A problem with raising the minimum wage is that it could result in less employment, particularly among young, unskilled people. Already, rates of joblessness for teens without a high school diploma in many large U.S. cities are extremely high. For instance, 54.2 percent of teens in the Riverside-San Bernardino area of Southern California are unemployed. Other California cities take the lead in the top rates of teen unemployment. ~ Ilene
Summertime Blues: Teen Unemployment in Major U.S. Cities Tops 50 Percent
By Penny Starr, CNS News
(CNSNews.com) – A new analysis by the Employment Policy Institute (EPI) shows that unemployment among teens without a high school diploma is more than 50 percent in two of the largest U.S. cities.
Using U.S. Census Bureau data from May 2013 to April 2014, the analysis reveals that in Riverside-San Bernardino area of Southern California, the unemployment rate for teens ages 16 to 19 years old who don’t have a high school diploma is 54.2 percent.
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“These numbers are staggering,” Michael Saltsman, director of research at EPI told CNSNews.com. “Teens across the country this summer are missing out on valuable work experience as they continue to suffer through an extended period of high unemployment and difficult job prospects.”
Three other California metropolitan areas round out the Top 5 cities with the highest unemployment for the least skilled young people – Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana (39 percent), San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos (37.5 percent) and San Francisco-Oakland-Freemont (35.2 percent).
Saltsman said these young people would be hurt more if state and federal legislators increase the minimum wage.
“You can’t dramatically increase the minimum wage without consequences for the least skilled individuals,” Saltsman said, adding that if cost increases can’t be offset through higher prices, businesses will likely cut personnel starting with the least skilled workers.
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Full article: Summertime Blues: Teen Unemployment in Major U.S. Cities Tops 50 Percent | CNS News.
