Transitions into Idleness among White,Black,and Hispanic Youth: Some Determinants and Policy Implications of Weak Labor Force Attachment

Data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth are used to assess the determinants of entering inactivity for 1,731 initially active young men. The results indicate that social context variables play a key role in explaining weak labor force attachment among young nonwhite men, but are relatively less important for white youth. Local opportunity structure and individual human capital characteristics are the most important determinants of inactivity for youth as a whole. These findings encourage a social policy solution centered around job creation and training programs which smooth the transition between school and work.