Rhode Island's Young Adult Workforce

RHODE ISL AND’S YOUNG ADULT WORKFORCE Their Their long-term Their overall Young adults face a growing economic challenge: WORKFORCE long-term UNEMPLOYMENT WORKFORCE REENTRY PARTICIPATION after is up is declining unemployment is down * Read more GIVEN THESE CHALLENGES, IT IS CRUCIAL TO ASK: What do we know about RI's young adult workforce? Percentage of Young Adults (18 - 24) by Population POPULATION 11.4% 9.8% 10.0% 119,962 O00 Young Adults in RI Ages 18-24 (20o11) Young adults are a larger part of Rhode Island's population than in the rest of New England and the nation as a whole. Other New England States Rhode Island United States RACE / ETHNICITY Young adults in Rhode Island reflect the growing diversity of the state and nation. White alone, not 69.5% | Hispanic or Latino 15.5% Hispanic or Latino 6.3% Black or African American alone, not Hispanic or Latino Latinos comprise the largest minority group. Asian alone, not American Indian and Alaskan Native 4.5%| Hispanic or Latino 3.8% Two or more races or some other race alone, 0.4%o alone or Native Hawaiian and other not Hispanic or Latino Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic or Latino POVERTY 100% 80% 78.2% 81.8% 82.5% The poverty rate among 73.8% 73.4% 72.2% 72.6% 60% Rhode Island's young adults is slightly higher than that 40% of the nation, and falls in 20% the higher range of New England states. 0% 18.2% 17.5% 21.8% 20% 26.2% 26.6% 27.8% 27.4% 40% USA Rhode Island Maine Vermont Massachusetts Connecticut New Hampshire Data this section and throughout the infographic are sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2011 1-Year Data, unless otherwise noted. At or Above Poverty Level Below Poverty Level Employment is a Challenge Rhode Island Unemployment Rates 2003-2012 UNEMPLOYMENT & THE GREAT RECESSION 20% Young Adult Unemployment tripled between 2006 and 2010 The Great Recession has meant 15% higher unemployment. Long-term career consequences of this extra 10% unemployment are especially harmful to young adults, 5% particularly those at lower skill levels. 0% 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics & the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training. A Read more Age 20 to 24 Overall Persons Age 18 to 24 Not Attending School, Not Working, And No Degree Beyond High School - 2011 DISENGAGED YOUNG ADULTS Young adults are not positioned for successful workforce engagement when they: 20% • lack job skills (nothing further than a high school diploma;) 15% • are not pursuing further education; and 10% • are not currently working. 5% Fortunately, Rhode Island has fewer young adults fitting all three of 0% these descriptions than the nation Rhode Island Connecticut New Hampshire USA Maine Vermont Massachusetts as a whole, and is about on par among New England states. Source: Population Reference Bureau, analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 2011 American Community Survey via the KIDS COUNT Data Center. Education and the Emerging Workforce EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT 11.6% • A majority of RI's young adults have at least some college No High School Diploma engagement • This is important, as an increasing number of occupations require a college degree. 62.5% • Employment and wage levels are generally higher for those with more advanced educational 25.9% Some College or College Degree High School Diploma credentials. Read more ADULT EDUCATION 2,071 Adult Education Students, Age 18-24 76% High School Equivalency (ABE/ASE) 24% • Of young adults without a high school diploma, less than 15% English Proficiency (ESL) are in Adult Education programs. About a quarter of these are studying to improve their English language skills. Figures represent Adult Education students in Fiscal Year 2012. Source: Rhode Island Department of Education. STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES Standardized Test Achievement Levels of RI's Young Adults These scores gauge two basic MATH TEST READING TEST workforce skills: math & reading. 70% 22.2% 60% Of RI's young adult high school grads, only slightly more than 40% 50% 51.8% met the state benchmark for math 40% 8.2% proficiency, while about three 30% 33.2% quarters were at least "proficient" in reading. Proficient with Distinction 20% Proficient 10% Percentages reflect 11th Grade NECAP scores for graduates of RI public high schools only. Source: Rhode Island 0% Proficiency Department of Education. 10% 18.5% 20% 25.1% Partially Proficient 7.6% 30% Substantially Below Proficient 40% 50% 33.5% Voting Indicates Civic Engagement VOTER PARTICIPATION Voter Participation Among Young Adults Voter participation among RI's young adults mirrors the national trend, 45% which was downward from 2008 to 44.3% 40% 2012. 38.0% 35% 36.9% RI's young adults voted in smaller 30% 31.0% numbers than their national peers in 25% both elections. 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 2008 ELECTION 2012 ELECTION Figures represent participation in the presidential election of each year. Sources: Rhode Island Office of the Secretary of State; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2008 1-Year Data; U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, November 2012 and earlier reports. Rhode Island USA Teen Motherhood TEEN MOTHERS Among RI Women Aged 18 to 24: Births to women under age 20 often 12.1% Teen Moms lead to poor educational, health, and economic outcomes for these women and their children. 11.1% Moms Among Rhode Island's young adult women, 12.1% had children in their teens. All Other 76.8% Women Ages 18-24 P Read more Teen Birth Rate TEEN MOTHERS 50 Rhode Island's teen birth rate is 45 lower than the national rate and consistent with rates in New 40 England. Rates have declined in 35 recent years. 30 25 20 15 10 5 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Connecticut Maine Massachusetts New Hampshire Rhode Island Vermont USA THE BIG QUESTIONS The experience of RI's young adults in preparing for and entering into the workforce will have a decades-long impact on the state's economy. This infographic has provided an initial examination of this group. More detailed analysis will be possible with the upcoming addition of wage and employment data to the RI DataHUB. Questions that warrant further investigation include: What is the employment and earnings status of young adults who studied in RI's education and training systems, including adult education? Which industries employ our young adults, which industries don't? What skills and characteristics define young adults attaining employment in growing industries and well-compensated jobs? How are teen mothers faring in terms of education and employment upon reaching adulthood? To what extent do earnings correlate with civic engagement? Can we find evidence of a “brain drain" in RI? Published January XX, 2014 Births Per Thousand ST