FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May14, 2013

Contact:
Rae Roca
Rae.roca@younginvincibles.org
202.378.3526

New Report Calls Unemployment Rates A Crisis for Young Adults in Mississippi
In Mississippi, the unemployment rate is 22.9 percent for young adults ages 16 to 24

[JACKSON, Miss.] – 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 16.1 percent, which is over twice the national average. In Mississippi, the unemployment rate for young adults is more than twice the state average.

Today, Young Invincibles released a detailed analysis of unemployment for young people in Mississippi. The fact sheet, GET THE FACTS About Youth Unemployment in Mississippi [http://jobs.younginvincibles.org/get-the-facts-about-youth-unemployment-in-mississippi/] gives an in-depth look into limits on economic opportunity for young adults in the state.

While wages have risen for Mississippians ages 25 to 34 by $2,600 since 2005, only 50 percent of younger adults ages 18 to 24 actually have a job today.

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 those living in Mississippi.

Young Invincibles is leading the charge on this issue, conducting a national tour to highlight the need to push for policies that double down on workforce training and higher education and that will safeguard our country’s economic future.
For information please visit http://jobs.younginvincibles.org/

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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.