Disconnected Youth

Disconnected Youth measures the percentage of white and black youth ages 16-24 in the St. Louis region 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 18,804 youth in the region who were neither working nor in school.

Disconnected Youth Indicator Scores

City of
St. Louis

54

St. Louis
County

100

St. Charles
County

23

St. Clair
County

76

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 score mean?

A score of 100 represents racial equity, meaning there are no racial disparities in the 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 in school, working, or both. It is important to note that for this indicator, equity is not our only goal; we also want to improve outcomes for all.

WHAT DOES THIS ANALYSIS MEAN?

Disconnected youth outcomes by race vary greatly across the four-county region, but on average black youth are about 45% more likely to be considered disconnected than white youth. In St. Charles County, black youth are nearly five times more likely to be disconnected, with 14.5% who are not working or in school compared to 3.1% of white youth. Black youth are 67% more likely than white youth to be disconnected in the City of St. Louis (9% of black youth relative to 5.4% of white youth). In St. Clair County, black youth are 19% more likely to be disconnected (16% of black youth relative to 13.4% of white youth).

If disconnected youth rates were equitable, there would be

746 fewer disconnected black youth in the City of St. Louis,
218 fewer disconnected black youth in St. Charles County, and
326 fewer disconnected black youth in St. Clair County.

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’s REPORT ARE LINKED WITH THIS INDICATOR?

Many of the report’s calls to action are designed to create opportunity for youth. The signature priorities that support disconnected youth are:

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 U.S. by state, metro area, county, and community type, and by gender, race, and ethnicity.

Disconnected Youth Data

Youth age 16 – 24 who are neither working nor in school

	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
Percentage of Disconnected Youth	8.00%	9.00%	5.40%	1.668 to 1	54

Data Source: American Community Survey 1-year PUMS, 2016

Youth age 16 – 24 who are neither working nor in school

	All	Black	White	Disparity Ratio	Equity Score
Youth Neither Working or in School	8,807	2,223	5,012
Youth Population	111,920	30,098	67,784
Percentage of Disconnected Youth	7.90%	7.40%	7.40%	1 to 1	100

Data Source: American Community Survey 1-year PUMS, 2016

Youth age 16 – 24 who are neither working nor in school

	All	Black	White	Disparity Ratio	Equity Score
Youth Neither Working or in School	2,406	277	1,161
Youth Population	44,989	1,910	37,804
Percentage of Disconnected Youth	5.30%	14.50%	3.10%	4.677 to 1	23

Data Source: American Community Survey 1-year PUMS, 2016

Youth age 16 – 24 who are neither working nor in school

	All	Black	White	Disparity Ratio	Equity Score
Youth Neither Working or in School	4,659	1,978	2,174
Youth Population	30,344	12,327	16,243
Percentage of Disconnected Youth	15.40%	16.00%	13.40%	1.194 to 1	76

Data Source: American Community Survey 1-year PUMS, 2016

Return to Youth at the Center