Unemployment Rate of High School Dropouts in the US

The United Nations Department of Labor’s Bureau recently released some statistics about the unemployment rate of high school graduates and dropouts. Since it might be challenging to get a job after leaving high school in the US. But you are more likely to get a job after diploma, according to that Statistics.

Historically, most high school graduates don’t attend colleges. This trend has been going on and on for the past few decades. In 2018, 66.7 percent of high school graduates from the age group 16 to 24 years enrolled in colleges and universities. However, this percentage increased by 3.6 to 69.1 percent in October 2018.

For those people who value education, these statistics can be good news. But those who want to convert knowledge into a career, the report contains some bad aspects too. Since only 72.3 percent within the age group of 20 to 29 years, with bachelor’s degrees, got employment. It merely means that the unemployment rate also increased by about 7.7 times in 2019 as the national unemployment rate of 3.6 percent.

The bitter truth is that high school dropouts are far less likely to get a job or even looking for a job than those with a graduation degree. Compared to the labor force participation rate of nearly 74 percent, there is 47.2 percent of recent high school dropouts, among the age group of 16 to 24 years, who are looking for employment.

High School Dropout Rates

The high school dropouts are individuals among the age group of 16 to 24 who are not currently enrolled in high school and obtained GED. Considerably, the dropout rates decreased from 15% in 1970 to 6% in 2016. Historically, in 2016, the dropout rates for black youth reached a low of 6 percent. On the other side rates among Hispanic youth reached a low of 9 percent.

The dropped out rates in the US represent the percentage of 16 to 24-year-olds, those who haven’t earned high school credentials. In 2017 there were nearly 2.1 million status dropouts among the age group of 16 to 24. However, the overall percentage of dropouts was 5.4%.

After that, the dropout rates decreased from 9.7% in 2006 to 5.4% in 2017. Additionally, in 2017 overall, the dropout rates were higher for male youth with 6.4 percent than the female youth 4.4 percent. Additionally, there are no measurable differences in dropout statistics between males and females for Asian and Pacific teens. The male and female dropout gaps also differed by race/ethnicity.

International students had a dropout rate of 10% in 2016. In addition to this, the dropout rate of foreign-born children was 7% and 6% of those with native-born parents. While the foreign-born youth dropout rates shrank from 29% in 2000 to 10% in 2016, it remains above the national average.

Why are students dropping out?

According to students, there are many reasons for dropping out of high school. Nearly 27% of students claimed that they left school because they were failing too many classes. Additionally, more than 26 percent reported boredom as a cause for dropping high school. However, the rest of the students mentioned other factors for their dropout, like getting held back or drugs, etc.

Only a small percentage claimed that they dropped high school. Since there are ineffective teachers, school environment, mental health issues, or residential instability. However, researchers reported that students from low-income backgrounds are 2.4 times more likely to drop out of high school than those from middle-income neighborhoods.

 If students have to worry about basic needs like shelter, food, clothes, then how can they expend income on education? Therefore if you think the child is at risk for dropping out of school, consider other alternative school choices. Also, some students need the motivation to continue their studies.