One in three California teens can’t find a job

July 21, 2010

Consider it a new form of teenage angst: 34.5 percent of young workers in California were out of a job in June. [California Watch]

Teens in California are having a tougher time than other teens around the country, where unemployment is 25.7 percent nationwide. Teen unemployment is also three times higher than California’s overall unemployment rate.

Workers ages 16 to 19 face the toughest employment challenge of any age group. Teen unemployment in California has more than doubled since 2000.

The figures reflect a notable shift in the American workforce: For the first time since at least 1948, employees old enough to retire outnumber their teenage counterparts. The number of workers over 65 averaged 6.63 million the first half of this year, compared to 5.85 million workers ages 16 to 19.

“Older workers need to replenish their 401(k) plans, so those who have jobs are clinging to them rather than retiring,” Alicia Munnell, director of the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, said. “Teenagers lose out because less-educated workers and those with shorter tenure are most vulnerable during a recession.”