Economic Stability

Residential Stability

Frequent moves disrupt school progress, healthcare continuity, and the social networks that hold up emotional support. Children in stable housing are more likely to have regular healthcare providers and consistent childcare relationships.¹

The ACS measures the share of children under 18 who have not moved in the last year. San Diego County rose from 83% in 2005 to 90% in 2023, tracking close to the state (84% to 90%) and national (83% to 89%) trends.

Most demographic groups gained ground over the period, but disparities remain. Immigrant children's residential stability rose from a much lower 71% in 2005 to 84% in 2023 — narrowing but not closing the gap with non-immigrant peers (84% to 91%). Black or African American children saw stability rise from 77% to 90%; Hispanic or Latino children climbed from 80%. Children with disabilities saw the largest gain, from 83% to 92%.

Student Homelessness

Students experiencing homelessness post lower rates of academic growth in math and English, miss more school, and reach lower levels of educational attainment.² The Urban Institute treats neighborhood stability — including consistent access to safe housing — as a foundational input to youth success.

The number of homeless students has been rising in San Diego since 2021. SDUSD reported over 9,000 homeless students in 2023; San Diego County reported over 21,000.

Youth Living in Households Making a Family-Sustaining Wage

A family-sustaining wage covers the cost of housing, food, utilities, childcare, healthcare, and transportation for the household — without public or private assistance. The federal poverty line and California's $15.50 minimum wage in 2023 both fell short of that threshold for many San Diego families.³

The County average held roughly steady — a decline from 54% in 2008 to 49% in 2023 — but that masks dramatic shifts within demographic groups. White, non-Hispanic and AANHPI youth consistently held the highest access. Black or African American youth saw a steep decline from 39% in 2008 to 22% in 2023. Hispanic or Latino youth saw no net change, holding around 32%, below the county average. Immigrant-household youth fell from 41% to 34%.

Labor Force Participation

Steady part-time work in high school correlates with stronger time management, higher confidence, and a clearer sense of professional self.⁴ But labor force participation outside school can also signal economic need: a household pulling a young adult into work earlier than they'd otherwise choose.

The ACS counts 16- to 24-year-olds who either have a job or are looking for one. San Diego County's rate held roughly stable from 2005 to 2023, in line with the national average and ahead of the California average.

Gender trends stayed largely stable, with young women below young men (57% versus 64% in 2023). Black or African American young adults saw a substantial rise from 45% in 2005 to 62% in 2023. AANHPI young adults stayed below the county average. Youth with disabilities rose from 42% to 47%; their peers without disabilities held steady around 62%.

Employment

The Urban Institute treats employment as a Mobility Metric: it touches economic success, power, autonomy, and dignity. The denominator here is young adults already in the labor force.⁵

Among 16- to 24-year-olds in the labor force, San Diego County's employment rate started and ended at 90% over the 2005–2023 period. California rose from 85% to 88%; the US rose from 85% to 91%.

Differences by sex were small. By race, Black or African American youth's employment rose from 72% in 2005 to a 92% in 2023 (with notable peaks and valleys); AANHPI youth led at 93% in 2023, followed by Black and multiracial youth at 92%. Immigrant youth declined from 91% to 85%, signaling potential challenges with labor-market integration. Youth with disabilities rose from 80% in 2008 to 83% in 2023.

Working While in School

Working while enrolled can signal smooth labor-market entry — or it can signal economic pressure that's pulling students into part-time work to make rent. The data don't separate the two; the demographic patterns hint at both.

About one-fifth to one-quarter of 16- to 24-year-olds in San Diego County worked while in school over the period, tracking California and US averages.

Beneath the steady aggregate, gender and racial trends shifted. Young women in San Diego County reached 28% working while enrolled in 2023, surpassing local, state, and national averages; young men hit 21%, widening the gap. AANHPI youth rose from 22% to 27%; Hispanic or Latino students from 18% to 24%. White, non-Hispanic and multiracial students declined modestly. Both immigrants and youth with disabilities saw rising rates.

Young Adults Making a Self-Sufficient Wage

A self-sufficient wage is what a single-person household needs to cover essentials in their region without assistance. In San Diego, where one-bedroom rents averaged about $2,350 per month in 2023,⁶ that bar is high — and getting harder to clear.

The decline is broad: very few demographic groups had more than 10% of their employed young-adult population earning a self-sufficient wage in 2023.