The Great Recession hits Teens

It has been a long, hard couple of years for everyone. Layoffs, overtime, fruitless job searching, and unemployment payments. Unsurprisingly, the Great Recession is hitting the summer job market as teens and college students are finding it harder and harder to find employment.

Employment among 16-to 19-year olds in May grew by just 6,000, the smallest increase since 1969, when teen jobs fell by 14,000, according to government data analyzed by employment firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. In May 2008 and 2009, teen employment grew by over 110,000...

Jobs traditionally given to teens are apparently going to older workers who are willing to take low paying job to make ends meet.

Clearly, steps taken by the Obama administration and Congress are not doing the job. And issues created by the Gulf Oil Spill - decimating tourism and the fishing industries in the South - are likely to make things worse. It time for a change in direction... just in time for the 2010 Congressional Elections.