Transition to Adulthood: African American Youth and Youth from Low-Income Working Families

Abstract

The fact sheets examine the transition to adulthood for two groups of youth using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1997 cohort. Low-income African Americans are compared to low-income white youth, and youth from low-income “high-work” families are compared to low-income youth from moderate-work and nonworking (i.e., low-work) families. Low-income African American youth are vulnerable to lower employment and earnings despite comparable levels of high school education and lower risk-taking behaviors.  Low-income youth from high-work families show stronger connections to school or work compared to youth from low-work families, but have comparable employment and earnings during the transition to adulthood.

Low-Income African American Youth

Youth from Low-Income Working Families

Part of the Vulnerable Youth and the Transition to Adulthood Factsheet series

Second-Generation Latinos Connecting to School and Work

Multiple Pathways Connecting to School and Work

Youth from Distressed Neighborhoods

Youth from Low-Income Families

Young Men and Young Women

Youth with Depression/Anxiety

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