Unemployment is a serious and issue in the United States, with millions of people affected every year. A person is defined as unemployed if they are not working although able but have been “actively looking” for a job for at least 4 weeks, or if they had been temporarily laid off (“Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey,” 2021). As of September 3, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the national unemployment rate has decreased by 0.2% to 5.2% (“Employment Situation Summary,” 2021). Considering the annual statistics, total unemployment in 2020 more than doubled from 2019 from 6,001 thousand to 12,947 thousand (“Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey,” 2021). However, the statistics vary by demographic – age groups, sex, race, as well as location.
Using the Current Population Survey, as most recently updated on the USBLS website, I was able to compare the unemployment rates of different demographics. The COVID-19 global pandemic has affected some demographics disproportionally, and I wanted to research the unemployment levels of potentially vulnerable classes. Therefore, I chose to look at young people, who are likely to have just or are about to have graduated high school. According to the statistics, the unemployment rate for 16 to 19-year-old persons is at 11.2% (“Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey,” 2021), which is over double the national level of unemployment. Out of this group, men have a higher unemployment rate of 11.9% as opposed to 10.4% for women, with the 18-19 year old males accounting for most of it (“Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey,” 2021). These number are not surprising, as amid the global pandemic it can be difficult for people to enter the workforce. While more experienced older employees might have connections in the professional environments, young people are forced to go into the job market with no support.
References
Employment Situation Summary. (2021). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Web.
Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey. (2021). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Web.
Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey. (2021). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Web.
Labor Force Statistics. (2021). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Web.