Youth Unemployment in Massachusetts Doubles

Education and access to employment opportunities during teen and young adult  years help young adults obtain the job readiness skills that they will need for long-term success. A report released today by the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center and The Annie E. Casey Foundation highlights data about Massachusetts and US youth employment and high school graduation. The report finds that-

• The dropout rate for all students was 2.7% in 2011, however low-income and limited English proficiency students continue to dropout at higher rates, 4.8% and 7.9% respectively.
• In 2011, nearly 134,000 Massachusetts young adults age 16-24 were not working and were not enrolled in school, over a third of these young adults were age 16-19.
• Unemployment rates for young adults age 16-24 in Massachusetts reached 13.8% in 2011, double the unemployment rate for young adults in 2000.

By 2018, 68% of the jobs in Massachusetts will require a postsecondary degree or certificate. As the demand for a highly educated workforce  continues to grow ensuring that students graduate and engage in youth employment opportunities can positively impact these young adults and Massachusetts’ workforce.