In 2002, the U.S. Department of Education began tracking 15,000 high school sophomores with intentions to follow them for the next decade.
The massive research recently published shows what these now 27-year-olds are doing. Where are they working? Mostly in education, office support, health care, management, finance and the food service industry.
The below charts are based on the 10-year research for high school dropouts, those who went to some college, associate-degree holders and college graduates.
Those who drop out of high school are far more likely to work in the food service industry than any other occupation (19.7%).
Those who attended some college are far more likely to work in office support (16.9%) than any other occupation.
Associate degree holders are mostly in office support (18.3%) or work in health care (13.3%).
College graduates are either in education, office support, management or business and finance.