WASHINGTON – Youth unemployment is at its highest rate in more than 60 years. The recession has disproportionately impacted young Americans and job opportunities have disappeared quickly. The unemployment rate among 16 to 24 year-olds has increased to nearly 20 percent.
Many of today’s available positions for young people are internships, which are often unpaid. This has created a disparity between those who can afford to work without pay, and those who cannot. A technology gap has also restricted many young Americans from jobs that require specific technical skills taught in most schools today.
Many youth rights groups are working to relieve that disparity and create employment opportunities for members of this young generation. Nearly 5.3 million Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 are living in poverty, and these groups are trying to change that.
One organization called 80 Million Strong for Young American Jobs is a national coalition made up of more than 30 various youth rights groups. Coalition members visit high school and college campuses as well as youth organizations to teach young Americans how they can better prepare themselves for today’s economy and job arena.
80 Million Strong is also pushing congress to help create more jobs in industries like health care, education and the green movement, areas where they believe young Americans could successfully impact our economy.