Out of School and Out of Work 16 to 19 and 20 to 24 Year Olds in Chicago and Cook County in 2017
Executive Summary
The Out of School and Out of Work data brief, produced by the Great Cities Institute at the University of Illinois Chicago, examines the scope and scale of youth and young adult disconnection from education and employment across Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, and selected regions nationwide. Using 2017 American Community Survey public-use data, the analysis focuses on individuals ages 16–19 and 20–24 who are neither enrolled in school nor participating in the workforce, a population often described as “opportunity youth”.
The report reveals stark racial and geographic disparities. In Chicago, nearly 47,500 young people ages 16–24 were out of school and out of work in 2017, representing 14.6 percent of that age group. Black youth experienced the highest rates of disconnection, particularly among those ages 20–24, where more than 37 percent were out of school and out of work, compared to 18.2 percent of Latino youth and 5.7 percent of white youth. Similar disparities appear across Cook County and Illinois, underscoring the persistence of structural inequities in education and labor markets.
The brief also disaggregates outcomes by gender, showing higher rates of disconnection among young men across racial and ethnic groups, particularly Black males. Comparative tables place local trends in a broader state and national context and include selected rural and downstate counties, where rates of disconnection are often higher due to limited educational and employment opportunities.
Designed to support organizations such as the Alternative Schools Network, the report serves as a practical data tool for educators, workforce providers, policymakers, and advocates. By documenting the scale and uneven distribution of youth disconnection, it provides a critical evidence base for targeted interventions, reengagement strategies, and equitable workforce development policies.