[PEN-L:6770] Youth And Jobs

[SHAWGI TELL <v600a8e6@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

    One of the major difficulties facing youth today is finding work. This
is true for those who graduate or leave high school, as well as those
graduating from college. Society simply is not providing enough jobs for
the youth entering the job market. Unemployment levels for youth continue
to be much higher than average levels, with those for Blacks, Latinos and
other minorities often double the average. Unemployment for youth in the
inner cities can reach 50%.
    Very often, the youth are blamed for this failure of capitalism. A lot
of the propaganda around the new welfare law, for example, is targeted at
young people, especially young women. They are labeled as lazy and
irresponsible. They supposedly don't want to work and have an "attitude"
problem. Several recent studies show that the problem is not with young
women on welfare.
    It is estimated that the supply of low-skilled workers, compared to the
number of jobs available, is so large that it would take 10 to 15
continuous years of economic expansion to provide enough jobs. Capitalism
has never had such a long period of sustained economic growth--recession is
its middle name.
    In a Harlem study of fast-food job seekers--a common first job for
young people--there were 14 applicants for every individual hired. Among
the applicants not hired, 3/4 had not found work a year later. Additional
research supports the conclusion that the number of low-skilled job
applicants far exceeds the number of jobs to be found. In the ghettos of
the 100 largest cities, there were 10 adults without a job for every 6
people who had one.
    Add to this existing reality the tens of thousands of immigrants that
are being cut off welfare and it becomes clear that it is society that has
the attitude problem. It is the capitalist system and its government that
is irresponsible when it comes to providing for the well-being of the youth.
    Consider the situation facing young women and children with no option
but welfare. To receive any benefits, welfare recipients are now required
to undergo training and job placement during a two year period, whether or
not child care is available for those over 6. The companies will get the
welfare check as a subsidy. After this two-year period, if no jobs are
available, people are simply discarded. Once the five-year lifetime limit
is reached, the situation will be catastrophic.
    This human devastation can be eliminated. The level of social
production today makes it possible to plan the economy so as to insure all
the youth have work, as well as the best possible in cultural facilities,
whether for sports, arts, education, etc. Standing in the way of a planned
economy that serves the people are not the youth, but the capitalist ruling
class and their drive for profits.


Shawgi Tell
University at Buffalo
Graduate School of Education
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