To the Point
A Long, Idle Summer for America's Youth
Share |

A Long, Idle Summer for America's Youth

Host:
Produced by:
Subscribe to this Podcast:
Podcast iTunes Podcast
Listen to/Watch entire show:
Listen Download Add to My Shows

Guest host Sara Terry looks at the summer job situation and why prospects for job seekers under 25 are so grim. At 17.3 percent youth unemployment is higher than the national average of 9.1 percent. That figure rises even higher among minorities, to 41.6 percent for African American youth. In addition to the overall economic outlook, the problem is compounded by federal, state and local budget cuts that have affected popular summer job-training programs. What's the cost personally and for society? Also, the Supreme Court rejects the Wal-Mart discrimination suit. On Reporter's Notebook, fancy a little light reading from the 18th century? Google and the British Library will be bringing thousands of texts to a computer near you soon.

Banner image: Unemployed Americans search for work in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images

Making News

Supreme Court Rejects Wal-Mart Discrimination Suit ()

The US Supreme Court ruled unanimously today that a group of women claiming sexual discrimination against retail giant Wal-Mart may not seek a class action lawsuit. The plaintiffs had sought to bring together more than one million women in the suit. We hear more about the decision from Dahlia Lithwick, senior editor and legal correspondent at Slate.com.

Guests:

Main Topic

A Long, Idle Summer for America's Youth ()

It's not a pretty picture for job-seeking youth this summer. Employment opportunities for those under 25 are expected to be the worst in decades. Although the national unemployment rate is around nine percent, it soars to over 17 percent for 16- to 24-year-olds. Back in the summer of 2000, the summer employment rate for youths hit a high of 46 percent; this summer it's expected that only one in four youths will have a summer job. The news is worse for teens from poor families. They're even less likely to find jobs than their middle class peers. What impact have federal and local budget cuts had on summer job programs? Who pays the price when teens don't get summer jobs? What are the long-term social costs of youth unemployment?

Guests:
Links:

Reporter's Notebook

Google Digitizes the British Library Collection ()

In London today, the British Library and Google announced an agreement to make 250,000 books – 14 million pages -- available for free online. Published between 1700 and 1870, the titles include a pamphlet about Marie Antoinette, a scientific examination of the hippo, and plans from 1858 by a Spanish inventor for one of the world's first submarines. Kristian Jensen is head of Arts and Humanities at the British Library. Ian Douglas is a technology reporter for the Daily Telegraph.

Guests:

Engage & Discuss

Further the conversation with your thoughts and comments. Agree, disagree, present a different perspective -- engage.

For information and guidelines click: Terms of Service | Privacy Policy

Please note, comments are moderated. KCRW reserves the right to edit and or remove posts deemed off-topic, abusive or not in accordance with KCRW's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.