16 Percent of Young Adults, Teens Not in School Nor Working

According to a new report, 16 percent of teens and young adults in New York are neither in school nor in the workforce. That is becoming of a national problem that could lead to dire consequences for the younger generation's financial stability.

The latest Kids Count Report, released recently by the Annie E. Casey foundation, said high school dropouts are having a harder time landing traditional entry-level jobs in retail and fast-food restaurants, which is due to competition from older candidates with more experience. Front-line service providers say that the recent recession has added to the problem.

Nationally, there are 6.5 million 16-to-24 year-olds who are neither in the workforce nor in school — about 16 percent of that age group, according to the report. New York accounts for over 400,000 of those young people, according to the foundation.