Report ranks Louisiana last for at risk youth, citing unemployment, poverty, health, education

A new study ranks Louisiana as the worst state for the highest percentage of at-risk youth, another survey in which the state ranks last in key quality of life metrics.

The WalletHub report released this week showed Louisiana with the highest percentage of at risk youth based on 15 indicators.

Among the WalletHub findings:

Louisiana ranked first in highest percentage of disconnected youth, described as people 18 to 24 who aren’t working or attending school, second in percentage of youth without a high school diploma, 12th in percentage of overweight and obese youth and the third worst youth poverty rate.

Overall, about one in five Louisianians live in poverty and one in five also receive federal food assistance.

“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, not working and have no degree beyond high school,” WallletHub analyst Cassandra Happe said in a statement. “This represents 17.7% of young adults in the state. In addition, Louisiana has the second-highest share of people ages 18 to 24 without a high school diploma, the third-highest youth poverty rate and the third-highest teen birth rate in the country.”

The WalletHub study follows Louisiana’s ranking last for the second straight year in the U.S. News and World Report’s 2024 Best States report, which cited an atmosphere of violent crime, poisonous industrial pollution, poverty and a dwindling population among the state’s hardships.

It also tracks with last year’s Kids Count report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation ranking Louisiana 49th for child well-being.

More: Most Louisiana residents have negative outlook on direction of state: Here’s why

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.