People who drop out of high school will earn less and are at greater risk of becoming unemployed. “In 2012, young adults with a college degree earned more than twice as much as those without a high school credential ($46,900 vs. $22,900) and 57 percent more than young adults who completed high school ($46,900 vs. $30,000 dollars)" (USDept. of Education). These are astonishing numbers that truly demonstrate that education and poverty are forever linked. What makes the numbers so discouraging is that they are an average, meaning many are even further from the median. Furthermore, we must not forget those who cannot find paid work. Getting a job without degrees not only pays less but is harder to find. “While the national unemployment rate was 8.1 percent in 2012, unemployment among those without a high school diploma was 12 percent. Among graduates the share was 4.1%” (Summary of the employment situation). In other words, those who drop out of school are three times more likely to be unable to find work. “The high school diploma becomes a sorting mechanism and contributes to a wide range of economic and political divisions within the current social structure. [It also] exacerbates inequalities between high-income and low-income children” (Campbell). Jobs for poorly educated workers are being eliminated, and many minimum wage jobs require a college degree. There are not as many jobs available as there were twenty years ago. This leaves dropouts in terrible circumstances and often leads to problems. Criminal activity and lack of education are closely linked