Nationally, an estimated 4.4 million young people aged 16–24 (7.6 percent) are “disconnected” – not in education or employment.
In some places, young Black and Latino people are up to 3-to-6 times more likely to be disconnected than young whites.
One in every four Black males born in the U.S. today can expect to go to prison. Black men have the lowest labor force participation among men.
91% of disconnected youth are BIPOC.
Youth of color account for 28 percent of the U.S. population in 2017. However, they represented 67 percent of individuals in residential placement.
Of the 2.7 million children with a parent incarcerated, 13 percent are Black compared to 6 percent of white children.
In 2018, Black children represented 14 percent of the total child population but 23 percent of all kids in foster care.
The scope of the problem.
One study found that the U.S.’s poverty rate would have dropped by 20 percent between 1980 and 2004 if not for mass incarceration and the underemployment of people with criminal records.
Out of those young people not in school or work for at least six months, one in three live in poverty, and they are five times more likely to have a criminal record.
The unemployment rate for formerly incarcerated people is currently 27 percent - higher than it has ever been in history for the general population.
UP is a solution.
Having a criminal record inhibits economic mobility. To the extent those with criminal convictions can obtain employment, it is typically restricted to low paid work - with limited opportunity for higher wages, leadership prospects and career potential. These barriers are disproportionately felt by communities of color.
To meaningfully address inequity in access to economic mobility and to ensure diversity in business leadership, we need to act now. We believe an intentional hiring program focused on youth with built-in community partnerships can help.
The value of post-incarceration employment schemes cannot be understated; but to date, very few projects have focused their attention on how to prevent incarceration in the first place. We are setting out to change that - by creating meaningful career opportunities and widening the positive choices available to key underserved and overlooked groups. Employers are key stakeholders in unlocking opportunities for economic mobility and preventing justice-system involvement before it starts.
“We must be more intentional about creating meaningful opportunities for at-risk youth so we can break the cycle of incarceration for these groups of young people, particularly Black young adults. The Unlock Potential program adds to a network of community leaders, nonprofits and policymakers working together to advance criminal justice prevention initiatives, made possible by the Walmart.org Center for Racial Equity.”
— Dr. Marvin Carr-Ligons
Director, Walmart.Org Center for Racial Equity