From Young Invincibles
Over the last decade, economic opportunity for young adults in Hawaii has fallen dramatically, and the recession has made it worse. As income and job prospects dwindle, more young people find themselves in part-time work, or out of the labor force entirely.
These statistics paint a bleak picture. Studies show that lack of early work experience dims career prospects. Young people who graduate college during a recession have lower wages for over a decade. The challenges facing Hawaii’s youth could depress economic opportunity for all Hawaiians for years to come.
PDF: Get the Facts About Youth Unemployment in Hawaii
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Still No Recovery for Young Americans
April 5, 2013 by Young Invincibles
[WASHINGTON, DC] — The economy added 88,000 jobs in March 2013 while the national unemployment rate dropped .1 percentage points to 7.6 percent. For 18 to 29 year olds the unemployment rate fell from 12.5 percent in February 2013 to 11.7 percent in March 2013 (not seasonally adjusted). For younger workers ages 16 to 24, the unemployment rate dropped .1 percentage points to 16.2 percent (seasonally adjusted). However, the declines in youth unemployment were driven by workers leaving the labor force rather than an increase in jobs.
Rory O’ Sullivan, Policy and Research Director at Young Invincibles, said, “The slight drop in the youth unemployment rate masks yet another tough month for young workers. Fewer young Americans hold jobs compared to last month, and fewer of them are actually in the labor force. Persistent youth joblessness means serious consequences for the future of our country. That’s why Young Invincibles launched the ‘Get the Facts’ campaign this month to educate the public about the impact of high youth unemployment and highlight solutions to the challenges facing our generation.”
In the months ahead, Young Invincibles will publish new reports showing declining economic opportunity for young people in each of the 50 states. We will also launch a National Youth Jobs Tour to educate people about high youth unemployment and highlight effective job training programs in 15 communities across the US that are putting our generation back to work.
Here is more information on how different populations of young people fared in March 2013:
- The unemployment rate for Black young adults ages 16 to 24 in March is 26.7 percent compared to 29.7 percent last month (not seasonally adjusted).
- The unemployment rate for young Latinos ages 16 to 24 in March is 16.9 percent compared to 18.1 percent last month (not seasonally adjusted).
- The unemployment rate for young men ages 16 to 24 in March is 17.4 percent compared to 17.0 percent last month (seasonally adjusted).
- The unemployment rate for young women ages 16 to 24 in March is 15.0 percent compared to 15.7 last month (seasonally adjusted).
- Overall youth unemployment for 18 to 29 year olds is 11.7 percent compared to 12.4 percent in March 2012 (not seasonally adjusted).
Learn more about the “Get The Facts” Campaign at: jobs.younginvincibles.org.
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Young Invincibles is a national organization committed to amplifying the voices of young Americans, ages 18 to 34, and expanding economic opportunity for our generation. Young Invincibles ensures that young Americas are represented in today’s most pressing societal debates through cutting-edge policy research and analysis, and innovative campaigns designed to educate, inform and mobilize our generation to change the status quo.
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