Press Releases - New Report Calls Unemployment Rates A Crisis for Young People in Michigan, Lansing Events to Showcase Solutions to Youth Unemployment that Work

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 28, 2013

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

New Report Calls Unemployment Rates A Crisis for Young People in Michigan, Lansing Events to Showcase Solutions to Youth Unemployment that Work
In Michigan, the unemployment rate is 16.9 percent for young adults ages 16 to 24

[LANSING, Mich.] – 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 Michigan, the unemployment rate for young adults far exceeds the overall state unemployment rate.

This week, as a part of an ongoing effort to showcase programs working to address youth unemployment, Young Invincibles will hear from program participants at Peckham Youth Program, a nonprofit vocational rehabilitation organization providing job training opportunities for persons with significant disabilities and other barriers to employment. On Wednesday, Young Invincibles will visit Peckham’s Awards Ceremony to celebrate the accomplishments of youth program participants. On Thursday, Young Invincibles will host a roundtable discussion to hear from participants about how this training program is helping them develop the skills necessary to put them ahead in the job market.

WHAT: Program Awards Ceremony – Peckham Youth Program
WHERE: 3510 Capital City Blvd, Lansing, MI 48906-2102
WHEN: May 29, 2013 3PM

WHAT: Rountable Discussion – Peckham Youth Program
WHERE: 3510 Capital City Blvd, Lansing, MI 48906-2102
WHEN: May 30, 2013 1PM

Along with this week’s event, Young Invincibles released a detailed analysis of unemployment for young people in Michigan. The fact sheet, GET THE FACTS About Youth Unemployment in Michigan [http://jobs.younginvincibles.org/get-the-facts-about-youth-unemployment-in-michigan /] gives an in-depth look into how economic opportunity for young adults in the state has fallen.

-While the percentage of working young people who have full-time jobs has increased to 59 percent, the median income for 25 – 34 year-olds has dropped by $3,116 since 2005.

-The number of young people who have a job at all has decreased from 61 percent in 2005 to just 56 percent today.

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.

This event is open to the public. Members of the media are encouraged to RSVP by emailing rae.roca@younginvincibles.org or adrianne.burke@younginvincibles.org. For information please visit http://jobs.younginvincibles.org.

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.