Another Summer of High Teen Unemployment

New Analysis Shows Teen Unemployment Remains Above 20 Percent in 35 States Through Summer 2011
  • Publication Date: August 2011

  • Topics: Minimum Wage

Today, the Employment Policies Institute (EPI) released an analysis of new Census Bureau data showing teen unemployment remains above 20 percent in 35 states through July 2011.

Seven states and the District of Columbia were still averaging more than 30 percent.

“The nation’s teens have just experienced their third summer in a row with an unemployment rate above 20 percent,” said Michael Saltsman, research fellow at the Employment Policies Institute. “As a result, thousands have missed out on the valuable career experience that comes from an entry-level job.”

Saltsman concluded: “To avoid another bummer summer for our nation’s youth, policymakers should avoid passing new wage mandates in the name of job creation that will raise the cost to hire and train these less-experienced jobseekers.”

For other state-specific statistics or to schedule an interview, please contact EPI.

State Unemployment for 16-19 year-olds, July 2011

12-month average calculated with Census Bureau data

Rank — State — Teen Unemployment Rate

** — District of Columbia — 49.3%

1 — Nevada — 34.9%

2 — California — 34.1%

3 — North Carolina — 33.7%

4 — Washington — 33.0%

5 — Missouri — 31.9%

6 — Idaho — 31.5%

7 — Georgia — 31.1%

8 — West Virginia — 29.8%

9 — South Carolina — 29.2%

10 — Florida — 29.2%

11 — Tennessee — 28.7%

12 — Rhode Island — 28.6%

13 — Kentucky — 27.3%

14 — Montana — 27.1%

15 — Louisiana — 26.7%

16 — Colorado — 26.4%

17 — Arkansas — 26.1%

18 — Alabama — 25.8%

19 — Michigan — 25.8%

20 — New Mexico — 25.6%

21 — New York — 25.6%

22 — Oregon — 25.5%

23 — Texas — 24.8%

24 — Arizona — 24.7%

25 — Illinois — 24.4%

26 — Connecticut — 23.8%

27 — Ohio — 22.9%

28 — New Jersey — 22.9%

29 — Utah — 22.7%

30 — Mississippi — 22.6%

31 — Alaska — 21.8%

32 — Hawaii — 21.5%

33 — Indiana — 21.4%

34 — Maryland — 21.2%

35 — Minnesota — 20.7%