Youth Unemployment in Massachusetts Doubles

• The dropout rate for all students was 2.7% in 2011, however low-income and limited English proficiency students continue to dropout at higher rates, 4.8% and 7.9% respectively.
• In 2011, nearly 134,000 Massachusetts young adults age 16-24 were not working and were not enrolled in school, over a third of these young adults were age 16-19.
• Unemployment rates for young adults age 16-24 in Massachusetts reached 13.8% in 2011, double the unemployment rate for young adults in 2000.

By 2018, 68% of the jobs in Massachusetts will require a postsecondary degree or certificate. As the demand for a highly educated workforce  continues to grow ensuring that students graduate and engage in youth employment opportunities can positively impact these young adults and Massachusetts’ workforce.