32) | 72 | (15.8) | 27 | ! | (9.7) | ‡ | (†) | 47 | (12.7) | ||||||
| 2008 | 111 | (19.6) | 27.8 | (4.16) | 31.9 | (8.21) | 24.5 | ! | (7.58) | 43.7 | (8.74) | 56.3 | (8.74) | 63 | (14.7) | 27 | ! | (9.7) | ‡ | (†) | 49 | (12.9) | ||||||
| 2009 | 115 | (19.9) | 30.1 | (4.35) | 17.2 | ! | (6.53) | 27.9 | (7.77) | 54.9 | (8.61) | 45.1 | (8.61) | 52 | (13.4) | 32 | ! | (10.5) | ‡ | (†) | 63 | (14.8) | ||||||
| †Not applicable. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| !Interpret data with caution. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ‡Reporting standards not met. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 The labor force participation rate is the percentage of persons who are either employed or seeking employment. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 The labor force includes all employed persons plus those seeking employment. The unemployment rate is the percentage of persons in the labor force who are not working and who made specific efforts to find employment sometime during the prior 4 weeks. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NOTE: Data are based on sample surveys of the civilian noninstitutional population. Dropouts are considered persons 16 to 24 years old who dropped out of school in the 12-month period ending in October of years shown. Includes dropouts from any grade, including a small number from elementary and middle schools. Percentages are only shown when the base is 75,000 or greater. Totals include race categories not separately shown. Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. Standard errors appear in parentheses. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October, selected years, 1980 through 2009. (This table was prepared August 2010.) |
