Posted on 06/12/2012 10:19:34 PM PDT by Qbert
Add to the list yet another reason why President Obama’s assertion last week that “the private sector is doing fine” is woefully out of touch with what's happening in America.
Fewer than three in 10 American teenagers now hold jobs such as running cash registers, mowing lawns or busing restaurant tables from June to August. The decline has been particularly sharp since 2000, with employment for 16-to-19-year olds falling to the lowest level since World War II.And the statistics for minority, low-income teens are even grimmer. Blacks, Hispanics and teens in lower-income families were least likely to be employed in summer jobs.
Hispanics in families making less than $40,000 faced difficulties (19 percent employed), while middle-class black teens with family income of $75,000-$100,000 did moderately better, at 28 percent employed. For African-American teens whose family income was less than $40,000 a year, 14 percent are employed, compared to 44 percent of white teens with family income of $100,000-$150,000.
Teen employment may never return to pre-recession levels, suggests a projection by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In fairness, many teenagers will no doubt spend their entire summer in school, attending camps, or on vacation. But what about the millions of Americans who want – or, in some cases, need -- a summer job? The unemployment statistics are sobering, to put it mildly. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, as noted in the article, more than 44 percent of teenagers who want summer jobs can’t get hired or are forced to work fewer hours than they prefer. Further, just 29.6 percent of 16-to-19 year olds secured a job last summer. This is appalling.
Not only are young Americans feeling the painful effects of this administration’s failed economic policies, but they’re vying for positions in an ever-shrinking and increasingly competitive labor market.
Older workers, immigrants and debt-laden college graduates are taking away lower-skill work as they struggle to find their own jobs in the weak economy. Upper-income white teens are three times as likely to have summer jobs as poor black teens, sometimes capitalizing on their parents' social networks for help.
“The free enterprise system does not leave people behind,” Senator Marco Rubio reminded conservatives during a speech at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and library last August. “People are poor and people are left behind because they do not have access to the free enterprise system.” This truism, for some reason, has always stuck with me. Indeed, I believe one of the greatest challenges of our time is creating an opportunity society where all Americans -- regardless of race, class, gender or age -- can excel and pursue their dreams. But for now, we desperately need a new president in the White House who understands how to grow the economy and create jobs -- after all, millions of American teenagers are counting on it.
Yup.
Im My humble Opinion you are wrong.It is not the two words “Illegal aliens” that caused the teenagers to lose summer jobs.The 2 words that caused so many job losses are “minimum wage” most summer jobs for teenagers are created by small summertype businesses.Snack bars at the pool or beach,Lifeguards,dairy queens,produce stands,etc etc.Ask your self how many of those small businesses can afford 10.00 an hour for a teenager who has never worked before?I remember when every public beach had snack bars and lifeguards,now there are vending machines and signs warning that you swim at your own risk.There should be a seperate smaller minumum wage available for those under 19,that have no work experience and can prove they still attend school.This would reopen the job market for teenagers everywhere.Noone can afford 10.00 an hour for unskilled labor.Stop blaming illegals and place the blame where it belongs,Our Governmant.
Teen employment may never return to pre-recession levels, suggests a projection by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
We can also thank our own government for making the minimum wage rate one of the most prevalent reasons too.
Other than what would be considered illegal child labor today, how many teens had jobs during the last depression?
Why should an employer hire a teenager who will only be available full-time during the summer, when he has plenty of adults clamoring for that same job, and he has to pay the teenager the same minimum wage anyway?
My 14 year old packs bulk candy, nuts, and puts orders together for a local bulk food company. My 16 and 12 year old works at a local family farm market picking strawberries, tomatoes, packing produce and stocking shelves. It’s honest work for an honest dollar. If the government doesn’t like it they can go self-copulate.
“My 16 and 12 year old works at a local family farm market picking strawberries, tomatoes, packing produce and stocking shelves.”
I am glad for them, I am just commenting that if you are under 16 at least in California I don’t know what you can get hired to do. The laws here are terrible.
My kids have reffed soccer, babysat, mowed lawns. No “paycheck” jobs available until they were 16.
“My 16 and 12 year old works at a local family farm market picking strawberries, tomatoes, packing produce and stocking shelves.”
I am glad for them, I am just commenting that if you are under 16 at least in California I don’t know what you can get hired to do. The laws here are terrible.
My kids have reffed soccer, babysat, mowed lawns. No “paycheck” jobs available until they were 16.
...In other news, legislators are pushing for raising the Minimum Wage to $10/hour.
“A thing is worth only what another will pay for it.”
We live in a small town - population +/-6000. It used to be a very agriculture-based until developers started buying up family farms. Hard work is still available to any who want it. I’m glad my daughters have taken to it. They enjoy it very much.
I don’t know if you consider Texas to be part of the South, but I haven’t seen a kid with lawnmower in 10 years or more. I get two or three fliers a week on my doorknob from lawn services though. You’d think they’d notice the lawn is mowed and edged and decide that someone is obviously already doing it, but no.
Isn't that the truth. Kids don't do anything anymore. I think it starts when they're very young now, and parents simply won't let them out of their sight for fear (IMHO overblown) of their safety. The end result is that from an early age now, children develop a very indoor, I must be entertained attitude.
I will admit that I would have no idea how to change the plugs on my car. It's nothing like my first car where you popped the plug wires, and wrenched them off. I wouldn't even know how to expose the plugs on this thing.
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