Disconnected Young Adults in New England
June 22, 2010
EPHRAIM WEISSTEIN AND FLORA TRAUB
In New England alone, 10%, or 142,000 young adults ages 18-24 are “disconnected” or leaving the public education system without the skills necessary to succeed in emerging careers. The region does not appear to have the necessary systems and supports in place to address the magnitude of the problem, and cannot afford to ignore it.
This study provides an overview of the scope, scale, and consequences of the current disconnected young adult challenge. The authors offer policy recommendations to make the education system more flexible for this high-risk population.
Too many young people and working adults leave school academically underprepared for the new economy, particularly individuals from low-income and other traditionally underserved groups who have had weak education experiences.