SR0277 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0277 LRB100 11775 MST 22987 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, African American teens have the lowest employment rate compared to other ethnic and racial groups; and

WHEREAS, According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of July 2016, unemployment rates were as follows: Caucasians 9.9%, African Americans 20.6%, Asians 10%, and Hispanics 11.3%; these percentages showed little or no change from the previous July; and

WHEREAS, African American males ages 16 to 19, particularly those living in urban areas such as Chicago, face the most uncertainty in employment; and

WHEREAS, Disparities in employment outcomes for young African American men and women are longstanding; these labor market disparities have many causes, including discrimination, lower access to high-quality education, and the dearth of jobs in neighborhoods with high percentages of African American residents; and

WHEREAS, Reports note that students who do not work while in school face greater chances of dropping out of high school as well as having increased incidences of teenaged childbearing and juvenile delinquency and arrests; and

WHEREAS, The same report also states that higher rates of youth unemployment lead to increased tax burdens for other workers as governments forego income tax revenue, Social Security, and Medicare taxes and have to pay out more in welfare and unemployment insurance costs; it is estimated that high youth unemployment costs various governments $25 billion a year; and

WHEREAS, The investment to hire youth is lower than hiring seasoned individuals; companies have the opportunity to train eager newcomers who are technologically savvy and possess unique skill sets that could benefit any company; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge solutions be sought in the form of investment and economic development in order to increase the employment rate of African American youth, and we urge the business community to work to identify and assist young African American adults to find employment opportunities.