School to Work Transition of Noncollege Young Persons

摘要

The report includes four empirical studies of the early labor market problems of noncollege youth. Data are from the National Longitudinal Surveys of Young Men and Young Women. Four youth labor policy implications emerge from the analysis: (1) the provision of employment in school may aid the school to work transition by enhancing labor market success in the first two years after leaving school, but it does not appear to directly affect long run labor outcomes; (2) postschool occupational training is much more beneficial if it is used (a result for young women) or if it is combined with accumulated work experience (a result for young men); (3) unemployment rate differentials between white and black male youth cannot be eliminated by equalizing the level of individual characteristics, like training and education; racial differences in the effects of these factors, not their levels, are most important; (4) youth labor policies should be targeted by sex, race, dropout status, family income, and urban vs. rural residence.