Data spotlight: focus on disconnected youth

10/12/2016

In this month’s e-news we are focusing on youth between the ages of 16-24 who are not in school, and are not employed. This group is also sometimes referred to as “Opportunity Youth”. Nationally, they are often referred to as “Disconnected Youth,” a term which has been defined by Measure of America as young people ages 16 to 24 who are neither working nor in school. Whatever term is used, it is important to recognize that this is a critical segment of the population, and that there is great potential in the Santa Fe Community to come together to help this population either return to school or find an appropriate career pathway.

According to Measure of America's most recent report, Nationwide 13.8% of young people in this age group are not connected to either school or employment. In Santa Fe, these numbers are even higher per capita. Approximately 16%, or 2,600 youth ages 16-24 are neither in school or working in Santa Fe in 2009-20013. (See Figure Below). The percentage of youth who are not connected to school or employment increases with age. For 16-18 year olds 10% are not connected. This percentage almost doubles for 19-21 year olds (19%) and 22-24 year olds (21%) in Santa Fe.

Nationally, rates of disconnection are much higher for blacks (21.6 percent), Native Americans (27.8 percent), and Latinos (16.3 percent) compared to rates for Asian Americans (7.9 percent) or whites (11.3 percent). *more here Although we do not have ethnicity rates for Santa Fe specifically, we do know that the youth living in poverty in Santa Fe are almost three times more likely to be disconnected than those not in poverty. For those youth who are already disconnected from school and work, the poverty rate is twice as high than those who are connected to either school or work at 47% (see chart below). These rates are higher than national rates, in which 39% of “disconnected” youth are in poverty.

Why does this matter?

The effects of disconnected youth ripples through the community. Nationally, it costs taxpayers $93 Billion annually for lost tax revenue and social services for an estimated 6.7 million youth who are not in school or employed. Beyond the financial cost, there is a social cost as well which impacts the community in multiple ways including though social services, the criminal justice system, and employment.

On the national level, the issue of youth who are not in school or employed is gaining momentum, and this is also true in Santa Fe. Many local organizations and programs such as YouthWorks, Youth Shelters, Santa Fe Mountain Center, and Santa Fe Public Schools are working to engage and support disconnected and at risk youth. Santa Fe is part of the Presidential My Brother’s Keeper Initiative which is designed to address opportunity gaps for young men of color and ensure that all young people can reach their full potential. Additionally, the Santa Fe Birth to Career Collaboration and the City of Santa Fe are working with many partners to improve, expand, and coordinate efforts.

Useful Resources:

1 Comment

Miguel Acosta

12/8/2016 11:15:56 am

We do know the ethnicity of most disconnected youth, Hispano or immigrant. The housing crash was a big contributor to greater numbers of unemployed youth in this age sector, and a lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate resources, supports and programs in the community and schools has also contributed. The focus on artists and entrepreneurial initiatives by the city and other funders leaves most of this population out.

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