MD Among States Where Young Adults Most Likely To Succeed: Ranking

MARYLAND — Young adults are faring better in Maryland than most other U.S. states when it comes to poverty, labor force participation and more, according to a new ranking.

A recent analysis by WalletHub sought to determine the states where young Americans are not faring as well as others in the same age group. To do this, WalletHub compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia across 15 key metrics of youth risk.

Metrics included the youth poverty rate, homelessness, teen pregnancy, reading proficiency levels, drug use and more. Read more about WalletHub's methodology online. Each metric was then graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest level of youth risk.

Maryland ranked No. 43, meaning young adults are faring better here than most U.S. states, according to WalletHub.

“A high share of youth who are not working, not getting education and generally stagnating in life can spell trouble for the future," the analysis says. "States that are most impacted by this problem, as well as related issues like high youth poverty rates, widespread drug use and low test scores, need a wake-up call to invest more into improving conditions for young residents."

Louisiana is the state with the most at-risk youth, largely because it has the highest share of people ages 18 to 24 who are not attending school or working and have no degree beyond high school. This represents 17.7% of young adults in the state, according to the ranking.

The top 10 states with the most at-risk young adults include:

1. Louisiana
2. New Mexico
3. West Virginia
4. Alaska
5. Arkansas
6. Oklahoma
7. Mississippi
8. Montana
9. Wyoming
10. Oregon

According to one expert interviewed by WalletHub, parents can play a transformative role in encouraging their children to pursue education and employment.

"One effective approach is to maintain open lines of communication about their aspirations and challenges," said Desmond Upton Patton, a professor of social policy and communications at the University of Pennsylvania. "Offering encouragement and understanding the pressures they face can help young people feel supported in their goals."

See the full ranking online.