At 27.5%, Louisiana’s unemployment rate among 16- to 19-year-olds is the eighth highest in the United States, according to a new analysis of summer employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Census Bureau. Nationwide, 19 states have a teen unemployment rate above 25%. The U.S. teen unemployment rate was 23.8% at the end of July and has been above 20% for 45 months now. California teens are apparently finding it the most difficult to find work; that state’s nation-leading teen unemployment rate ended July at 35.4%, followed by South Carolina, Oregon, Georgia, Hawaii, Arizona, Washington and Louisiana. North Carolina and Rhode Island round out the top 10 states with the highest teen unemployment. Economists at both Miami and Trinity universities say proposals before Congress to increase the minimum wage from $7.25 to $9.80 per hour would likely cause a rise in teen unemployment if approved. See a breakdown of all states’ teen unemployment rates here.
La. among top 10 states for teen unemployment
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