This study describes New York City's population of 16-to-24-year-olds using data from the 1990 Census' Public Use Microdata Sample. Selected characteristics pertaining to the education and employment of these young adults are examined, and information is given about the school and work status of youth in the city according to various demographic variables. Nearly three quarters of New York city's young adults are U.S. born, and more than half are enrolled in school. Of the 55.1% who are labor force participants, 9.7% are unemployed. Only 22% work full time exclusively, and 20% are not enrolled and are not working. In the older segment of this population, 1 in 10 is not a high school graduate, not in school, and not working. These groups of marginal young people require special training and employment programs. For nearly 10% of the young women, motherhood is an early reality, and premature childbearing is an apparent deterrent to both education and employment. Programs to prevent adolescent pregnancy and encourage high school completion are critical. The picture of New York city's youth supports arguments for continued public spending in their interest. Four appendixes discuss data limitations, provide a glossary, and present four additional tables of data about the city's youth. (Contains 31 figures, 20 tables, and 25 references.) (SLD)