UIC Study Finds Youth Unemployment Spiked During Pandemic

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by Jacob Solomon May 21, 2023 News
UIC Study Finds Youth Unemployment Spiked During Pandemic

The new mayor of Chicago is trying to find a solution to the youth unemployment problem. According to a new study by the Great Cities Institute, the jobs needed for youth unemployment and enrichment programs are critical. Black people ages 20 to 24 had the highest unemployment rate in the study. The unemployment rate for black residents is 20% higher than the national average.

The study showed a correlation between the city's crime rates and unemployment rates.

Matthew Wilson is an associate director for economic and workforce development at the Great Cities Institute. When program participants are working and they are part of a program that provides their mentors and counseling, the crime drops 50%. There is no more effect of that program if they are not involved in it. I think we can say from these types of research designs that there is a reason for having a job and being in these types of programs.

Students between the ages of 14 and 18 can receive stipends for participating in the After School Matters program. The programs ramp teens up into employment, according to the Chief of Strategy and Staff.

The arts, sports, communications, leadership andSTEM areas are designed to help young people build skills in those areas, but also build those transferrable 21st century skills that they will need for whatever employment they decide to go after in the future.

COOP Careers is a national nonprofit that helps college graduates who are unemployed or underemployed.

Recent college graduates who are currently employed at a job that doesn't require a bachelor's degree or a job that requires a bachelor's degree but makes less than $50,000 are referred to as "underemployment". The social capital piece and digital skills are what we focus on. When you think of digital skills, students who are recent college graduates are learning how to use data in order to get into the digital economy.

Young adults are helped by COOP to learn how to network.

It feels kind of icky when I talk to a lot of younger adults who are in our program before they enter it. Social capital of building a network isn't just about asking for a job. Being a servant leader is being able to support you in the work that you are already doing.

Wilson said that the public sector can be used to get young people ready to work in the private sector.

Young people have not been employed at the same rate as older people. Younger people aren't as competitive when they're competing for jobs against older people The public sector needs to step in and train young people. The money that the state of Illinois is attempting to put into youth employment is a great step in the right direction. The public sector needs to give a push to people who aren't as competitive in the labor market.

Mister thinks that the new administration is trying to increase youth employment.

Mister said they were encouraged by the dedication and commitment of Mayor Johnson.