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Disconnected Youth
The percentage of white and black youth age 16-24 in the City of St. Louis who are neither working nor in school
Disconnected Youth measures the percentage of white and black youth age 16-24 who are neither working nor in school.
A score of 100 represents racial equity, meaning there are no racial disparities in outcomes between black and white populations. The lower the Equity Score, the greater the disparity.
For Disconnected Youth, a score of 100 — a score reflecting racial equity — would mean black and white youth are equally likely to be neither working nor in school. It is important to note that for this indicator, equity is not our only goal: we also want to improve outcomes for all.
More Information
What does this indicator measure?
Disconnected Youth measures the percentage of white and black youth age 16-24 in the City of St. Louis who are neither working nor in school. This includes youth who are either unemployed or not in the labor force and are also not enrolled in school. In 2016, there were 2,932 youth that were neither working nor in school, or 8.0% of youth.
Disconnected youth analysis
Youth age 16-24 who are neither working nor in school in St. Louis City.
| All | Black | White | Disparity Ratio | Equity Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youth neither working or in school | 2,932 | 1,880 | 624 | - | - |
| Youth population | 36,445 | 21,002 | 11,626 | - | - |
| Percent of youth neither working or in school | 8.0% | 9.0% | 5.4% | 1.668 to 1 | 54 |
Data Source: American Community Survey 1-year PUMS, 2016.
Data Note: PUMS data may differ slightly from estimates on American FactFinder due to differences in sampling. See PUMS technical documentation for more information. The number of sample cases is too small to report reliable estimates for additional racial groups.
What does this analysis mean?
Black youth are 67% more likely than white youth to be disconnected — neither working nor in school. 9.0% of black youth are disconnected, compared to 5.4% of white youth. If disconnected youth rates were equitable, there would be 746 fewer disconnected black youth.
Why do Disconnected Youth matter?
All citizens should be able to be productive and fulfilled members of society, but not every young person is successfully making the transition to adulthood. According to Measure of America, a think tank which studies disconnected youth, disconnected young people can become "unmoored from routines of work and school that give shape, purpose, and direction to one’s days, and deprived of experiences that build knowledge, networks, skills, and confidence."
Which Calls to Action from the Ferguson Commission report are linked with this indicator?
Many of the report’s calls to action are designed to create opportunity for youth. The calls to action that support disconnected youth are:
- Enhancing College Access and Affordability
- Create School-Based Early Warning Systems
- Providing Rigorous Primary and Secondary Education
- Ensuring Robust Minority Participation in the Job Market
- Prioritizing Youth-Focused Job Creation and Training
- Realigning Incentives and Funding to Improve Job Training and Creation
Questions for further investigation
- Why is there a racial disparity in Disconnected Youth?
- What can St. Louis do to reduce racial disparities in Disconnected Youth?
- What initiatives are currently underway to reduce racial disparities in Disconnected Youth?
How can I learn more about this issue?
STL Youth Jobs is a youth employment organization that provides individualized career assessment, financial literacy and job readiness training, employment experience, and continuing career support.
In the report "More than a Million Reasons for Hope: Youth Disconnection in America Today," Measure of America analyzes youth disconnection in the United States by state, metro area, county, and community type, and by gender, race, and ethnicity.
