High school dropouts will earn less and be at higher risk of becoming unemployed. “In 2012, young adults with a bachelor's degree earned more than twice as much as those without a high school diploma ($46,900 versus $22,900) and 57% more than young adults finishing high school ($46,900 $ against $30,000)” (USDept. of Education). These are startling numbers that truly prove that education and poverty are eternally linked. What makes these numbers so discouraging is that they are an average, meaning many are even further from the median. Furthermore, we must not forget those who are unable to find paid employment. Getting a job without a diploma is not only less paying, but also more difficult to find. “While the national unemployment rate stood at 8.1 percent in 2012, unemployment among people without a high school diploma was 12 percent. Among university graduates, this figure was 4.1 percent” (Employment Situation Summary). In other words, dropouts are three times more likely to not find work. “High school graduation 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- and low-income children” (Campbell). Jobs for poorly educated workers are being eliminated, and many minimum wage jobs require a degree. There are not as many jobs available as there were twenty years ago. This leaves dropouts in dire circumstances and often leads to problems. Criminal activity and lack of education are closely linked