Failure to Launch in Young Black Men

A substantial number of young adults are facing difficulties in (i) completing an education; (ii) entering the workforce; and (iii) moving out of the parental home to become independent adults. This phenomenon is known as failure to launch and is a serious issue that can contribute to exclusion, poverty, marginalization, isolation, and adverse mental health.

Failure to Launch in Young Black Men

Evidence suggests that the launch into adulthood can vary by gender and ethnicity and is highly influenced by socio-cultural context. Indeed, research indicates that young Black men in the U.S., Canada, and the UK may face a distinctly more difficult launch into adulthood than others.

For example, a recent Canadian report found that 20 percent of young Black men are in the "Not in Education, Employment nor Training" (NEET) category, compared to 12 percent of other young men. Other Canadian data indicates that only 17 percent of young Black men have a university degree compared to 34 percent of young Black women, even though 94 percent of Black youth state that they would like to obtain such a degree.

Worryingly, another report indicates a decline in the proportion of Black men obtaining any post-secondary diploma since 2006, whereas other men and women showed an increase in obtaining such a diploma. Similar statistics are seen in the U.S. and the UK.

Moreover, these Canadian reports show that Black men are significantly more likely to be unemployed than the remainder of the population, with recent figures indicating that 10.2 percent of Black men are unemployed, compared to 6.7 percent of other men.

Of concern, the unemployment rate among Black men increased by over 25 percent from 2006 (8.0 percent) to 2016 (10.2 percent). Relatedly, the latest stratified figures show that 52 percent of Black men in their twenties still live with their parents, compared to 43 percent of Black women and 44 percent of White men.

All this can interact to strain family members who often proffer financial support and emotional labour to help their struggling sons, brothers, and grandsons. This can increase the burden in Black families, while being a further source of shame and stigma in the affected young men.

Mental Health Impact

These inequalities mean that young Black men can lack the social and financial capital that comes with wider educational or workforce participation. Such exclusion may contribute towards high rates of loneliness, with one U.S. study finding that over 1 in 3 Black adults report no close friends, with the highest rates in those lacking post-secondary education.

Importantly, research from the U.S. indicates that low educational attainment, unemployment, and loneliness are significant risk factors for adverse mental health outcomes including psychological distress, low subjective well-being, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.

Similarly, a recent survey found that youth NEETs report double the rate of mood disorders (16.8 percent vs 7.5 percent) and anxiety disorders (20.1 percent vs 10.5 percent) compared to non-NEET youth. Similarly, 14 percent of youth NEETs report poor or fair mental health, compared to 8 percent of non-NEETs. Young Black men may be particularly affected, given their preponderance among NEETs.

The Way Ahead

There are few purpose-built programs aiming to address failure to launch in young adults per se, let alone any targeting young Black men. In fact, there is an urgent need to develop such programs, especially programs that are sensitive to the gendered and racialized issues facing young Black men.

Such programs could include group classes, where participants can learn transferable soft skills related to personal development from experienced mentors. This can include specific skills such as CV preparation, searching for a job, success in job interviews, good study habits, and financial literacy. It can also include more generic skills related to psychoeducation, social and emotional learning, and communication skills.

This may help address a serious inequality with severe consequences for the social integration and mental health of young Black men.