HR0133 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0133 LRB099 09043 MST 29230 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Employing youth is not only a vital and effective way to prevent violence, but it is also a means for encouraging youth to stay in school; it provides much-needed financial support to them and their families while serving as a critical stepping-stone to future employment; and

WHEREAS, In 2012, the Illinois youth unemployment rate was 27%, a 10% decrease from 2006; Illinois is 1 of 10 states with the highest teen unemployment rate; the youth unemployment rate in Chicago is 19.6%; and

WHEREAS, African-American teens have the lowest unemployment rate compared to other ethnic and racial groups; African-American males aged 16-19, living in Chicago, face the most uncertainty in employment; and

WHEREAS, Almost 23% of the city's 20 to 24 year-olds were out of work and school, compared to less than 10% of Chicago's teens; and

WHEREAS, According to a report by the Center for Economic and Policy Research, 92% of Chicago's African-American male teens were unemployed; only 6% of low-income African-American teens were employed in comparison with 13% of Hispanics and 25% White males from similar economic backgrounds; and

WHEREAS, The report noted 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 report also stated that higher rates of youth unemployment lead to increased tax burdens for other workers as governments forgo 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, Across Illinois, the teen employment rate fell from just under 50% in 2000 to 28% in 2012 - the lowest rate in the 42 years for which such data exist; if Illinois teens had been able to maintain their 1999-2000 employment rates during the past year, there would have been another 151,000 teens at work in Illinois in 2011-2012; and

WHEREAS, The investment to hire youth is lower than hiring seasoned individuals; companies have the opportunity to train newcomers possibly, for their own businesses or outside prospects; and

WHEREAS, Younger individuals are more technologically advanced and possess more unique skill sets that can benefit any company; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we encourage businesses to employ teens and young adults in order to help alleviate the youth unemployment that contributes to the demise of communities; and be it further

RESOLVED, That employers would be not only providing a critical asset for their own businesses but preparing the next generation to become productive citizens of society.