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| 2013 Tables and Figures | All Years of Tables and Figures | Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest |
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| Table 504.20. | Labor force status of high school dropouts, by sex and race/ethnicity: October, selected years, 1980 through 2012 |
| [Standard errors appear in parentheses] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | Unemployment 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) | ||||||||
| 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) | ||||||||
| 20103 | 340 | (29.0) | 100.0 | (†) | 30.9 | (4.24) | 23.0 | (4.29) | 46.1 | (4.78) | 53.9 | (4.78) | 183 | (21.5) | 78 | (16.0) | 42.7 | (6.67) | 157 | (21.9) | ||||||||
| 20113 | 372 | (33.4) | 100.0 | (†) | 33.9 | (4.09) | 21.1 | (4.18) | 44.9 | (4.78) | 55.1 | (4.78) | 205 | (24.2) | 79 | (15.9) | 38.4 | (6.26) | 167 | (24.5) | ||||||||
| 20123 | 370 | (37.1) | 100.0 | (†) | 23.8 | (4.56) | 23.4 | (4.69) | 52.8 | (5.64) | 47.2 | (5.64) | 174 | (27.0) | ‡ | (†) | 49.6 | (7.82) | 195 | (28.8) | ||||||||
| 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) | 74.6 | (4.34) | 18.2 | (3.85) | 25.6 | (4.35) | 74.4 | (4.35) | 220 | (25.3) | ‡ | (†) | 24.5 | (4.96) | 76 | (14.9) | ||||||||
| 2005 | 227 | (25.9) | 55.8 | (4.24) | 59.9 | (5.61) | 21.6 | (4.71) | 40.3 | (5.61) | 59.7 | (5.61) | 136 | (20.1) | ‡ | (†) | 35.9 | (7.09) | 91 | (16.4) | ||||||||
| 20103 | 179 | (21.3) | 52.7 | (4.17) | 25.9 | (4.96) | 17.2 | (4.40) | 56.9 | (5.70) | 43.1 | (5.70) | 77 | (12.4) | ‡ | (†) | 39.8 | (8.62) | 102 | (17.2) | ||||||||
| 20113 | 204 | (24.5) | 54.7 | (4.00) | 42.1 | (5.91) | 16.0 | ! | (4.85) | 41.8 | (6.25) | 58.2 | (6.25) | 118 | (18.1) | ‡ | (†) | 27.5 | (7.53) | 85 | (17.4) | |||||||
| 20123 | 192 | (27.1) | 51.9 | (5.42) | 31.1 | (6.58) | 26.8 | (6.34) | 42.1 | (6.64) | 57.9 | (6.64) | 111 | (20.9) | ‡ | (†) | 46.3 | (9.59) | ‡ | (†) | ||||||||
| 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) | 55.0 | (5.94) | 14.4 | (4.19) | 45.0 | (5.94) | 55.0 | (5.94) | 107 | (17.2) | ‡ | (†) | 26.1 | (7.08) | 87 | (15.6) | ||||||||
| 1995 | 265 | (26.6) | 43.8 | (3.31) | 59.5 | (4.95) | 18.4 | (3.91) | 40.5 | (4.95) | 59.5 | (4.95) | 157 | (20.6) | ‡ | (†) | 30.9 | (6.05) | 107 | (17.0) | ||||||||
| 2000 | 220 | (24.3) | 42.7 | (3.58) | 59.5 | (5.43) | 20.3 | (4.45) | 40.6 | (5.43) | 59.4 | (5.43) | 131 | (18.8) | ‡ | (†) | 34.2 | (6.80) | 90 | (15.6) | ||||||||
| 2005 | 180 | (22.4) | 44.2 | (4.11) | 53.9 | (6.20) | 15.6 | (4.51) | 46.0 | (6.20) | 54.0 | (6.20) | 97 | (16.4) | ‡ | (†) | 28.8 | (7.67) | 83 | (15.2) | ||||||||
| 20103 | 161 | (19.3) | 47.3 | (4.17) | 36.4 | (6.46) | 29.6 | (7.15) | 34.0 | (6.82) | 66.0 | (6.82) | 106 | (17.0) | ‡ | (†) | 44.8 | (9.14) | ‡ | (†) | ||||||||
| 20113 | 169 | (20.4) | 45.3 | (4.00) | 24.1 | (5.60) | 27.3 | (6.92) | 48.7 | (7.45) | 51.3 | (7.45) | 87 | (14.9) | ‡ | (†) | 53.1 | (9.84) | 82 | (17.0) | ||||||||
| 20123 | 178 | (27.1) | 48.1 | (5.42) | 15.9 | ! | (5.41) | 19.7 | ! | (6.66) | 64.5 | (8.03) | 35.5 | (8.03) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | 115 | (24.8) | ||||||
| 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) | 75.0 | (4.95) | 18.7 | (4.41) | 25.0 | (4.95) | 75.0 | (4.95) | 181 | (23.9) | ‡ | (†) | 25.0 | (5.65) | 60 | (13.8) | ||||||||
| 1995 | 316 | (31.6) | 52.3 | (3.61) | 69.9 | (4.59) | 18.3 | (3.83) | 30.1 | (4.59) | 69.9 | (4.59) | 221 | (26.4) | ‡ | (†) | 26.2 | (5.21) | 95 | (17.3) | ||||||||
| 2000 | 288 | (21.4) | 55.9 | (2.76) | 76.6 | (3.14) | 16.5 | (3.79) | 23.4 | (3.14) | 76.6 | (3.14) | 221 | (18.7) | ‡ | (†) | 21.5 | (4.79) | ‡ | (†) | ||||||||
| 2005 | 194 | (24.4) | 47.6 | (4.34) | 60.3 | (6.16) | 20.0 | (5.05) | 39.7 | (6.16) | 60.3 | (6.16) | 117 | (18.9) | ‡ | (†) | 33.2 | (7.67) | 77 | (15.4) | ||||||||
| 20103 | 148 | (18.9) | 43.5 | (4.57) | 31.4 | (6.58) | 20.4 | (5.46) | 48.3 | (6.82) | 51.7 | (6.82) | 77 | (13.6) | ‡ | (†) | 39.4 | (9.52) | 71 | (14.1) | ||||||||
| 20113 | 181 | (25.3) | 48.5 | (4.76) | 32.8 | (5.71) | 18.2 | (5.05) | 49.0 | (6.21) | 51.0 | (6.21) | 92 | (15.9) | ‡ | (†) | 35.7 | (8.57) | 88 | (17.6) | ||||||||
| 20123 | 86 | (15.3) | 23.2 | (4.16) | 24.7 | ! | (7.85) | 11.6 | ! | (5.44) | 63.7 | (8.29) | 36.3 | (8.29) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ||||||
| Black | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1980 | 141 | (19.9) | 19.1 | (2.43) | 49.3 | (7.09) | 28.4 | (6.40) | 50.7 | (7.09) | 49.3 | (7.09) | 69 | (14.0) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | 71 | (14.2) | ||||||||
| 1985 | 130 | (20.2) | 21.4 | (2.95) | 52.5 | (7.78) | 22.7 | (6.52) | 47.5 | (7.78) | 52.5 | (7.78) | 68 | (14.7) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | 62 | (14.0) | ||||||||
| 1990 | 82 | (16.6) | 19.9 | (3.62) | 66.1 | (9.64) | 35.2 | (9.74) | 33.9 | (9.64) | 66.1 | (9.64) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ||||||||
| 1995 | 104 | (18.5) | 17.2 | (2.79) | 59.2 | (8.75) | 25.8 | ! | (7.78) | 40.8 | (8.75) | 59.2 | (8.75) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | |||||||
| 2000 | 106 | (18.7) | 20.6 | (3.24) | 52.2 | (8.80) | 25.5 | ! | (7.68) | 47.8 | (8.80) | 52.2 | (8.80) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | |||||||
| 2005 | 108 | (19.3) | 26.5 | (4.07) | 26.5 | (7.89) | 16.0 | ! | (6.56) | 57.5 | (8.84) | 42.5 | (8.84) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | |||||||
| 20103 | ‡ | (†) | 18.7 | (3.94) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ||||||||
| 20113 | ‡ | (†) | 19.1 | (3.77) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ||||||||
| 20123 | 114 | (22.9) | 30.8 | (5.01) | ‡ | (†) | 35.6 | (9.75) | 57.3 | (10.21) | 42.7 | (10.21) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ||||||||
| Hispanic | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1980 | 91 | (18.9) | 12.3 | (2.41) | 65.2 | (9.94) | 17.9 | ! | (8.00) | 34.8 | (9.94) | 65.2 | (9.94) | 59 | (15.3) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | |||||||
| 1985 | 105 | (18.2) | 17.3 | (2.72) | 69.9 | (7.95) | 32.0 | (8.09) | 30.1 | (7.95) | 69.9 | (7.95) | 74 | (15.2) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ||||||||
| 1990 | 72 | (15.6) | 17.4 | (3.44) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ||||||||
| 1995 | 174 | (23.8) | 28.8 | (3.34) | 68.6 | (6.40) | 20.1 | (5.52) | 31.4 | (6.40) | 68.6 | (6.40) | 119 | (19.7) | ‡ | (†) | 29.3 | (7.57) | ‡ | (†) | ||||||||
| 2000 | 101 | (18.2) | 19.6 | (3.18) | 61.1 | (8.82) | 22.2 | ! | (7.52) | 38.9 | (8.82) | 61.1 | (8.82) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | |||||||
| 2005 | 86 | (17.2) | 21.1 | (3.76) | 45.1 | (9.96) | 66.1 | (9.64) | 35.2 | (9.74) | 33.9 | (9.64) | 66 | (9.6) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ||||||||
| 20103 | 93 | (15.8) | 27.3 | (3.95) | 33.9 | (8.72) | 52.2 | (8.80) | 25.5 | ! | (7.68) | 47.8 | (8.80) | 52 | (8.8) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | |||||||
| 20113 | 99 | (17.4) | 26.6 | (4.14) | 28.3 | (7.34) | 20.1 | ! | (6.43) | 51.6 | (8.76) | 48.4 | (8.76) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | |||||||
| 20123 | 134 | (24.2) | 36.3 | (5.08) | 33.9 | (8.08) | 21.0 | ! | (7.47) | 45.1 | (10.42) | 54.9 | (10.42) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | |||||||
| †Not applicable. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| !Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 and 50 percent. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ‡Reporting standards not met. Either there are too few cases for a reliable estimate or the coefficient of variation (CV) is 50 percent or greater. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 Beginning in 2010, standard errors were computed using replicate weights, which produced more precise values than the generalized variance function methodology used in prior years. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NOTE: Data are based on sample surveys of the civilian noninstitutional population. Data are for October of a given year. 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. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October, selected years, 1980 through 2012. (This table was prepared April 2014.) |
