Inter- and Intra-Ethnic Comparisons of the Central City-Suburban Youth Employment Differential: Evidence from the Oakland Metropolitan Area

This analysis of data from the 5% Census Public Use Microdata Sample shows that residence in a low-employment growth area had a strong negative effect on both the probability of being employed and the probability of being active (defined as being either employed or in school) among youths in the Oakland Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area in 1990. The large adverse employment effect is found even with extensive controls for personal and family background characteristics. Area of residence affected employment and activity outcomes differently for youths of different racial and ethnic groups. Notably, even within the high—employment growth suburban area studied, black youths had significantly lower employment and activity rates than white, Asian, and Hispanic youths. Citing evidence of racial segregation within this suburban area, the author argues that a central city/suburban dichotomy may not adequately measure spatial proximity to employment opportunities.