WalletHub Study Reveals States with the Most At-Risk Youth in 2025

A new study by WalletHub has identified the states with the most at-risk youth in 2025, shedding light on the challenges faced by young Americans who are neither working nor in school. With 13% of young Americans in this precarious position, the study underscores the heightened risks of poverty and violence they face. The report compares all 50 states and the District of Columbia across 15 key indicators, including the share of disconnected youth, labor force participation rates among youth, and youth poverty rates.

Louisiana, Oklahoma, and New Mexico top the list of states with the most at-risk youth, while Iowa, North Carolina, and North Dakota are among those with the least at-risk youth. The study reveals stark disparities, such as Louisiana, Mississippi, and Nevada having a share of disconnected youth 2.9 times higher than New Hampshire, the state with the lowest share. Similarly, New Mexico's share of youth without a high school diploma is twice that of Hawaii, the state with the lowest share.

Health-related indicators also show significant variation, with Alabama having the highest share of overweight or obese youth, 1.5 times higher than Colorado. Vermont leads in the share of youth using drugs in the past month, 2.5 times higher than Utah. Perhaps most strikingly, the District of Columbia's share of homeless youth is 34 times higher than Mississippi's, the lowest.

These findings are crucial for policymakers, educators, and community leaders as they highlight the need for targeted interventions to support at-risk youth. The disparities between states suggest that localized strategies may be more effective in addressing the specific challenges faced by young people in different regions. The study's insights could inform future policies aimed at reducing youth disconnection, improving educational outcomes, and addressing health and homelessness issues among the youth population.