
UNDATED (WREX) - A new report show it's getting harder for teens to find jobs in Illinois.
Numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the unemployment rate among teens in Illinois has jumped 67% in the past five years.
"The recession may be ending, but Illinois is still in the midst of a teen employment depression," said Michael Saltsman, research fellow at the Employment Policies Institute.
One of the things keeping teens out of work is the increase in the state's minimum wage over the past four years. That puts employers in a position where they are forced to cut low-wage jobs or hire more skilled applicants to fill their entry-level positions.
"The unintended consequence of state legislators' good intentions was an increase in the cost to hire and train entry-level employees, like teenagers," Saltsman continued. "Unless legislators in Illinois want to see even more teens out of work, they should stop passing ill-conceived public policies with real consequences for the most vulnerable in our work force."
Comments Terms of Use: We welcome your participation in our community. Please keep your comments civil and on point. You must be at least 13 years of age to post comments. By submitting a comment, you agree to these
Terms of Service
You must be logged in to leave a comment. Login or register See all comments |
Sign up to have Breaking News, Weather and School Closing alerts sent right to your cell phone.
Get a phone call from the 13 Weather Authority team when severe weather is approaching your home.
Need help with your home renovation project? Click here to get connected to Stateline area experts that can help turn your dreams into reality.
A better life... is just a click away! Click here to get connected to some of the best health care providers in the Stateline area.