by Sudha Kanikicharla

Recent frustration and anger expressed in demonstrations by young Americans should come as no surprise to those familiar with their economic prospects. New economic numbers are out today showing that the youth unemployment rate changed little from last month. It stood at a depressing 17.4 percent for 16 to 24 year-olds in September, not much different than the 17.7 percent in August. That’s almost twice as high as the national rate, which remained stubborn at 9.1 percent even though hiring picked up slightly, adding 103,000 jobs – a fact that cheered those who feared that the economy was heading toward another Recession.

The youngest of young workers and people of color are having the toughest time. A whopping 1 out of 4 teenagers ages 16 to 19 seeking work are nonetheless jobless.  The unemployment rate for African Americans ages 16 to 24 is nearly 30 percent.  More than 1 in 6 young Latinos looking for a job can’t find work.

Overall the youth unemployment rate for the 18 to 34 bracket remains a cheerless 12.2%.  This generation needs our leaders in Washington to focus on job creation now more than ever.