1

Technical information: (202) 691-7410

 http://www.bls.gov/nls/

Media contact: 691-5902

USDL 07-0452

For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

 • By the October when they were age 19, 76 percent of men had graduated from high school, compared with 83 percent of women.

 • Among those who had dropped out of high school by the October when they were age 18, 11 percent

had graduated from high school or earned a General Educational Development (GED) credential by the

following October. Another 5 percent still had not graduated from high school but were enrolled in a

training or apprenticeship program, and 2 percent were reenrolled in high school.

 • Nine percent of male high school graduates who had never enrolled in college were in the Armed

Forces during the October when they were age 19, as were 7 percent of 19-year-old men who had

attended college but were no longer enrolled.

• Forty-one percent of high school dropouts and 22 percent of high school graduates not enrolled in

 college were neither employed nor in training during the October when they were age 19.

AMERICA’S YOUTH AT 19: SCHOOL ENROLLMENT, TRAINING, AND

EMPLOYMENT TRANSITIONS BETWEEN AGES 18 AND 19

Nineteen-year-old men were more likely to have dropped out of high school and less likely to be enrolled in college than 19-year-old women, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor

reported today. Women who were high school graduates and not enrolled in college during the October

when they were age 18 were more likely than their male counterparts to be attending college the following

October. Moreover, women enrolled in college during October when they were age 18 were less likely

than men to have dropped out by the following October.

These findings are from the first eight annual rounds of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997,

which is a nationally representative survey of about 9,000 young men and women who were born during the

years 1980 to 1984. These respondents were ages 12 to 17 when first interviewed in 1997, and ages 19 to

25 when interviewed for the eighth time in 2004-05. The survey provides information on the employment

experiences, schooling, family background, social behavior, and other characteristics of these youths.

This release focuses on the school enrollment and employment experiences of these youths from the

October when they were age 18 to the October when they were age 19. Respondents were age 18 in

October during the years 1998 to 2003 and age 19 in October from 1999 to 2004. Highlights from the

longitudinal survey include:
2

Educational Attainment at Age 19

About half of all youths were attending school during the October when they were age 19. Nearly 45

percent were enrolled in college, and 4 percent were enrolled in high school. Thirty-three percent had

graduated from high school and were not enrolled in college, and 2 percent had earned a GED. Nearly 17

percent of youths had dropped out of high school by the October when they were age 19. Men were more

likely than women to have dropped out of high school and were less likely to be attending college. At age

19, 50 percent of women were attending college, compared with 39 percent of men. (See table 1.)

Non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics were much more likely than non-Hispanic whites to have dropped

out of high school or still be enrolled in high school during the October when they were age 19. Nearly half

of whites were enrolled in college during the October when they were age 19, compared to about one-third

each of blacks and Hispanics.

Schooling and Training between Ages 18 and 19

The level of educational attainment when a person first left school does not always indicate his or her

final level of educational attainment. Eleven percent of youths who were high school dropouts in the October when they were age 18 had graduated from high school or earned a GED by the following October.

Another 2 percent had reenrolled in high school. Moreover, nearly 5 percent of high school dropouts were

attending some kind of training or apprenticeship program during the October when they were age 19. Hispanic dropouts were the most likely to reenroll in high school, while blacks were the most likely to enroll in

training. (See table 2.)

Three-quarters of youths enrolled in high school during the October when they were age 18 had graduated by the following October, while 11 percent had dropped out of high school and 13 percent still were

enrolled in high school. Thirty-four percent had graduated from high school and enrolled in college, and 4

percent had graduated from high school and were enrolled in a training program.

Many youths do not follow a continuous path while acquiring their education. Some youths delay their

college enrollment for a year or more after high school, and others enroll in college and then leave before

earning a degree. Among high school graduates not enrolled in college during the October when they were

age 18, 25 percent were enrolled in college during the following October. Women were more likely than

men to have had such delayed college enrollment. Among high school graduates who were enrolled in college during the October when they were age 18, 85 percent remained enrolled in college during the following October, and 15 percent had dropped out of college.

Five percent of youths who were high school dropouts during the October when they were age 18 were

enrolled in some kind of training or apprenticeship program during the following October. Black dropouts

were about three times as likely as white or Hispanic dropouts to be enrolled in training. Among high school

graduates who were not enrolled in college during the October when they were age 18, 6 percent were enrolled in a training or apprenticeship program during the following October.

• Nearly half of non-Hispanic black high school dropouts were not employed in either the October when

they were age 18 or the October when they were age 19, compared with 22 percent of non-Hispanic

whites and 30 percent of Hispanics.

 • High school graduates not enrolled in college were employed 75 percent of the weeks between the

October when they were age 18 and the following October. By comparison, youths who had dropped

out of high school by the October when they were age 18 were employed 55 percent of those weeks.
3

Employment and Training at Age 19 of Youths Not Enrolled in School

At age 19, labor force status differed substantially between high school dropouts, high school graduates

who had never attended college, and youths who had left college. High school dropouts were the least likely

to be employed during the October when they were age 19, compared to high school graduates with or

without some college. Black high school dropouts were much less likely than white or Hispanic dropouts to

be employed. Fewer than two-fifths of black high school dropouts were employed during the October when

they were age 19, compared with about three-fifths of white or Hispanic high school dropouts. (See

table 3.)

Seventy percent of high school graduates who had never enrolled in college were employed in civilian

jobs during the October when they were age 19. Another 6 percent were enlisted in the Armed Forces,

9 percent of male graduates and 2 percent of female graduates. Among high school graduates who had

some college experience but were not enrolled in college during the October when they were age 19, 73

percent were employed in civilian jobs, and 5 percent were enlisted in the Armed Forces.

Forty-one percent of high school dropouts were neither employed nor in training during the October

when they were age 19. Fifty-seven percent were employed, including 2 percent who were both employed

and enrolled in a training program. Another 2 percent of high school dropouts were enrolled in training but

not employed. Among high school dropouts, women were more likely than men to be neither employed nor

in training. Blacks were more likely than whites or Hispanics to be neither employed nor in training. (See

table 4.)

Among high school graduates not enrolled in college during the October when they were age 19, 76

percent were employed, including 6 percent who were both employed and enrolled in training. About 2

percent were enrolled in training but not employed; 22 percent were neither employed nor in a training

program.

Employment Attachment between Ages 18 and 19 of Youths Not Enrolled in School

Among youths who were not enrolled in school during the Octobers when they were ages 18 or 19,

employment status varied considerably by level of educational attainment. Twenty-nine percent of high

school dropouts were not employed in either October, and 38 percent were employed in both Octobers.

Among high school graduates who were not enrolled in college in the Octobers when they were ages 18

or 19, 61 percent were employed in both Octobers, and 10 percent were employed in neither October.

(See table 5.)

High school graduates not enrolled in college during the Octobers when they were ages 18 or 19 were

employed 75 percent of the weeks between the October when they were age 18 and the following October.

By comparison, high school dropouts were employed 55 percent of the weeks between the October when

they were age 18 and the following October. Regardless of the level of educational attainment, men were

employed a larger percent of weeks than women, and whites were employed a larger percent of weeks than

blacks or Hispanics. Among both high school graduates and dropouts, three-fifths of workweeks were 40

hours or more. (See table 6.)
Technical Note

The estimates in this release were obtained using data from

the first eight rounds of the National Longitudinal Survey of

Youth 1997 (NLSY97). The NLSY97 collects extensive

information on youths’ labor market behavior and educational

experiences. Information about respondents’ families and

communities also is obtained in the survey.

This survey is conducted by the National Opinion Research

Center at the University of Chicago and the Center for Human

Resource Research at The Ohio State University, under

the direction and sponsorship of the Bureau of Labor

Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. Partial funding

support for the survey has been provided by the Office

of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the

U.S. Department of Justice, the Office of Vocational and Adult

Education of the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S.

Department of Defense, the National Institute of Child Health

and Human Development of the U.S. Department of Health and

Human Services and the National Science Foundation.

Sample

The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 is a

nationally representative sample of 8,984 young men and

women who were ages 12 to 16 on December 31, 1996. This

sample is composed of the following groups:

A cross-sectional sample designed to represent the

noninstitutionalized, civilian segment of young people

living in the U.S. in 1997 and born between January 1,

1980, and December 31, 1984.

Supplemental samples of Hispanic or Latino and black

youths living in the U.S. in 1997 and born between

January 1, 1980, and December 31, 1984.

The eighth round of annual interviews took place between

October 2004 and July 2005. This release examines the period

from the October when respondents were age 18 until the

following October when respondents were age 19. All results

except the first three age catergories of table 1 are weighted

using the survey weights from the round in which the

respondents were age 19. The estimates of school enrollment

status at ages 16, 17, and 18 use the survey weights from

the round in which the respondents were those ages. The

survey weights correct for oversampling of some demographic groups and nonresponse. When weighted, the data

represent all people who were born in the years 1980 to

1984 and living in the U.S. in 1997. Not represented by

the survey are U.S. immigrants who were born from 1980

to 1984 and moved to the U.S. after 1997. NLSY97 sample

members remain eligible to be interviewed during

military service or if they become incarcerated or

institutionalized.

Interaction between time and age in a longitudinal

survey

Because the NLSY97 is a longitudinal survey, meaning the

same people are surveyed over time, the ages of the

respondents change with each survey round. It is important

to keep in mind this inherent link between the calendar years and

the ages of the respondents. The youngest respondents in the

sample (birth year 1984) turned 18 during calendar year 2002,

whereas the oldest respondents (birth year 1980) turned 18 during

calendar year 1998. Some respondents may not be used in all

tables if information about their work history is incomplete.

Definitions

 School enrollment status. If a respondent was enrolled

in high school or college at any point during the month of

October, he or she is counted as enrolled. If a respondent

reported no school enrollment during October and also had

not earned a high school diploma or General Educational

Development (GED) credential, he or she is counted as a

high school dropout.

Training. The NLSY97 obtains information on formal

training experiences outside of regular schooling. The training

questions explore what kinds of training respondents obtain,

where and when they are trained, how the training is paid

for, and what skills are acquired. Training programs include:

Business or secretarial training; vocational, technical, or trade

training; vocational rehabilitation centers; licensed practical

nursing or registered nursing programs; apprenticeship

programs; adult basic education and GED programs;

correspondence courses; formal company training or seminars;

and government training.

Employed. The NLSY97 collects employment histories

for civilian jobs and military service. Respondents are

classified as employed if they did any work during the

specified time period as paid employees, as self-employed

proprietors of their own businesses, or as unpaid workers in

a business owned by a member of their family, or if they were

enlisted in the Armed Forces.

Unemployed. Respondents are classified as unemployed if

they did not work during the specified time period but reported

that they looked for work or were on layoff from a job.

Not in the labor force. Respondents are classified as not

in the labor force if they did not work or look for work during

the specified time period.

Race and ethnic groups. In this release, the findings are

reported for non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks, and

Hispanics or Latinos. These groups are mutually exclusive

but not exhaustive. Other groups, which are included in the

overall totals, are not shown separately because their

representation in the survey sample is not sufficiently large to

provide statistically reliable estimates. In other BLS

publications, estimates usually are published for whites,

blacks, and Hispanics or Latinos, but these groups are not

mutually exclusive. “Hispanic or Latino” is considered to be

an ethnic group, and people in that group can be of any race.

Most other BLS publications include estimates for Hispanics

or Latinos in the white and black race groups in addition to the

Hispanic or Latino ethnic group.

Information in this release will be made available to sensoryimpaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-

5200; TDD message referral phone: 1-800-877-8339.

•

•
(Percent distribution)

Total High school 

dropouts

Enrolled in 

high school

High school 

graduates, 

not enrolled 

in college

General 

Educational 

Development 

(GED) 

recipients, 

not enrolled 

in college

Enrolled in 

college

Total, October when age 16 1

 ........... 100.0 5.5 94.2 0.1 0.0 0.2

Men .......................................... 100.0 5.5 94.3 .1 .0 .1

Women ..................................... 100.0 5.4 94.2 .2 .0 .3

White, non-Hispanic ................................... 100.0 5.3 94.4 .1 .0 .2

Black, non-Hispanic .................................... 100.0 5.6 94.1 .1 .0 .2

Hispanic or Latino ......................................... 100.0 7.1 92.4 .3 .0 .2

Total, October when age 17 ............ 100.0 10.0 86.1 1.5 .2 2.2

Men .......................................... 100.0 10.4 86.4 1.4 .2 1.7

Women ..................................... 100.0 9.6 85.8 1.6 .2 2.8

White, non-Hispanic ................................... 100.0 9.4 87.5 1.0 .2 1.9

Black, non-Hispanic .................................... 100.0 12.4 83.0 1.9 .2 2.6

Hispanic or Latino ......................................... 100.0 12.3 81.9 2.9 .1 2.7

Total, October when age 18 ............. 100.0 15.2 28.0 21.4 .6 34.8

Men .......................................... 100.0 16.6 32.2 21.5 .6 29.1

Women ..................................... 100.0 13.7 23.6 21.3 .6 40.8

White, non-Hispanic ................................... 100.0 13.7 26.7 20.3 .6 38.7

Black, non-Hispanic .................................... 100.0 20.2 33.2 20.3 .8 25.6

Hispanic or Latino ......................................... 100.0 18.5 30.7 28.4 .7 21.7

Total, October when age 19 ............... 100.0 16.6 4.1 33.0 1.6 44.5

Men .......................................... 100.0 19.2 4.7 35.5 1.5 39.1

Women ..................................... 100.0 13.9 3.6 30.4 1.8 50.4

White, non-Hispanic ................................... 100.0 14.6 2.7 32.2 1.7 48.8

Black, non-Hispanic .................................... 100.0 23.4 7.7 34.9 1.7 32.4

Hispanic or Latino ......................................... 100.0 21.3 7.3 38.1 1.5 31.7

 NOTE: The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 consists of young men and women who were ages 12 to 16 

on December 31, 1996. Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity groups are mutually exclusive but not exhaustive. 

Other race groups, which are included in the overall totals, are not shown separately because their representation in 

the survey sample is not sufficiently large to provide statistically reliable estimates. 

 Characteristic

Table 1. School enrollment status of youths during the October when ages 16 to 19 in 1997-2004 by sex, race, 

and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity 

School enrollment status

 1 Respondents born in 1980 were dropped from this category because their school-enrollment histories were not 

collected for the period prior to the first round of the survey.
(Percent distribution)

Not 

enrolled in 

high school 

or training 

program

Enrolled in 

high school 2

Enrolled in 

training 

program 3

Not 

enrolled in 

college or 

training 

program

Enrolled in 

college 2

Enrolled in 

training 

program 3 

High school dropouts .................................................... 100.0 82.2 2.3 4.6 8.6 2.1 0.2

Men ............................................................................ 100.0 85.4 2.1 4.5 6.5 1.6 .1

Women .................................................... 100.0 78.1 2.6 4.8 11.5 2.8 .2

White, non-Hispanic.............................................. 100.0 83.0 1.6 3.5 9.6 2.4 .0

Men ....................................................... 100.0 87.1 1.0 3.7 6.7 1.5 .0

Women .................................................... 100.0 78.5 2.1 3.2 12.9 3.3 .0

Black, non-Hispanic .................................... 100.0 80.2 2.2 10.0 6.0 1.0 .6

Men ....................................................... 100.0 81.8 2.1 9.7 5.4 0.4 .5

Women .................................................... 100.0 77.7 2.3 10.4 7.0 1.9 .7

Hispanic or Latino ......................................... 100.0 82.0 6.0 2.7 6.7 2.4 .2

Men ....................................................... 100.0 84.1 6.2 1.4 5.8 2.5 .0

Women .................................................... 100.0 79.0 5.6 4.6 8.0 2.2 .5

Enrolled in high school .................................................... 100.0 10.5 13.1 .0 38.2 34.0 3.9

Men ............................................................................ 100.0 11.4 13.2 .0 39.4 31.3 4.2

Women .................................................... 100.0 9.1 13.0 .3 36.5 37.7 3.3

White, non-Hispanic ................................... 100.0 8.8 9.0 .3 38.5 39.5 3.9

Men ....................................................... 100.0 8.9 8.7 .5 40.4 36.9 4.5

Women .................................................... 100.0 8.7 9.5 .0 35.5 43.5 2.8

Black, non-Hispanic .................................... 100.0 12.4 21.5 .9 39.8 21.1 4.2

Men ....................................................... 100.0 15.8 23.0 .6 39.6 18.0 3.0

Women .................................................... 100.0 7.9 19.4 1.4 40.1 25.4 5.9

Hispanic or Latino ......................................... 100.0 15.0 20.1 .0 39.6 21.6 3.7

Men ....................................................... 100.0 17.7 20.7 .0 37.9 19.6 4.1

Women .................................................... 100.0 11.5 19.3 .0 41.8 24.3 3.1

Have not graduated from high school Have graduated from high school 1

Table 2. School or training enrollment status during the October when age 19 in 1999-2004 by school enrollment 

status during the October when age 18, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

School enrollment status during the 

October when age 18

School enrollment status during the October when age 19

Total
(Percent distribution)

Not 

enrolled in 

high school 

or training 

program

Enrolled in 

high school 2

Enrolled in 

training 

program 3

Not 

enrolled in 

college or 

training 

program

Enrolled in 

college 2

Enrolled in 

training 

program 3 

High school graduates, 

not enrolled in college ................. 100.0 - - - 69.4 25.0 5.6

Men ............................................................................ 100.0 - - - 72.1 21.6 6.3

Women .................................................... 100.0 - - - 66.7 28.5 4.8

White, non-Hispanic ................................... 100.0 - - - 69.2 24.6 6.2

Men ....................................................... 100.0 - - - 72.2 20.7 7.1

Women .................................................... 100.0 - - - 66.0 28.7 5.2

Black, non-Hispanic .................................... 100.0 - - - 72.6 24.6 2.9

Men ....................................................... 100.0 - - - 74.1 23.1 2.8

Women .................................................... 100.0 - - - 71.1 25.9 3.0

Hispanic or Latino ......................................... 100.0 - - - 70.1 24.9 5.1

Men ....................................................... 100.0 - - - 71.3 23.2 5.6

Women .................................................... 100.0 - - - 68.7 26.8 4.5

Enrolled in college .................................................... 100.0 - - - 14.3 84.7 1.0

Men ............................................................................ 100.0 - - - 16.3 82.7 0.9

Women .................................................... 100.0 - - - 12.8 86.1 1.1

White, non-Hispanic ................................... 100.0 - - - 13.9 85.0 1.1

Men ....................................................... 100.0 - - - 15.8 83.2 .9

Women .................................................... 100.0 - - - 12.5 86.3 1.2

Black, non-Hispanic .................................... 100.0 - - - 17.1 82.1 .9

Men ....................................................... 100.0 - - - 23.0 76.6 .4

Women .................................................... 100.0 - - - 13.4 85.5 1.1

Hispanic or Latino ......................................... 100.0 - - - 19.0 79.9 1.1

Men ....................................................... 100.0 - - - 19.5 79.4 1.1

Women .................................................... 100.0 - - - 18.6 80.3 1.1

Have not graduated from high school Have graduated from high school 1

School enrollment status during the October when age 19

Total

 NOTE: The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 consists of young men and women who were ages 12 to 16 on 

December 31, 1996. Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity groups are mutually exclusive but not exhaustive. Other race 

groups, which are included in the overall totals, are not shown separately because their representation in the survey sample 

is not sufficiently large to provide statistically reliable estimates. 

 1 Respondents who have received a General Educational Development (GED) credential are counted as high school 

graduates.

 3 Training includes any courses, training programs, or apprenticeships designed to help people find a job, improve their job 

skills, or learn a new job. Training also may include a GED preparation course.

 2 A small percent of respondents were enrolled in both formal schooling (that is, high school or college) and training. They 

are counted in the formal schooling categories only.

Table 2. School or training enrollment status during the October when age 19 in 1999-2004 by school enrollment 

status during the October when age 18, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity—Continued

School enrollment status during the 

October when age 18
(Percent distribution)

Total Employed 

civilian

Enlisted in 

Armed 

Forces

Unemployed Not in the 

labor force

High school dropouts ................................................100.0 56.2 0.7 11.8 31.3

Men ................................................................ 100.0 60.5 1.2 13.2 25.1

Women ............................................................. 100.0 49.8 (

1

) 9.9 40.4

White, non-Hispanic ............................................. 100.0 62.2 1.0 11.1 25.7

Black, non-Hispanic ............................................. 100.0 38.5 .2 17.1 44.2

Hispanic or Latino ................................................. 100.0 59.8 (

1

) 8.7 31.5

High school graduates, never enrolled in college 2

 ........ 100.0 69.6 5.8 6.1 18.5

Men ................................................................ 100.0 69.0 9.0 6.9 15.2

Women ............................................................. 100.0 70.5 1.6 5.0 22.9

White, non-Hispanic ............................................. 100.0 73.9 6.1 5.0 15.0

Black, non-Hispanic ............................................. 100.0 55.9 6.5 9.1 28.5

Hispanic or Latino ................................................. 100.0 66.6 4.6 7.3 21.4

Some college, no longer enrolled .................................100.0 73.2 4.8 5.0 16.9

Men ................................................................ 100.0 73.2 7.4 4.7 14.8

Women ............................................................. 100.0 73.3 2.5 5.3 19.0

White, non-Hispanic ............................................. 100.0 74.9 5.7 3.7 15.7

Black, non-Hispanic ............................................. 100.0 72.6 .7 8.3 18.5

Hispanic or Latino ................................................. 100.0 65.9 4.2 7.1 22.9

 1 Less than 0.05 percent.

 2 Respondents who have received a General Educational Development (GED) credential are counted as high 

school graduates.

 NOTE: The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 consists of young men and women who were ages 12 to 

16 on December 31, 1996. Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity groups are mutually exclusive but not exhaustive. 

Other race groups, which are included in the overall totals, are not shown separately because their representation in 

the survey sample is not sufficiently large to provide statistically reliable estimates. 

Table 3. Employment status of youths not enrolled in school during the October when age 19 in 1999-2004 

by high school graduation status, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

High school graduation status

during the October when age 19

Employment status during the October when age 19
(Percent distribution)

Enrolled in 

training 2

Not enrolled 

in training

Enrolled in 

training 2

Not enrolled 

in training

High school dropouts ................................................100.0 2.3 54.3 2.4 41.0

Men ............................................................. 100.0 2.3 59.6 2.0 36.1

Women ............................................................. 100.0 2.2 46.8 2.9 48.1

White, non-Hispanic ............................................. 100.0 2.3 60.5 1.5 35.7

Black, non-Hispanic ............................................. 100.0 3.0 35.5 5.9 55.6

Hispanic or Latino .................................................100.0 1.7 57.3 0.5 40.5

High school graduates, not enrolled in college 3

 ........ 100.0 5.6 70.5 1.7 22.2

Men ............................................................. 100.0 6.2 72.4 1.6 19.8

Women ............................................................. 100.0 4.8 68.3 1.8 25.1

White, non-Hispanic ............................................. 100.0 6.3 74.0 1.2 18.5

Black, non-Hispanic ............................................. 100.0 3.3 60.4 2.7 33.6

Hispanic or Latino .................................................100.0 4.3 66.9 2.4 26.4

Table 4. Employment and training status of youths not enrolled in school during the October when age 19 in 

1999-2004 by high school graduation status, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

High school graduation status

during the October when age 19

Employment and training status during the October when age 19

Total

Employed 1 Not employed

 1 The employed category includes both civilian employment and enlistment in the Armed Forces.

 2 Training includes any courses, training programs, or apprenticeships designed to help people find a job, improve their 

job skills, or learn a new job. Training also may include a GED preparation course.

 3 Respondents who have received a General Educational Development (GED) credential are counted as high school 

graduates.

 NOTE: The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 consists of young men and women who were ages 12 to 16 

on December 31, 1996. Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity groups are mutually exclusive but not exhaustive. Other 

race groups, which are included in the overall totals, are not shown separately because their representation in the 

survey sample is not sufficiently large to provide statistically reliable estimates. 
(Percent distribution)

Total

Not 

employed

 in either 

October

Employed at 

age 18, but 

not age 19

Employed at 

age 19, but 

not age 18

Employed 

both years

High school dropouts ........................................... 100.0 29.2 14.6 18.7 37.5

Men ......................................................... 100.0 26.0 13.5 18.2 42.3

Women ..................................................... 100.0 33.4 16.1 19.4 31.1

White, non-Hispanic ..........................................100.0 21.5 16.2 20.1 42.2

Black, non-Hispanic ......................................... 100.0 48.2 13.9 15.5 22.4

Hispanic or Latino ......................................... 100.0 30.1 11.5 16.5 41.9

High school graduates, not enrolled in college 2

 ....... 100.0 9.9 11.6 17.4 61.2

Men ......................................................... 100.0 7.9 10.3 16.2 65.6

Women ..................................................... 100.0 12.0 12.9 18.6 56.4

White, non-Hispanic ..........................................100.0 7.5 11.6 15.5 65.4

Black, non-Hispanic ......................................... 100.0 17.6 14.1 18.0 50.2

Hispanic or Latino ......................................... 100.0 12.8 11.6 19.1 56.5

 1 The employed category includes both civilian employment and enlistment in the Armed Forces.

 2 Respondents who have received a General Educational Development (GED) credential are counted as high school 

graduates.

 NOTE: The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 consists of young men and women who were ages 12 to 16 on 

December 31, 1996. Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity groups are mutually exclusive but not exhaustive. Other race 

groups, which are included in the overall totals, are not shown separately because their representation in the survey 

sample is not sufficiently large to provide statistically reliable estimates. 

Table 5. Employment status the October when ages 18 and 19 in 1998-2004 of youths not enrolled in school at 

age 18 or 19 by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

High school graduation status

during the October when age 19

Percent of youths 1
(Percent distribution)

Total 1 to 29 

hours

30 to 39 

hours

40 hours 

or more

High school dropouts ...............................................100.0 54.5 8.9 11.3 33.5 45.5

Men .................................................................100.0 58.2 7.2 11.4 38.6 41.8

Women ................................................................100.0 49.6 11.1 11.2 26.6 50.4

White, non-Hispanic .................................................... 100.0 61.7 8.6 13.2 39.1 38.3

Black, non-Hispanic ................................................... 100.0 36.0 9.6 6.6 18.9 64.0

Hispanic or Latino................................................100.0 53.0 8.6 9.3 34.8 47.0

High school graduates, not enrolled in college 2 ........ 100.0 75.2 14.7 14.1 45.2 24.8

Men .................................................................100.0 78.6 11.4 12.9 53.1 21.4

Women ................................................................100.0 71.5 18.4 15.4 36.6 28.5

White, non-Hispanic .................................................... 100.0 78.7 14.5 15.2 48.1 21.3

Black, non-Hispanic ................................................... 100.0 65.5 14.9 9.9 39.1 34.6

Hispanic or Latino................................................100.0 71.2 13.0 14.5 42.9 28.8

 2 Respondents who have received a General Educational Development (GED) credential are counted as high school 

graduates.

 NOTE: The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 consists of young men and women who were ages 12 to 

16 on December 31, 1996. Race and Hispanic-origin groups are mutually exclusive but not exhaustive. Other race 

groups, which are included in the overall totals, are not shown separately because their representation in the survey 

sample is not sufficiently large to provide statistically reliable estimates. Some categories do not sum to the totals 

because employment status or work hours could not be determined for some respondents during some weeks. 

 1 The employed category includes both civilian employment and enlistment in the Armed Forces. All weeks when 

enlisted in the Armed Forces are included in the "40 hours or more" category

Table 6. Percent of weeks employed or not employed between the October when ages 18 and 19 for youths 

not enrolled in school during October at ages 18 and 19 by high school graduation status, sex, race, and 

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity 

High school graduation status

during the October when age 19

Percent of weeks, between October when ages 18 and 19

Total

Employed 1

Not 

employed