Statement from US President, Stacey D. Stewart
The economy is getting stronger, but it’s also true that twice as many youth are unemployed than adults in the U.S., and even more for young men and women of color.
Tonight, United Way is calling on President Obama to go further. As part of America’s strategy to sustain a strong economy and boost higher education, the President should champion investment in solutions that work to help employ youth, like evidence-based apprenticeships, internships, and work-study programs.
Youth employment is a critical issue gaining momentum, with leaders like the World Bank, Clinton Global Initiative, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and many others honing in on youth ages 16-24 who are not in school or employed. The link between jobs and education is a clear one, and leaders of all sectors should reinforce that investing in education, skills training and workforce development pays for itself in the long- and short-term.
