Finding Jobs: Youth and Unemployment

• In Event: 153 - Section on Children and Youth Refereed Roundtable Session and Business Meeting
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 06. Youth and Employment

Abstract

Youth unemployment is one of the most persistent problems of our post-recession economy. While the 18-24-year-olds have experienced some of the highest unemployment rates according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2015), their unemployment, particularly student workers’ unemployment remains underexplored. This paper looks exclusively on the effects of unemployment for 18-24-year-old student workers and explores the role of socio-economic status in finding jobs. Using both in-depth, qualitative interviews and quantitative analysis, I find that the interaction of socio-economic status and race play a great role in access to jobs due to aesthetic labor requirements for retail and service sector jobs. Based on the findings, the paper makes policy suggestions especially in regulating the hiring process.

Author

• Yasemin Besen-Cassino, Montclair State University