Youth Radio - Topic: Unemployment

The Recession Hits Home

rgee — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:34:13 -0600

This story was originally published on L.A. Youth.

By Jennifer Gonzales-Romero

My mom, my brother and I used to go to the movies or eat out almost every weekend. We weren’t rich but I could tell my mom wasn’t struggling because she could always afford to take us out. Things changed in June 2009 when my mom was laid off from her job as an assistant property manager for a property management office.

I never thought she’d lose her job because she’d been working there for eight years. But since she didn’t look worried, I didn’t worry either. My mom had savings and the government gave her unemployment—money you get from the government every two weeks after you’ve been laid off. But she still made sure to budget her money.

We didn’t eat out or go to the movies as often. Out of habit, I’d ask my mom to buy me clothes when we were at the store but she said she couldn’t. So I would mostly ask my dad whenever I went over to his house because he had a job. Many times my junior year I’d come home after band practice and see my mom on her laptop looking for jobs, but she wasn’t having much luck. I didn’t think it would take two years for her to find a job and that she’d struggle to pay her bills.

The summer before senior year, I researched colleges. My dream school was the University of La Verne because I thought its small class sizes would be better for me. Tuition cost $31,300 a year but I thought financial aid would cover everything since my mom was unemployed. By the end of the summer I knew that I couldn’t depend on my parents to buy me new clothes and pay for my senior year expenses so I kept my summer job at Little Caesars.

In late September my mom started dating an old classmate from New Orleans. He and his daughter moved here and my mom and them moved into a three-bedroom home. My brother and I stayed in our apartment and my dad moved in with us so we could continue going to school in South Gate. My mom and her boyfriend got married in December.

My mom started to worry

At the beginning of 2011, I started to notice that my mom was struggling. Her mail was still sent to the apartment where I lived with my dad, so she would call almost every other day asking me whether her unemployment check had arrived. When I would say no she would say “OK” in a worried voice. She had been receiving unemployment for a year and a half and to keep getting it she had to prove she was still looking for a job. She told me she was worried that they wouldn’t believe she was having trouble finding one and that they would cut her off.Her husband wasn’t working either because he was having trouble finding a job in construction. I felt bad.

One day in March, I was doing homework in my mom’s room. She was sitting on her bed going through papers when she told me she was behind with her car payments. She started crying and said that she didn’t know how she was going to pay for her car and for rent. It hurt me to see her cry and I started tearing up too. I wanted to help her but I didn’t know how. I knew that if she couldn’t pay her car loan that they would take her car away, but she needed it. How else would she go to job interviews or pick my brother and me up so we could stay at her house?

In April, my mom scored a temporary job as an assistant property manager. I was hoping that they would keep her permanently. But after five weeks they didn’t need her anymore, so she went back to looking for a job. Around the same time I noticed that my mom’s husband was borrowing her car more often. I asked my mom what happened and she said he sold his car and they used the money to pay for rent. Still, I didn’t think their situation was so bad because they still had their home and money to buy food. But now that I look back, my mom had been worrying about a lot of bills.

In May I decided that I wanted to get my prom dress made so that it would be unique. I asked my mom if she could help pay for it since my dad had offered to pay $100. I think she knew how much it meant to me so without any hesitation she said she could pay $100 too. I was so excited. I didn’t feel bad for asking because if she had said no, I would have understood. I wanted prom to be perfect and I was just thinking about that.

A couple of weeks later my mom picked up my brother and me from my dad’s house, and I gave her three letters from the unemployment office. When she read them, she looked worried. I asked her what was wrong and she said that they were no longer going to give her unemployment. When she started driving she remained quiet and looked like she was thinking. Then she started crying and said that she had a lot of bills to pay and she didn’t know what she was going to do.

I thought about saying, “It will be OK, things will get better” but it didn’t seem right because I didn’t know whether things would get better. My brother and I kept quiet for the rest of the car ride. I wanted to offer her money but the only money I had I was going to use to buy my prom ticket. I didn’t want to be selfish but I didn’t want to miss out on one of my most memorable high school experiences. I couldn’t understand why she couldn’t find a job. She had a college degree, she was outgoing and hardworking, so why wouldn’t anyone hire her? She couldn’t help pay for my prom dress The next day she called and told me that she was having trouble paying rent and that they were going to move into a one-bedroom apartment. She told me she couldn’t give me the $100 anymore. I understood and told her it was OK. But now I didn’t have enough money either so I didn’t know what I was going to do.

My next paycheck wasn’t until the day of prom. I didn’t want to ask my dad for money because he couldn’t afford it and I knew he would get mad that my mom couldn’t contribute since they always split the expenses for me and my brother. My mom suggested I use some of the money I had saved for college from selling pastelitos, a Central American meat pocket, at school. I didn’t want to but it was the only way I could get money fast. I promised myself I would pay back every cent after my next few paychecks. Then my mom asked me if she could borrow $120 from my pastelito money. I was shocked she was asking me for money, but I said yeah. It showed how badly she needed it if she was asking me.

Although it hurt to hear what my mom was going through, it felt nice to finally have a way to help her. I had fun at prom because I was hanging out with my boyfriend and my best friend and her date. I was excited prom was finally happening and graduation was approaching. Around the same time, I found out that the University of La Verne was going to give me about $24,000 in grants and scholarships, which left me with about $11,000 to pay myself or through loans for the rest of the tuition, books, food and personal expenses.

One of the loans had to be taken out by one of my parents, and it was the loan with the most money, $4,000. I asked my parents but they didn’t want to take out the loan because my dad had bad credit and my mom had no income. I understood but it meant that I would be able to take out only $7,000 in loans so I would have to work part-time while going to school. I hoped I would make enough money to pay for my phone, gas and other expenses.

In June my mom went for a second job interview as a payroll clerk. I knew how hard my mom was looking for a job and I was hoping that they would hire her. After the interview she picked me up so we could open a checking account. She said they would call her later in the day to tell her whether she got the job. When we were opening the account with a banker, they called her. She stepped outside the banker’s cubicle while I finished opening my account. When she was done she came in crying with a smile on her face. I knew it was good news. She said they gave her the job and she would start next week. I was happy so I gave her a hug.

Afterward, we picked up my little brother and celebrated her new job by going to a restaurant to eat tacos. Now that my mom has a job, things have gotten better for her. She and her husband moved into a three-bedroom apartment and she’s been paying her bills off. She also has extra money again so she and her husband go out to eat on weekends sometimes. When my mom lost her job I was busy with my own life—just worrying about school, being in band and college applications. But as I watched my mom struggle, I realized how hard it is to make money and how the economy could affect even those who are good at budgeting their money or have a college degree.

Seeing my mom struggle makes me worry about whether I will get a job after I graduate from college. I realize now that it’s hard for a lot of people to get jobs, especially young people because we’re inexperienced. I now know how expensive life is when you’re an adult I’m scared about one day living on my own because I will have to pay for rent, groceries, utilities, the Internet, cable and all this other stuff. My job at Little Caesars is minimum wage and I couldn’t support myself on that.

Looking back, I could have asked my mom if she had enough money to pay all her bills. If I knew that earlier, I could have understood that she was struggling. If I had saved my money from my job instead of spending it on clothes, I think I could have paid for my prom dress myself. Now, I’m more appreciative of what my parents are able to give me. My mom has agreed to pay for my car insurance. I appreciate her help because I know it’s hard for her since she is still trying to pay off her bills.

To thank my dad, I’m helping around the house more and contributing to some house expenses since he is letting me live with him for free while I go to college. I wish my mom didn’t have to go through that financial struggle, but I’m glad I’ve learned from it. Save money for emergencies. Make sure I don’t go into debt. This is the perfect time to realize that before I’m living on my own.

Figuring Out The Job Market Without A College Degree

rgee — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:18:09 -0600

This story originally aired on 12/17/11, on WABE-FM, Atlanta.

By Barbara Dougherty

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In a few months, most of my friends will be graduating from college - without me. I dropped out last fall, half way through my junior year. But I still hope to finish my degree someday. I’ve heard the statistics that people with college diplomas will earn more money than those who don’t have degrees.

I also know the unemployment rate isn't good for people who don't finish college. On top of all that, the thought of so many people my age soon entering the job market, competing with me, is intimidating. But my mother has helped me calm my feelings of inadequacy. She always reminds me that I have been successful at getting jobs: from busing tables to managing a frozen yogurt shop.

And now, I have a totally awesome position at a successful startup business - making all natural bath and body products by hand! I sell them at weekend festivals and markets. It’s an intensely fun outlet for my creativity and I’m getting some really great retail experience.

Though I'm disappointed that I didn’t finish college, I’m proud of myself for effectively selling myself to employers in this tight market. When my friends begin looking for jobs next summer, I’ll be able to give them advice on resumes, impressing potential employers, and being a responsible employee.

Previously on WABE:

* Advice From A Baseball Fan

* Occupy Election Booths, Not Streets

* Why Make Impossible Beauty Goals?

[Excerpt] Youth Unemployment Since Lehman Brothers Collapse: Greece Compared To U.S.

rgee — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:10:38 -0600

As we look back on 2011, youth unemployment in European countries like Greece and Spain has almost reached 50 percent, according to the Atlantic.

Meanwhile, in the United States, youth unemployment (ages 16 - 25) has decreased since January 2011 from 18.1 percent to 16.8 percent. The Reuters chart above shows European youth unemployment over the past 20 years demarcated by some economic triggers, including the Lehman Brothers collapse.

This event took a toll on the global economy, but since then, unemployment for young people in Greece and Spain has increased close to ten percent every year. Since the collapse in September 2008, youth unemployment in the U.S. has increased3 percent overall.

In Greece, you can start working at the age of 15 and in Spain at the age of 16, the same as in the U.S. These numbers represent those from the minimum working age up to 25.

Since the Lehman Brothers collapse, France and Germany’s youth unemployment rates have either stayed relatively level or decreased.

Check out a chart from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that shows unemployment rates by month over the last ten years for 16 - 24 year-olds.

Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey, Unemployment Rate - 16-24 yrs. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Recent College Grad Dons “Hire Me” Sandwich Board

rgee — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:24:47 -0600

Sayre Quevedo, Turnstyle News

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Alexander Monsanto has achieved a lot of firsts. He’s a first generation American, the first in his family to graduate high school, and the first to get a college degree. All eyes are on him to succeed, but it’s been ten months since he got his accounting degree from Florida Atlantic University, and still no job.

“There are times where I would question what I was doing," said Monsanto. "I studied accounting for four years. If it’s going to be this difficult to get a job, is this really the field I want to be in?”

The jobless rate in the San Francisco Bay Area is above the national average, and unemployment is especially high for recent college grads. Month after month, Alexander Monsanto emailed resumes and wrote cover letters with little success. One morning he says he responded to every Craigslist ad in the San Francisco Bay Area that mentioned accounting, and didn’t receive a single response.

“It turns into this viscous cycle where it’s not helping to stay home to look for a job. You kind of have to just get out of the house and go and network and put yourself out there. I needed to find something different,” said Monsanto. And that is exactly what he did.

The lanky 25 year-old is a regular commuter on a 7:45 AM bus from Berkeley to San Francisco, but unlike most on the bus, Monsanto is hunting for a job instead of heading to one. When he arrives in San Francisco, Monsanto pulls two straps over his shoulders and begins walking the streets of the financial district wearing a sandwich board with the words "Hire Me" spelled out on the front with big black sticky letters. The sign beats against his chest with every step.

It’s a moment that he says fills him with embarrassment every time, but the need for a job eclipses any insecurities. “Whatever it takes, that's what I keep telling myself,” said Monsanto. “I mean a lot of people probably think I’m crazy but I’m not.”

There’s no arguing with his results. Monsanto estimates that he gets three to four interviews per week using his sandwich board, almost double his tally when searching Craigslist. And even if he’s not necessarily getting jobs, he sure is getting attention.

Kim Tobias did a double take as Monsanto walked past one recent morning. "I think it’s a little wacky, but I think it would work," said Tobias about Monsanto's sandwich board. "Shows me that he’s really interested in finding a job, he’s got initiative. That’s even better than LinkedIn.” Tobias, a corporate recruiter, asked for a resume before running off to a meeting.

A few blocks later Janet Myers calls out, "Hey you in the sandwich board." The University of California employee has a tip about accounting positions. But before she can finish giving Monsanto the information, she's interrupted by Eric Shroeder, a Senior VP at insurance giant Aeon, who snaps a picture with his phone, promising to post it on Linkedin.

One of Monsanto’s favorite stories is about the day he met his potentially perfect match. Representatives from the solar company SunRun were on the same street corner as him in downtown San Francisco, wearing T-shirts with the advertisement "We're Hiring.” Monsanto followed up with a resume and even landed an interview, but no job.

“I think what happened was that the opportunities we had listed weren’t really a fit for his background,” says Susan Wise, PR manager at SunRun. “But I think it’s a good example of how with seeking employees and employees seeking jobs, the concept of a mutual fit is tremendously important."

But with so many midcareer job seekers competing for the same positions, it’s hard for newcomers like Monsanto to be that "perfect fit" employers are looking for. So forced to face the reality of paying bills, Alexander Monsanto has put his dream of a full time accounting job on hold. Instead he’s willing to accept a part-time or even temporary job as an accountant. And in the meantime he keeps beating the streets in his sandwich board.

A version of this report aired on NPR’s Morning Edition.Photo gallery on Turnstyle News by Brett Myers/Youth Radio

Inflexible Companies To Blame For Talent Shortage?

squevedo — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:14:36 -0600

Assumptions about why unemployment is so high could be totally wrong, says a recent editorial in the Wall Street Journal by Peter Cappelli, a professor at U. Penn’s Wharton School of Business. According to Manpower Group, 52% U.S. companies report difficulty filling jobs and 47% of companies blame job seekers’ lack of hard skills. But Cappelli’s editorial argues that the problem doesn’t lie squarely on the shoulders of un-skilled job seekers or a lacking educational system, but on inflexible employers and out of date hiring practices. Cappelli writes, “Finding candidates to fit jobs is not like finding pistons to fit engines…Jobs can be organized in many different ways so that candidates who have very different credentials can do them successfully.”

Among his proposed solutions:

•         Companies should work with community colleges and educators to tailor coarse work to the specific needs of employers.
•         Bring back apprenticeships providing on the job training to new employees at a significant pay reduction/cost benefit to employers.
•         Promote from within and create pathways for advancement within companies reversing the trend of filling more than two-thirds of vacancies from outside job seekers.

Youth Radio Celebrates Digital Media Workforce Program

rgee — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:48:32 -0500

By Tajah Jones and Kazia Berman

Unemployment has been generally stagnant over the past couple years, and young people face a harder market than most. Congresswoman Barbara Lee is tackling this issue in her congressional district; she secured $250,000 for the Digital Media Workforce Program launching out of Youth Radio in Oakland, CA next year.

The Digital Media Workforce Program will prepare 18-24 year olds for the digital media industry by teaching them skills in app development, journalism, and online and health media. The first class of young people will start in January 2012. On Monday, July 18th in Oakland, Youth Radio shut down the block bordering their Oakland headquarters to celebrate with their community of funders, students, and guests, and thank Representative Lee for her support.

People filled the streets outside of the building while a Youth Radio DJ played popular songs to keep an upbeat vibe. Asha Richardson, a project associate at Youth Radio spoke, as well as Youth Radio’s President Ellin O’Leary. Even though Representative Lee was tied up in Washington D.C. to vote on the debt ceiling issue, guests heard from Lee’s representative Ricci Graham, as well as Rodney Brooks, Chief of Staff to Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson.

In addition to supporting Youth Radio’s Digital Media Workforce program, Lee also helped craft a bill that provides 3 million dollars for workforce investment act job training programs and 1.7 billion dollars for job core training programs. Graham said on Lee’s behalf, “It’s clear that Youth Radio understands … the challenges youth face…You can bet the Congresswoman will provide her support to this program in the future.”

Struggle To Save College Tax Relief

rgee — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 10:18:06 -0600

In today's market, youth are known as the "last-hired and first-fired." And without a job, the alternative of paying for college can be a financial downer.

As the end of 2010 approaches, the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) is set to expire. The AOTC offers tax relief to 12.5 million students and families to pay for their education, according to Young Invincibles.

With this impending deadline, Young Invincibles and other youth advocacy groups released a report called, “Economy Hammers Already Vulnerable Young Adults,” to draw the connection between the dire state of youth unemployment and the need to support legislation that makes education an accessible option for youth today. They hope to urge Congress to renew the legislation before 2011.

It is common for more people to enroll in school during a recession, but according to the report, the increase in numbers does not account for how many youth are unemployed. For example, some of the most recent data shows that 600,000 more 16 - 24 year-olds enrolled in school in 2009 than in 2007, but 1.8 million simply stopped looking for work, according to the report.

While the national unemployment rate was 9.6 percent in August 2010, the unemployment rate for 16 - 24 year-olds is 18 percent. In addition, the report points out that the unemployment rate only counts those who have recently searched for a job. Young people are more likely to get discouraged and stop job-hunting altogether, according to the report. This means that a higher percentage of youth are actually unemployed, and actively removing themselves from the job market.

The report identifies a negative trend, “The rise in youth unemployment and fall in labor force threaten to grow the ranks of ‘disconnected youth’ – a term used to describe young people who disengage from work and school for lengthy periods."

Young men and minorities fare worse in the job market compared to young women and whites, according to the report. Over 51 percent of young black men ages 16 to 19 who are looking for a job cannot find one.

Young Invincibles also released a fact sheet with information on the education rate of the United States compared to other countries. The U. S. is currently 12th in the world for the percentage of people with a college degree. “To catch up, the U.S. would have to add 1 million college degrees per year through 2025, in addition to the 2 million degrees already awarded annually. Now is the time to invest in our young adults and the future of our country, and preserve this smart tax relief strategy."

U.S. Gives Opportunities To Youth In French Suburbs

rgee — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 09:22:30 -0500

Far outside the glamour of Paris lights, the French suburbs, called the “banlieues,” are struggling to get noticed. These racially divided areas are most often referred to in terms of fighting crime and increasing law enforcement. According to the New York Times, France has Europe's largest Muslim population and many are living in the suburbs. "The banlieues have long been considered potential incubators for religious extremism," according to the Times article. The United States is taking action to reach out to these communities.

The banlieues are well-known for the violent youth riots that happened in 2005 and 2006. In November, 2005, two French youths were killed by police. Over 2,900 youth rioters, consisting of mostly second generation immigrants living in housing projects, were arrested for burning schools, cars, and daycare centers, according to the Social Science Research Council. Nicolas Sarkozy called a state of emergency and eventually the rioting ended after three weeks.

In January of 2006, another violent youth riot broke out in the banlieues, this time consisting of mostly white youth, because of a proposed youth employment law that would lower wages and change workers’ rights. The SSRC referred to these events as evidence of a “growing crisis of social exclusion and racism affecting the French suburbs.”

Since then, the banlieues have been stuck with the stigma of violence and racial tension. Recently, there have been efforts by the United States as well as the French government to change the atmosphere. According to the New York Times, the United States Embassy in Paris is reaching out to local organizations, students, and politicians in an effort to change the culture of the banlieues as well as bolster the image of the United States in Muslim communities around the world after the events of September 11.

The United States began a visiting leadership program for French teenagers to come to the United States, and brought celebrities like Samuel L. Jackson over to speak to French students.

A project with a similar tune began this summer by Frenchman Oliver Flament. The “Demos Orchestra” is made up of 450 children from the banlieues, between the ages of seven and twelve, according to an article in the Independent. None of these children has ever touched an instrument before, but was simply interested in playing music. They performed this summer in Pleyel Hall in Paris, alongside members of the London Symphony Orchestra. These children were taught by professional musicians in various Parisian orchestras.

The goal is to give these children a new sense of self-confidence, and open up opportunities for them. When the children come together for orchestra practice, they are seated next to kids from different ethnic communities. Whereas fences and gates strictly separate these communities at home, the children are crossing boundaries and learning to have fun with each other.

The Paro Generation Fights For Paychecks

rgee — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 17:56:29 -0500

Youth in Spain are being forced to do the unthinkable... move BACK in with their parents! Talk about your last resort. The global economic crisis is hitting Spanish youth hard, according to an article in BabelMed. The youngsters dealing with it are called the “paro generation,” or the generation of the unemployed.

“When things are going well, we call them 'paro generation.' Otherwise, the young Spaniards are described more bluntly as 'cannon fodders' of a system that has huddled up on itself,” says the article.

In terms of the state of the country, Spain’s national unemployment rate grew to 26.42 %, according to BabelMed. This is compared to the U.S.’s 9.5% unemployment rate in July 2010. These economic conditions are not only forcing young people in Spain to move back in with their parents, but also forcing them to take horrible jobs.

For example, many youth are tricked into “training contracts” that are terminated at a moment’s notice. The article reports, “There are indeed three youngsters out of four, aged from 16 to 19 that find themselves imprisoned in one of these ultra-precarious contracts... Deprived of guarantees, these young people are the first to fall into unemployment: out of the 1, 800, 000 jobs lost during these past two years of crisis, 1, 500, 000 were seasonal contracts.” As newly unemployed, these youth are soaking up unemployment benefits like sponges, sending the country into deeper recession.

Youth are being abused and exploited in the job market as well, causing them to lose faith in their system of government. "It is more and more difficult to talk of belief in the future even in the case of young Spaniards who have been brought up in an atmosphere of hope after the dark decades of Franquismo...80% of the interviewed youngsters feel 'little' or 'not at all interested' in politics,” said the article.

Scarier than that, young people in Spain are starting to pack their bags and ship out. This would mean fewer consumers to put money into the national economy. “Today, in Spain, youth are victims of a society that is not closed to a possible future if not a future founded on the most savage insecurity. For those who want to avoid living in this instability, the only way out is to pack up one’s belonging, 'largar adelante' (move on to something else) and leave Spain behind.”

Fresh Off The Press: The Low Down On Youth Employment

rgee — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 16:46:58 -0500

Every month, the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes an update on the employment situation in the U.S. They just released their July Employment Situation report today.

Here’s the breakdown of the employment / unemployment situation for 16 - 19 year-olds today. The statistics are in three categories: Unemployment, Civilian Labor Force Participation, and the number of full-time employed youth.

Unemployment Rate [The number of 16-19 year-olds who are actively trying to get a job, but do not have one.]
* In July 2010, the unemployment rate for this age range is 26.1 percent.
* Since January 2010, the unemployment rate for youth has remained essentially unchanged, hovering around 25-26 percent.
* At the beginning of the recession (December of 2007), the unemployment rate was 16.9 percent. This means that the unemployment rate has increased by 10 percent since the beginning of the recession.
* Ten years ago in July 2000, the unemployment rate was 13.4 percent. Wow.

Civilian Labor Force Participation Rate [The number of 16-19 year-olds either employed, or actively trying to become employed. The total number of people participating in the job market.]
* In July 2010, the participation rate is 34.6 percent, which means a third of the population is actively employed or trying to be employed.
* Ten years ago, in July 2000, the participation rate was 51 percent. What a significant drop in the number of youth who are participating in the workforce! The number dropped from half the population, to a third.
* At the beginning of the recession (December 2007), the participation rate was 41.1 percent, which means the participation rate in the labor force has decreased by 6 percent among youth.
* The participation rate began declining steadily approximately one year ago.

Employed Full-time [The actual number of 16-19 year-olds who currently hold a full time job]
* In July 2010, 1,176,000 youth are full-time employees.
* Ten years ago, in July 2000, the number of youth that were employed full time was 2,437,000. This means that the number decreased almost by half.
* At the beginning of the recession, (December 2007), 1,972,000 youth were full-time employees. We can see that the recession has significantly affected how many youth are getting jobs.
* However, in January 2010, the number of full-time employed youth was 926,000. So between January and July of this year, the number of full-time employed youth has increased by 250,000.