kminta
12-13-06, 09:52
African American Teen Unemployment Still More Than Six Times National Average (http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/061103/dcf504.html?.v=1)
Press Release Source: Employment Policies Institute
Friday November 3, 4:03 pm ET
Voters Be Wary: Minimum Wage Hikes Will Make It More Difficult for African American Teens to Find Work Says Employment Policies Institute
WASHINGTON, Nov. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- While the nation's unemployment rate hit a five-year low in October, the unemployment rate among African American teens remains shockingly high at 26.8%, according to the Labor Department's jobs report.
The Employment Policies Institute (EPI) warns voters in AZ, CO, OH, MO, MT, and NV -- who will vote on minimum wage hike ballot initiatives on Tuesday -- that raising the minimum wage will destroy entry-level jobs and make it even harder for vulnerable groups like African American teens and those lacking a high school diploma to find work.
Decades of economic research conclude that mandated wage hikes eliminate entry-level jobs, putting particular pressure on minorities and the low skilled. For instance, a Cornell University study found that black young adults typically bear almost four times the employment loss of their non-black counterparts after a minimum wage increase. Specifically, they found that a 10% increase in the minimum wage will result in an 8.5% decrease in employment for black young adults and teenagers.
"When voters go to the polls on Tuesday, they should consider the difficulty low-skilled adults and minority teens already face finding a job," said Michael Flynn, EPI's Director of Legislative Affairs. "Raising the minimum wage will only make it harder for them to get their foot in the door."
Gatewayjobs.com, a website focusing on the crisis in entry-level employment, provides regularly updated statistics detailing the employment market for entry-level employees and vital information about a host of government assistance programs designed to promote employment and economic success.
The Employment Policies Institute is a nonprofit research organization dedicated to studying public policy issues surrounding entry-level employment.
Press Release Source: Employment Policies Institute
Friday November 3, 4:03 pm ET
Voters Be Wary: Minimum Wage Hikes Will Make It More Difficult for African American Teens to Find Work Says Employment Policies Institute
WASHINGTON, Nov. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- While the nation's unemployment rate hit a five-year low in October, the unemployment rate among African American teens remains shockingly high at 26.8%, according to the Labor Department's jobs report.
The Employment Policies Institute (EPI) warns voters in AZ, CO, OH, MO, MT, and NV -- who will vote on minimum wage hike ballot initiatives on Tuesday -- that raising the minimum wage will destroy entry-level jobs and make it even harder for vulnerable groups like African American teens and those lacking a high school diploma to find work.
Decades of economic research conclude that mandated wage hikes eliminate entry-level jobs, putting particular pressure on minorities and the low skilled. For instance, a Cornell University study found that black young adults typically bear almost four times the employment loss of their non-black counterparts after a minimum wage increase. Specifically, they found that a 10% increase in the minimum wage will result in an 8.5% decrease in employment for black young adults and teenagers.
"When voters go to the polls on Tuesday, they should consider the difficulty low-skilled adults and minority teens already face finding a job," said Michael Flynn, EPI's Director of Legislative Affairs. "Raising the minimum wage will only make it harder for them to get their foot in the door."
Gatewayjobs.com, a website focusing on the crisis in entry-level employment, provides regularly updated statistics detailing the employment market for entry-level employees and vital information about a host of government assistance programs designed to promote employment and economic success.
The Employment Policies Institute is a nonprofit research organization dedicated to studying public policy issues surrounding entry-level employment.