FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 29, 2013
Contact:
Rae Roca
Rae.roca@younginvincibles.org
202.378.3526
New Report Calls Unemployment Rates A Crisis for Young Adults in Georgia
In Georgia, the unemployment rate is 20.6 percent for young adults ages 16 to 24
[ATLANTA, Ga.] – In a time of across-the-board budget cuts, dismal job prospects continue to leave young Americans unsure about their economic future. Currently, young adults face a national unemployment rate of 16.2 percent, which is over twice the national average. In Georgia, the outlook is particularly bleak, as the unemployment rate for young adults exceeds the youth unemployment rate nationally, and is over twice the state average.
Rory O’Sullivan, Policy Director for Young Invincibles said, “We know that Congress has cut job training for young Americans by over $1 billion over the last 10 years, at the end of which The Great Recession hit. It’s time for our leaders in Washington to work together with the private sector, non-profits and educational leaders to get this generation back on track.”
Today, Young Invincibles released a detailed analysis of unemployment for young people in Georgia. The fact sheet, GET THE FACTS About Youth Unemployment in Georgia [http://jobs.younginvincibles.
o Just 60 percent of workers ages 18 to 24 are employed full-time.
o The average young adult in Georgia ages 25 to 34 makes almost $2,000 less today than in 2005.
o Only 45 percent of young people ages 18 to 24 in Georgia have a job.
Studies show that the inability to gain early work experience dims career prospects for a lifetime; if we do not act now, this crisis could have far-reaching economic consequences for all Georgians.
Young Invincibles is leading the charge to solve this issue by conducting a national tour to highlight the need to continue to push for policies that double down on workforce training and higher education that will safeguard our country’s economic future.
On Tuesday, April 30, Young Invincibles, in conjunction with Goodwill of North Georgia, will be hosting a public discussion that focuses on local job training programs and the high rate of unemployment amongst young adults. The event will take place from 3pm to 5pm at the Goodwill of North Georgia Career Center in Duluth, GA. If you would like to participate in this discussion, please contact JoAnn McLean atJMcLean@ging.org or Dustin Summers at dustin.summers@
For information please visit http://jobs.younginvincibles.
###
Young Invincibles is a national organization committed to amplifying the voices of young Americans, aged 18 to 34, and expanding economic opportunity for our generation. Young Invincibles ensures that young Americans are represented in today’s most pressing societal debates through cutting-edge policy research and analysis and innovative campaigns designed to educate, inform and mobilize our generation to change the status quo.