America's Youth Need a Jobs Forum, Too

America's Youth Need a Jobs Forum, Too

On the day that President Obama held his "jobs summit" at the White House, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released new employment numbers, showing 3.9 million people under the age of 25 who are "officially" unemployed. The Campaign for Youth is calling on the Obama Administration and Congress to ensure that the needs of young people - especially those with limited education and job skills - are addressed as the economy recovers and jobs become available.

We would like to see a national youth initiative would that would create much-needed jobs and provide youth with invaluable paid work experience in the public, nonprofit and private sectors.  This would allow youth to earn income and benefit from occupational and workplace skills, experiences, and training that would improve their ability to compete in a labor market that is growing ever more competitive. With the proper funding and support, existing programs - like the some 400 programs the Campaign's coalition supports - could quickly put youth to work and offer the assistance they need.

These jobs should be directed to communities with the highest economic distress and to low-income youth with limited education and jobs skills.  They should be linked to economic development and community revitalization efforts, infrastructure repair, conservation and stewardship of public lands, and the provision of much needed human services.  In this way, not only will we build the skills of youth, but we will also contribute to their civic engagement, and enhance the quality of community life.