Teenage Wasteland: Jobless Rate For Young Is 25%—and Rising

CNBC ^ | 4/14/11 | John Melloy

[Nachum]

A quarter of teenagers were jobless in March, representing a surprising increase from February, even as the unemployment rate for the rest of the population decreased.

AP

This figure may only get worse if budget-strapped states raise the minimum wage, and it could also be a sign of greater structural damage underlying our economy, analysts said.

The unemployment rate for 16- to 19-year olds jumped back up to 24.5 percent in March, up from 23.9 percent the prior month, according to the latest jobs data from the Labor Department.

The total unemployment rate fell to 8.8 percent from 8.9 percent.

“Even when comprehending that teen employment is volatile in nature, the data that exists serves up some shock and awe,” said Brian Sozzi, a retail research analyst with Wall Street Strategies, in a note Wednesday. “If these (wage) increases do go through, the prospect for teen employment will remain grim as employers search for workers with advanced skills to fill positions.”

[Army Air Corps]

Nice try, mate, but I did not contribute to this. I did not support the wreckless policies that created this. As for the youth in this demographic, those who were not old enough to vote in the 2008 presidential election still expressed support for either Obama or his policies. There was considerable youth culture support for this wanker. Moreover, those who were of voting age in 2008 are not greatly removed from the age group cited in this article. That places many of the young and first-time voters in your generation. I can forgive the intemperance of youth because we all make mistakes when we are young, but I am far less tolerant of those who would choose to support these policies in another go around.

Also, do you somehow think that yours is the first generation to face great challenges? If so, you should have paid greater attention in your history classes.

[Army Air Corps]

Not just college kids, but high school kids. Even though kids in the age-group cited in the article were not of voting age in 2008, they did support Obama in great numbers (much the same as many people I knew in high school were rabid Clinton supporters in 1992). Even though these kids were not old enough to vote, they were actively supporting Obama in great numbers in 2008. Their active campaigning for The One likely influenced friends of voting age (just as some of my classmates influenced their 18-year-old friends to cast ballots for a particular candidate).

[Jack of all Trades]

I wonder what portion of the 25% get dressed in clothes suitable to the work they want, go out knocking on doors, filling out applications, and when asked “When can you start?” say “well, right now sir”.

Probably not many.

[Wiggins]

Glad to hear he found a job. I have an acquaintance who is a retired U.S. Navy officer who applied for a part time position at a nearby Home Depot and was shocked over how confusing the test was. When he did not receive a call for sometime he spoke to one of the the managers who told him that is was probably how he answered the questions. What was disheartening to him was the high number of Hispanics working in the store that speak little English and could not have possibly past the test. I applied also and had to agree with him.

[Grumpybutt]

Thanks! And as far as the retired Navy Officer is concerned... that REALLY pisses me off and makes me wonder if someone somewhere is making a living off the workers (legal or not) who don’t speak good English - by charging them a fee for sitting at a computer and filling out those online assessments for them.

[Wiggins]

I know people who mark down that they are Hispanic when they’re clearly not and they get interviews and jobs much easier as long as they are not asked if they can speak Spanish. Take care.

[cactuscactus]

This is the first generation that will have to pay for the debt that every other generation in our nations history accumulated. We are screwed, and it is not our fault. Our entire lives we are going to be slaves to our parents and grandparents greed. They took and took and took now getting government benefits that we pay for but will never see. The past few generations managed to take the greatest country in the world and reduce it to this, but there is no apologizing from them. Some how it is our fault.

If you did not contribute to this, surely if you find it easy to blame an entire generation that is innocent than you can apologize on behalf of one that is guilty.