New Study Shows Unemployment For Philadelphia Teens Is Third Highest In Nation
By Kristen Johanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- For teenagers, summer means fun, friends and usually a summer job. But not so much anymore. A new study shows the job market for high school students is sharply dropping, especially for kids in Philadelphia.
Researchers found Philadelphia teens have one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation. The study was conducted by The Center for Labor Markets and Policy at Drexel University.
"In Philadelphia, just prior to the recession, we had a little bit more than one in five young guys had a job," says Dr. Paul Harrington, who directed the study. "By 2012-2013, we're down to just 12 percent. And young black teens, only about one in ten have a job. Teens in the city of Philadelphia really have not benefited much from the jobs recovery. The fraction of teens working in the city now is just about one in six."
Each spring, hundreds of high schoolers line up for work permits at the Philadelphia School District Headquarters. District spokesman Fernando Gallard says it's important for student development.
"Learning how to do a job is part of education, so it is part of process to work with them," Gallard says. "We usually see 50 to 100 students in a day, so there are a lot of students looking for that work experience."
The study notes that teens from the suburbs also struggle, but shows they are more likely to find jobs.