Building Pathways to Success for Opportunity Youth in New Jersey
WHO ARE OPPORTUNITY YOUTH?
The term “opportunity youth” is a relatively new phrase to describe young people between the ages of 16 and 24 who are not in school and not participating in the labor force.
Previously, they were defined as at-risk, dropouts, disconnected or delinquents.
“Opportunity youth” reflects our belief that these young people are defined by their potential, and they deserve pathways that help them reach it.
There is no single story of youth disconnection.
New Jersey is home to more than 100,000 opportunity youth.
Youth disconnection affects all counties and racial/ethnic groups statewide, though Latino and Black youth are disproportionately impacted. Rural areas also show high disconnection rates across demographics.
In Newark, 1 in 5 young people ages 16-24 are neither working nor in school. Cumberland County has the state's highest disconnection rate at 23%, followed by Essex County at 17%—well above New Jersey's 10% average and the national rate of 10.7%.
Bridging this equity gap requires collaborative leadership, mission-driven partnerships, and proven strategies with clear outcomes.
