Rural youths more likely to be idle (not in school, work or military) than those in cities, suburbs

Rural youth aged 18 to 24 are more likely to be idle — not in school, not employed and not in the military — than urban youth, according to a study sponsored by the Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire. Nationwide, 10.4 percent of youth are idle. In rural areas, 12.4 percent of youth are idle, well above the 10 percent figure for urban areas.

Anastasia R. Snyder of Ohio State and Diane K. McLaughlin of Penn State conducted the study using 2006 Current Population Survey data. They find that education is a key factor, with high school dropouts being three times more likely to be idle — in both rural and urban areas — than those who earned a diploma.

The rates of idleness also are high among racial-ethnic minorities in rural areas:

• 17 percent of rural blacks are idle (14 percent of urban blacks are idle)
• 19 percent of rural Hispanics (15 percent of urban Hispanics)
• 23 percent of "other" rural racial groups, such as American Indians (10 percent in urban areas)

To download the study's fact sheet, go here.