Employment outcomes of foster youth: The results from the Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Foster Youth

Youth emancipated from the foster care system face challenges in securing steady employment and earning a living wage. Using data from the Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth, this article uses Tobit analyses to test the statistical relationship between multiple factors (demographics, human capital, and independent living services) and yearly income for former foster youth at age 21 years. The findings revealed that race, level of education, histories of drug and alcohol use, and histories of mental illness significantly impact yearly earnings within the sampled population. Equally significant, self-reported receipt of help related to employment did not impact yearly earnings. However, the limitations associated with using a non-experimental design and the challenges associated with the endogeneity of the measures of employment-related help suggest areas for future research on this topic.