Youth Employment: Durham's Workforce Challenge

Youth unemployment and underemployment remain among the most persistent workforce challenges in the United States. Young people ages 16-24 face higher unemployment rates than any other age group, with rates particularly elevated among youth of color, those from low-income communities, and those with justice system involvement. The underemployment rate for young adults has remained stubbornly high for decades, with many young people trapped in low-wage jobs that offer no advancement potential or pathway to economic stability.

The cost is staggering: billions in lost economic productivity annually, families struggling to achieve stability, and communities denied the full contribution of an entire generation.

 Research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows that lifetime earnings are largely determined by a person's work status at age 25. If a young person isn't on a stable career path by 25, they're likely to face decades of economic instability, lower lifetime earnings, and limited upward mobility.

This makes ages 16-24 the critical intervention window—and too many young people are falling through the cracks during these pivotal years.

Young People & Families

• Decades of lost earnings and economic instability
• Limited ability to build wealth or achieve homeownership
• Increased vulnerability to poverty and homelessness
• Reduced access to healthcare and other essential resources

Durham's Economy

• Lost productivity and economic contribution
• Reduced consumer spending and tax revenue
• Increased costs for public assistance and emergency services
• Talent drain as young people leave Durham for opportunities elsewhere

Our Community

• Increased inequality and social tension
• Weakened community cohesion
• Lost leadership and civic contribution from an entire generation
• Perpetuation of systemic barriers that limit opportunity