We have seen the charts on Zero Hedge showing youth unemployment of 50% in Greece and Spain and we shake our heads and say I’m sure glad were not Europe. I think Europe needs to hire the drones from the BLS to massage their numbers for them. The BLS reports our youth unemployment as follows:
16 to 19 year olds – 23.5%
20 to 24 year olds – 12.7%
Isn’t that precious? It’s also complete and utter bullshit. Here are the facts:
- There are 16.9 million 16 to 19 year olds and 4.3 million of them are employed. That means 75% of them are NOT EMPLOYED.
- There are 21.9 million 20 to 24 year olds and 13.5 million of them are employed. That means 38% of them are NOT EMPLOYED.
Edward Bernays would be so proud of the BLS drones. I don’t buy the bullshit about these people being in school, therefore they aren’t in the workforce. I got a job at the age of 16 and have worked every year since. In college I worked two jobs for a year. Where I come from you got a job at 16 years old to pay for your car, clothes, concerts and sports. Everyone I knew was working from the age of 16.
No matter how the BLS spins the data, the truth is that the youth unemployment rate in the United States of America is 54%.
http://www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cpseea13.htm
Worst Since World War II: 50% Unemployment: Over Six Million Teens and Young Adults Are Out of Work and Not In School
Amid a worsening fiscal crisis, a crumbling economy, and the destruction of over 40% of America’s wealth in just the last few years, it should be quite clear that this is no ordinary recession. In fact, with progressively dwindling job opportunities, a long-term downward trend in real estate prices, and the near doubling of participation in emergency benefits programs like food stamps and disability, one could make the argument that the United States is smack-dab in the middle of the next Great Depression.
The notion that we are potentially facing a decades-long paradigm shift which threatens to alter the very fabric of American life is becoming a stark reality for many, especially America’s younger generations who, according to a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, are experiencing the highest jobless rates since at least World War II:
Forty years ago, a teenager leaving high school — with or without a diploma — could find a job in a local factory. Twenty years ago, even as manufacturing jobs moved offshore, young people could still gain a foothold in the workforce through neighborhood stores and restaurants. Amid the housing boom of the past decade, youth with some training could find a career track in the construction field. But today — with millions of jobs lost and experienced workers scrambling for every available position — America’s young people stand last in line for jobs.
…
Youth employment is at its lowest level since World War II; only about half of young people ages 16 to 24 held jobs in 2011. Among the teens in that group, only 1 in 4 is now employed, compared to 46 percent in 2000.
Overall, 6.5 million people ages 16 to 24 are both out of school and out of work, statistics that suggest dire consequences for financial stability and employment prospects in that population.
More and more doors are closing for these young people. Entry-level jobs at fast-food restaurants and clothing stores
that high school dropouts once could depend on to start their careers now go to older workers with better experience and credentials. It often takes a GED to get a job flipping hamburgers. Even some with college degrees are having trouble finding
work.…
The employment rate for youth ages 16 to 19 dropped precipitously — down 42 percent since 2000. More youth than ever — 2.2 million teenagers and 4.3 million young adults ages 20 to 24 — are neither in school nor working.
Additionally, 21 percent — 1.4 million — of those young people out of school and out of work are young parents who must take care of their own needs and those of their children.
…
In this report, we describe them as disconnected youth. The term encompasses diverse groups, ranging from the 16-year-old who just dropped out of high school and is not working to the 21-year-old parent who has a high school degree and has been looking for work for a long time. They live at home in urban, suburban or rural communities.
The prospects for the Millennial Generation, who once enjoyed the seemingly never ending prosperity of McMansions, high-end technology and brand name apparel provided by their debt-laden parents, are rapidly disappearing.
The most challenging jobs market since the last Great Depression, coupled with an inability to acquire an education and trade skills due to tightened student loan requirements, yields an untenable situation for America’s youth. Combine this with the fact that most of these kids have or will soon be having kids, and you have tens of millions more Americans added to already overburdened government safety nets.
Reality television shows and government education convinced many teens and young adults that they would enjoy a carefree life of riches and luxury.
Never would they have even entertained the idea they would instead be plagued with a lifetime of misery, poverty and government dependence.
It’s a hard-knocks life, and it’s about to get a whole heck of a lot worse for a lot of people.
WIP says:
They are not counted as unemployed if they are in school.
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4th December 2012 at 5:02 pm
Administrator says:
WIP
Did you work when you were in school?
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4th December 2012 at 5:08 pm
Pirate Jo says:
See? I got three thumbs-down for saying I didn’t know there were any Millennials in the workplace (on that other thread), but this is what I meant! I have been vindicated, you haters, whoever you are who thumb-downed me.
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4th December 2012 at 5:11 pm
Davos says:
Fucking Ben Shcmuckhead Bernanke strikes again. From the Dollar Collapse, here is one more example of the Fed/Central shitheads remifcations:
Students and the sex industry: Empowering or the last resort of the debt-ridden?
With unemployment levels soaring across Britain, job prospects for graduates have never looked so bleak. But one sector proving resilient, and lucrative, for young people struggling to meet the inflated costs of higher education is the sex industry.
Link
http://dollarcollapse.com/welcome-to-the-third-world/welcome-to-the-third-world-part-10-students-become-strippers/
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4th December 2012 at 5:58 pm
llpoh says:
Admin says “I got a job at the age of 16 and have worked every year since”. What a lazy bastard. I started when I was 12, and have worked ever since.
I mentioned in another post that young folks want jobs that are fullfilling and fun. A lot of young folk change jobs/quit whenever they realize a job means work.
And here is the other thing – employers by and large know that these youngsters are lazy ass self-entitled spoiled brats. I do almost anything to avoid hiring them (within the letter of the anti-discrimination laws, of course). Give me an over 30 or over 40 or over 50 year old any time.
Their psych and art degrees, or their poor math/science/reading skills do not make them prime job candidates.
During interviews, here are some things I am often asked or told by young folks:
- I cannot work overtime or weekends because I have other things to do
- When will I get promoted?
- How much sick leave do I get?
- When will I get a raise?
- It is ok to use my phone at work, isn’t it?
- I need 4 weeks off during summer to travel
- I cannot start before 9 AM.
Yep, I sure want to hire these idiots. Never do they say that they will work hard, learn quickly, do whatever is needed, be punctual and not miss work. Nope – it is always that the job should suit their wants and needs.
Too bad for them. Cry me a river.
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4th December 2012 at 6:24 pm
Davos says:
I started working at age 13. Full time mate on a fishing boat to pay for flying lessons. Work can be play if you find something you like to do.
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4th December 2012 at 6:30 pm
Cynical30 says:
2 jobs while going full time.
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4th December 2012 at 6:38 pm
AWD says:
I started my own Popsicle stand when I was 11. I got a paper route when I was 13, and have been working ever since.
These kids without jobs voted for Obama. Serves them right, I hope they starve.
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4th December 2012 at 7:30 pm
Administrator says:
Jobs That Died in 2012
By Alida Moore, PayScale.com
As we approach the end of one year and the start of another, you might hear a lot of talk about jobs that grew in 2012. But there’s always a flip side, and in this case, it’s the jobs that didn’t grow, and in fact, are becoming obsolete.
Why are these jobs endangered? “These jobs utilize antiquated technology or are primarily in hurting industries, and thus their job prospects are low,” says Katie Bardaro, lead analyst at online salary database PayScale.com. “For example, desktop publishers work in the publishing/printing industry, which has been hurt with the advent of online media consumption.”
To identify jobs that are dying, we consulted Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Every job on the following list comes in well below the bureau’s projected national job growth rate of 14.3 percent. Read on to see which jobs are likely to fade as society moves forward.
Sewing Machine Operator
Projected Growth: -25.8 Percent
Median Annual Salary: $23,700
When you look at the label inside your shirt, do you see the words “Made in the USA”? Didn’t think so. Nowadays, most of our clothing is made in China, Thailand and other countries. This outsourcing of clothing manufacturing could mean that stateside sewing machine operators are part of an occupational club that grows smaller every day.
Telephone Operator
Projected Growth: -16.6 Percent
Median Annual Salary: $26,100
How often do you dial “0” for operator assistance? If you have a computer or smartphone, you don’t need to. With a few mouse clicks or the touch of a few buttons, you can look up information yourself that you used to need an operator for. It’s no wonder telephone operator jobs are dwindling.
Desktop Publisher
Projected Growth: -14.7 Percent
Median Annual Salary: $43,100
A desktop publisher creates magazines, brochures and other print material. In today’s digital world, though, the publishing industry is struggling to stay afloat as most print material moves online. While some desktop publishers might be able to transition to Web publishing or graphic design work, they can be sure that the heyday of print is over.
Correspondence Clerk
Projected Growth: -12.1 Percent
Median Annual Salary: $30,000
Most business correspondence comes in the form of email these days, and filters let us pick which messages to read now and which to file away for later. A correspondence clerk used to have the same job, sorting through letters and messages and prioritizing them by order of importance. Sometimes these clerks would also type the replies as dictated by the boss. Now, most executives answer their own correspondence, forcing these clerks to write something else — like their own resumes and cover letters.
Word Processor/Typist
Projected Growth: -11.5 Percent
Median Annual Salary: $35,000
The days of secretaries taking dictation and then spending hours at a typewriter transcribing the words are long gone. Now, even children learn to type and use a computer at a very early age. That means typing is no longer a specialized skill, which explains the lack of job opportunities for word processors/typists.
Motion Picture Projectionist
Projected Growth: -11.1 Percent
Median Annual Salary: $19,700
If you remember seeing Star Wars at the movies, you might remember looking up into the booth and seeing a projectionist feed film into the projector. These days, you’re more likely to see a film projector in a museum than a movie theater. As with many things in our society, film has gone digital, eliminating the need for someone to operate the projector.
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4th December 2012 at 7:55 pm
AWD says:
When I was young, I wanted to be a bra,
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4th December 2012 at 8:00 pm
llpoh says:
Figures – I write a first class rant and get almost no love for it, and AWD posts a pic of boobs and gets immediate accolades.
Fuck it – if you can’t beat them, join them:
How would you like that under your Christmas tree?
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4th December 2012 at 8:21 pm
llpoh says:
“tis the season to be jolly:
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4th December 2012 at 8:28 pm
Stucky says:
Earlier today llpoh intervied a young lady for the receptionist job.
She said she can’t work before 9AM or after 4PM. needs a 2 hour lunch plus two 15 minute breaks, needs a 6% raise every year, and demanded 10 days of sick days plus two weeks paid vacation.
He went ahead and hired her.
People didn’t understand why …… but they had an idea.
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4th December 2012 at 8:58 pm
Mikey says:
The BLS uses the same tricks Centrelink uses here in Aus. If you work for pay for more than 1 hour a fortnight, or are enrolled in any form of training, you are no longer unemployed.
That’s totally different to having enough work to live on.
It’s typical bullshit political crap used by all sides of politics to hide the truth.
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4th December 2012 at 12:24 am
TeresaE says:
Our local TV station highlighted the story of Michigan youth unemployment.
Then they gave a few “tips” that are the same bullshit they have been telling job applicants for the past ten years. These “experts” leave out an important step (probably because they haven’t a clue).
Bug the living shit out of the employer – politely. NOBODY else is doing it, so you should if you really want a job.
Funniest part of the story, they interviewed a couple “youth” out of Detroit. Both mentioned that it was “tuff” and that they had put in a “few” applications last year, and still hadn’t heard anything back. No shit.
And, for cripes’ sake, if you worked one day and quit, DON’T LIST IT!
For the older crowd looking for any job to get by and finding fast food and retail is snubbing you, dumb down your resume through omission. If you go in, kick ass – or just do decent and show up on time – they won’t fire you if they find out you used to be a construction manager but lied down about it.
Anyway, I told my sister, then her son, for years, that if they wanted a job in a small town and a shit economy, they needed to go out on Monday and fill out apps/drop off resumes at EVERY place in town that will take them. Ask whom the hiring manager is, and when they are working. Then go back on Wednesday, during the businesses downtime (use your brain) and ask to speak to the manager, introduce yourself, ask if anything is available. From that meeting forward go back twice a week until he interviews you, or has you arrested. I’ve gotten a few jobs in that exact way. That was the way I got my “break” into public accounting without having a degree.
They ignored my advice, and *shock* never found jobs. My niece, however, used exactly that tactic and landed a job within three weeks of employing my techniques. Gawd I love that girl.
Having said that, the real problem is that there are not enough jobs for all that should be working. The youth aren’t going really crazy until after their parents take a few more hard hits to the pocketbook.
Then stuff may get ugly as hoards of disillusioned, apathetic, distracted, myopic, spoiled brats find out the free ride is over.
I’m sure O has a plan (with our money) for that.
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4th December 2012 at 1:39 am
Llpoh says:
Teresa does good. Again.
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4th December 2012 at 3:48 am
Davos says:
“Teresa does
goodexcellent. Again.”+1
Recently I read “Freedom’s Forge” and they guy who put together the bid for the Hoover Dam followed Teresa’s rule-book when he started out as a hardware salesman.
And one more thing: Fuck the “experts”.
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4th December 2012 at 9:29 am
Administrator says:
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4th December 2012 at 12:35 pm