Tough times for teens (Jobless Rate...Highest in 55 Years)

[DUreader]

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20030709/1002642.asp


A faltering national economy and cuts to summer job programs leave teenagers locally
and across the nation with the worst summer job market in 40 years

By KEVIN PURDY
News Business Reporter
7/9/2003


Matthew Deschamps has worked as a
pizza cook in three different Buffalo
restaurants, a fair amount of work
experience for a 17-year-old.

That's why it's frustrating for him to have to
send out more than 30 applications to
restaurants, supermarkets and other
companies and hear the same response
from each: "We'll call you when something
opens up."

"I think it's a lot harder this summer," said
Deschamps, who is entering his senior
year at South Park High School. "A lot of
kids are staying at the same jobs they had
this year. My friends and I are looking at
roofing and landscaping-type jobs,
something temporary for now."



http://www.commondreams.org/news2003/0708-05.htm


FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
JULY 8, 2003
2:56 PM
CONTACT: Children's Defense Fund
Kyle Good [phone] X 103
email [e-mail]

June Jobless Rate Among America’s Teens
Highest in 55 Years

WASHINGTON - July 8 - Joblessness among America's youth rose to 59.1% in
June, according to a Children's Defense Fund analysis of data released last
week by the U.S. Department of Labor. This is the highest June jobless rate for
youth in the 55 years that data have been reported and the highest ever for a
summer month. Joblessness is defined as all those not employed, including
those currently looking for work—termed "unemployed" in government
statistics—and those not looking for work.

Joblessness among Black and Hispanic teens was even higher: 78.3% for
Black teens (the highest since 1983) and 68.4% for Latino teens, the highest
reported for young Latinos.

The 2001 tax cut did not produce the jobs that teens need to supplement family
income or earn money to pay for college, according to Marian Wright Edelman,
President of the Children's Defense Fund. Twenty-two states have seen
increases of 10% or more in state college tuition fees during the past year,
according to the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant
Colleges.

"If benefits from the Bush Administration's massive tax cuts to the wealthy were
supposed to trickle down to the rest of the work force, they are not reaching
young people," said Edelman. "Joblessness among Black teens is the highest it
has been since the Reagan Administration. How shameful that the Bush
Administration hands billions to millionaires but will not help provide jobs for
young people who desperately need them."

[mbperrin]

1. Ah..well..

What the hell do these kids need jobs or education for, anyway?

</totally fucking oblivious to the future>

[fertilizeonarbusto]

2. poor kids!

The real responsible adults are very sorry. But, it's good for them to know who is on their side and who is not-and they'll be 18 soon. Vote, kids, vote!

[DrGonzoLives]

3. I'll probably get flamed for saying this

I am much more concerned about those people out of high school, trying to put a roof over the heads and pay bills, and many times support kids (as a single parent or not) who are unable to find jobs. I would rather people like that find work rather than teens who just want to make a little extra money over the summer.

[Mithras61]

5. True, but the problem revealed by these numbers

is that adults trying to put a roof over their family's heads are taking the jobs traditionally held by teens, and that skews the "official" unemployment rate to make it look less bad than it really is...

[DrGonzoLives]

6. Good point

The shift to a service economy has forced more and more primary household providers to shift into minimum wage, no chance for advancement, unskilled labor. It's ridiculous, and we can thank the right-wing version of "free trade" for that.

I would love a world where fast-food jobs and things like that were staffed primarily by teens because the adults hold decent wage work elsewhere, but until that time happens, I have to argue that the adult should get the job before the teens.

[shanti]

7. just a reminder

not all teens are working for pocket money. many of them work to supplement the low income of their parents.

[revcarol]

9. You're right, there. Many teens work 15-20 hours while going to school

because their parents are so low-income. As soon as the kids hit 16, outside work. Before that, babysitting, yard work, cleaning houses, under the counter cash work.

Around here, with 20% adult unemployment, kids who are 18 signed up to be forest firemen and women. Even if they are still in high school. Very dangerous work for these kids. They are helping out their families, and they might be able to save for school clothes and get a couple of CD's if they are careful with their money.

Sad, one kid said to me, "My parents won't have to feed me while I'm gone." He was thrilled to get this dangerous work. A senior next year.

[underpants]

8. I'll add to that by menitioning the workers we IMPORT for jobs

Kids didn't seem to want to work so Arby's has kids from Kenya and Croatia working at one in a nearby mall. On the Outer Banks of NC there is a Food Lion near Corolla almost completely staffed by Latvians.

It's just what I have noticed.

[DrGonzoLives]

10. Very true

I've heard from relatives that are teenagers now that they'll *NEVER* work at a place like that, as if it's below them or something.

[shanti]

11. i've noticed it here in sacramento too

the young fast food workers are either latino (mostly mexican) and russian.

[Nottingham]

4. Its really bad! Awful! Crime is going to go up big time!

:bounce:

[fshrink]

12. Teens should learn not work.

nt