The rising unemployment rate in the state and nationwide isn't affecting only working families, it is also making entry-level jobs harder for teenagers to find, according to a study by the Employment Policies Institute.This story was from the Capitol Fax morning shorts. Other stories of interest from there:
According to data from the organization, the unemployment rate for Illinois teens over the past 12 months averages 19.51 percent, which is three times higher than the unemployment rate for the general population.
The Employment Policies Institute is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit research organization dedicated to studying public policy issues surrounding employment growth. The organization focuses on issues that affect entry-level employment.
"A summer job for a teen is much more than a paycheck; it's a chance to gain important skills and learn the 'invisible curriculum' that comes from having a job, answering to a boss, and dealing with co-workers," said Rick Berman, executive director of the Employment Policies Institute. "Unfortunately, many teens didn't have that opportunity this summer, thanks to legislators who supported job-killing minimum wage hikes."
The organization's study from Illinois show that unemployment among teens has jumped 53 percent since the federally mandated minimum wage increase last year. The increase raised the minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $7.25 per hour in three increments over two years and two months.
The increase affected about 14.8 million workers nationwide who earned at or just above minimum wage.
The last time the federal minimum wage had been increased was 1997.
Legislation in Illinois increased the state's minimum wage to $7.75 in June. By July 2010, Illinois minimum wage workers will earn $8.25 an hour, mandated by the state's legislation, possibly becoming the highest minimum wage nationwide.
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