To the Point
A Long, Idle Summer for America's Youth
Guest host Sara Terry looks at the summer job situation and why prospects for job seekers under 25 are so grim. What's the cost personally and for society?
By Sara Terry • • 51m ListenGuest 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
In this episode
3 storiesSupreme 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.
Read the story8 minA 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.
Read the story36 minGoogle 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.
Read the story8 min
