By: Judge Greg Mathis
Despite what some would have us believe, America is not headed toward a recession. It is in the throes of one.
Most of us have, at some level, been impacted by this economic downturn. Many live in fear downsizing as businesses look for ways to save money. Hundreds of thousands have already lost their jobs. If they’re lucky, they have the job skills needed to secure new employment; even then the wait for a new job may be long, and they may be forced to take a pay cut. Most low-skilled workers and young people, however, are not so lucky and are having the hardest time finding even entry-level jobs. They are hardest hit by this recession, and the U.S. government needs to step in and offer them some relief.
Recently released statistics show that, in the last year, the number of working 16- to 19-year-olds fell by 8 percent. That’s the largest drop in age group. The industries that usually hire them – retail, for example – are struggling in this economy, and job opportunities are scarce. Add to this the fact that many recent college graduates are now forced to take any job -- even those that don’t require a degree, just to earn a paycheck -- and you have a situation where young unskilled workers are competing against degreed applicants for low-wage jobs. Black males in their late teens or early 20s are the hardest hit of all the struggling young job seekers.
Labor workers are also having a hard time in the job market. Construction workers, especially, are finding it hard to secure employment. The industry has a nearly 11 percent unemployment rate, compared with 6.1 percent just a year ago. The national unemployment rate for all workers is 6.5 percent. Entry level laborers have a difficult time getting their foot in the door in these industries as more experienced workers, mirroring the experiences of recent college graduates, are snapping up lower paying jobs in an effort to stay employed.
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