Original Descriptive Analysis

Spatial Distribution of Disconnected Young Adults in the United States

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Abstract

Disconnected young adults represent a subset of the population that is not engaged in either education or the labor force. This disengagement can lead to long-term economic and health consequences for the young adult while also placing increased strain on public resources. Using microdata from the American Community Survey, we perform a Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA) analysis to identify spatial clusters of disconnected young adults throughout the nation. Our results show a high concentration of disconnected young adults along the Sunbelt states, Appalachia, and the Pacific-West states, along with heterogenous effects across gender, race, and ethnicity. These findings highlight areas for targeted interventions and sharing of ideas on how to address youth disengagement.

Keywords: Disconnected Young Adults, LISA, Spatial Distribution, Youth

How to Cite:

Borges Ferreira Neto, A., Shannon, J. & Schmees, M., (2026) “Spatial Distribution of Disconnected Young Adults in the United States”, Reaching Regions 2(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/rreg.20080