Issue Brief: Disconnected Young Adults in Southwest Florida
December 09, 2024 / RERI Research Team
Issue Brief: Disconnected Young Adults in Southwest Florida
The post-high school graduation period is pivotal time in a young adult’s life. This is when many individuals transition to adulthood and begin establishing the foundational skills and experiences that will shape their future. During these years, young adults often pursue higher education, vocational training, or early career opportunities, all of which help them build critical competencies like problem-solving, teamwork, and self-discipline. These developmental years are also crucial for forming professional networks, gaining financial independence, and exploring pathways that align with their long-term goals. On the other hand, becoming disconnected from educational institutions and the labor force during this period can have long-lasting consequences, potentially hindering economic mobility and personal growth.
In this issue brief, we examine young adults (residents between the ages of 18 and 24 years old) in Southwest Florida who have become disconnected, the demographics of these young adults, and how these indicators have changed over time. Disconnected youth refers to the young population that are not in education, employment or training. Learning more about this subset of the population is vital, as these disconnected young adults represent an untapped market for employers to find and train potential workers and citizens.
Our analysis finds statistically significant differences in the share of males and females disconnected in Charlotte and Collier counties, as well as Florida. Furthermore, we find that 9.9 percent of disconnected young adults in Southwest Florida did not speak English well in 2022, compared to only 3.7 percent of non-disconnected young adults Lastly, we find that SNAP benefits are received by 22.3 percent of households with a disconnected young adult, compared to 11.7 percent of households with only non-disconnected young adults.
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Issue Brief: Disconnected Young Adults in Southwest Florida
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