http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-03-14/how-to-fix-the-shockingly-high-teen-unemployment-rate
Generally, the unemployment rate in any region of the world is considered crucial. Most importantly the effects of unemployment on adults and the country as a whole is the main focus of any discussion, however this article points out the various ways in which unemployment may be more detrimental to teens than it is made to seem. Because teens are not the heads of households, it is assumed that they aren't hit as hard as adults who work full time.
In 2000, 45% of teens were employed but by 2011 this number decreased to 26%. If this was the case for adults, it wouldn't have been such a blind item in our society. If the unemployment rate reduced that much for adults, it would have been a bigger deal.
The employment rate actually rose for 55 year olds between 2000 and 2011, so by 2011, 65-75 year olds were as likely to have jobs as 16-29 year olds. One can say that adults have more responsibility than teenagers and that the unemployment rate for teenagers is not as alarming as it would be for adults. On the other hand, teenagers face the risk of being involved in criminal activity and substance abuse once there are no job opportunities. As important as adults are in our society, teenagers and young adults also deserve the training and experience to be able to be responsible adults and also to be able to put their time to good use in order to avoid unnecessary distractions.
This is interesting. I believe that it's such a blind item in our society because people may look at it as if more adults are having the opportunity to get these jobs rather than younger workers who may lack the experience and may not need the money as much. However, I do agree that it's important for teenagers to get work experience.
ReplyDeleteTo me, this is a very concerning issue. I have found that being able to list teen work experiences on a résumé really helps you get ahead of the crowd when it comes time to applying for college and internship opportunities. It demonstrates to colleges and employers that you are a motivated, hard-working individual; it also typically sets you above those individuals who have no prior work experience. I began working at age 14 and, as a result, quickly learned the importance of teamwork and solid communication and interpersonal skills. I feel that much of what I learned on the job is transferrable into almost any industry or experience and that I am better prepared for future full-time employment because of it. I like to think that the work experiences that I have had as a teen, both good and bad, have made me a better-rounded individual. I believe having as many teens as possible in the labor force is incredibly important.
ReplyDeleteSociety definitely tends to place a huge amount of concern in adult employment rate and give very little regard to teenagers. This, in my opinion, goes against all common sense; if kids have more experience under their belts, they would be better prepared for future jobs when adults.
ReplyDeleteI also believe that teen unemployment rates should be regarded more highly than they currently are, but there are obvious reasons why adult unemployment takes the higher priority. There are several benefits for teens to be employed, but many parents I know personally, would rather their teens focus on graduating high school than be overwhelmed with both graduating and working. If their child can do both, fantastic, but if not, education obviously should take the higher priority for a minor.
ReplyDeleteUnemployment for teens does make an impact on our society, but i feel as though it isn't detrimental: at least not as much as adult unemployment. A reason as to why this unemployment rate is so high is because a lot of teens just don't know how to look for work, and the fact of the matter is a lot of 16-19 year old teens aren't that ambitious. I personally know hand fulls of people who are unemployed at 18-19 and couldn't care less, or simply just don't want to go look for jobs. Also, you have to take into mind all of the teens who don't need to work because their parents make enough money that it isn't a concern at all, which could account for a large portion of the unemployment.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the teenagers that are unemployed are ones that are actively seeking jobs, not teenagers who are attending high school or college. If this is true, it would be too surprising that they are having issues finding employment. Although the job market is recovering, it has become increasingly difficult for undereducated peoples to get hired. People in the 65-75 year old age bracket are more likely to have education and previous work experience, despite being less versatile. I would not say that I am in favor of having a high unemployment for teenagers, but college graduates do have a significantly lower unemployment rate if I remember correctly.
ReplyDeleteA large reason so many teenagers are unemployed is because the number of baby boomer's still in the work force is still so large. The population of baby boomer's is estimated at about 76.4 million and with longer life expectancies than there have ever been in history, they are staying in the work force instead of choosing to retire. This makes it more difficult for generation y and generation z workers to find jobs and/or work their way up in a company.
ReplyDeleteI believe it all boils down to experience. The jobs the 65-75 year old group receives would much outrun the relevance to our economy than the jobs the young adults seek. I think this is why it's considered a "blind spot". If we saw this purely for adults then I would assume it would of been more surfaced in the media. A major reason for this blind spot could possibly be due to schooling. The young adults enrolled in high schools can't spend as much time working as a 65-75 year old could. These teenagers have academics to worry about, athletics, and further obligations such as clubs. Although we see the older age groups more relevant to the economy, I still believe we as a nation could raise more awareness of unemployment as a whole.
ReplyDeleteJob experience can be extremely beneficial when trying to build a resume. I think it is important for businesses to remember that everyone has to start somewhere in terms of employment. I think businesses should try to evaluate teenage workers applying for jobs on the character that they display during an interview rather than past work experience, especially considering that many teenagers applying for a job do not have any past work experience.
ReplyDeleteI believe that this is an issue that should definitely be addressed. I began my first job at 15 and found that it taught me responsibility and other important skills that have better prepared me for many situations. I also think that working during teenage years helps to keep many teens out of trouble and better prepares them for the future, ultimately contributing to a better society.
ReplyDeleteI believe that there should be an increase in the employment rate for teenagers. Getting a job builds character and responsibility, and even though not all teens will turn to drugs or illegal activity when they don't have a job, it's a good experience, and crucial for that age group. It helps them learn how to manage their time and work hard, which are important skills to have not only in the work place, but life in general. Teenagers are better than we think they are.
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