Generation Opportunity—the largest non-profit, non-partisan organization in the U.S. mobilizing young Americans on important economic issues—announced today that the unemployment rate for 18-29 year olds is 12.7 percent for the month of August. The organization’s findings also noted that the unemployment rate for women for August 2012 is 12.6 percent, .1 percent less than the overall rate.
“The monthly unemployment numbers are a solemn reminder of the millions of Americans facing each day with a growing sense of desperation and lost hope,” Generation Opportunity President, Paul T. Conway, said in a statement.
These high unemployment numbers, mixed with a weak economy, have forced our generation to alter not only our daily lives, but also our future plans. Young adults who were polled said that they had to reduce their budgets, cut back on gifts for family and friends, drive less, and sell personal items to try and stay afloat in today’s economy.
Additionally, according to Generation Opportunity, “64 percent of young people believe the availability of more quality full-time jobs upon graduation is more important than lower student loan interest rates.”
However, because 1.7 million young adults have given up on looking for work due to the overall lack of jobs, the U.S. Department of Labor does not even counted as unemployed. Thus, over one million 18-29 year olds are not considered to be in the labor force.
So, how do you take a stand against unemployment, collegiettes? Generation Opportunity is encouraging people across the nation to call the White House today at 202-456-1414 and demand that the policies that have put a hold on job creation be reversed in favor of those that will allow Americans and the economy to flourish.