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Contemporary Child Labor and Declining School Attendance in the U.S. EdWorkingPaper No. 25-1302

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Title: Contemporary Child Labor and Declining School Attendance in the U.S. EdWorkingPaper No. 25-1302
Language: English
Authors: Lucy C. Sorensen, Melissa Arnold Lyon, Ji Hyun Byeon, Stephen B. Holt, Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University
Source: Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. 2025.
Availability: Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. Brown University Box 1985, Providence, RI 02912. Tel: 401-863-7990; Fax: 401-863-1290; e-mail: annenberg@brown.edu; Web site: https://annenberg.brown.edu/
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 57
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Descriptors: Child Labor, Attendance Patterns, Elementary Secondary Education, National Surveys, Youth Employment, School Business Relationship, Student Characteristics, Age, Sex, Race, Ethnicity, Socioeconomic Status, Immigrants, Agriculture, Geographic Regions, Federal Legislation, Labor Legislation
Laws, Policies and Program Identifiers: Fair Labor Standards Act
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: American Community Survey
Abstract: The United States has experienced a 400% increase in reported child labor violations over the past decade, coinciding with declines in K-12 school attendance and enrollment. We examine the causal relationships between these patterns with microdata from the American Community Survey (ACS) from 2005 to 2023. Using a shift-share instrumental variable approach, our findings show that increased local demand for illegal child labor leads to higher youth employment in high-violation industries, longer work hours, and lower school attendance, particularly among Black youth and youth living on farms. A 10-percentage-point increase in the local share of employment in high child labor violation industries leads to a 7-percentage-point decline in public school attendance for children and youth aged 6 to 17. Results underscore the need to reevaluate labor protections and strengthen enforcement to prevent economic pressures from pulling vulnerable, young students away from school.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED678263
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. Brown University Box 1985, Providence, RI 02912. Tel: 401-863-7990; Fax: 401-863-1290; e-mail: annenberg@brown.edu; Web site: https://annenberg.brown.edu/
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  Data: The United States has experienced a 400% increase in reported child labor violations over the past decade, coinciding with declines in K-12 school attendance and enrollment. We examine the causal relationships between these patterns with microdata from the American Community Survey (ACS) from 2005 to 2023. Using a shift-share instrumental variable approach, our findings show that increased local demand for illegal child labor leads to higher youth employment in high-violation industries, longer work hours, and lower school attendance, particularly among Black youth and youth living on farms. A 10-percentage-point increase in the local share of employment in high child labor violation industries leads to a 7-percentage-point decline in public school attendance for children and youth aged 6 to 17. Results underscore the need to reevaluate labor protections and strengthen enforcement to prevent economic pressures from pulling vulnerable, young students away from school.
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  Data: ED678263
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      – Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Child Labor
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      – SubjectFull: Attendance Patterns
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      – SubjectFull: Elementary Secondary Education
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