The Bad News and Good News for Young People
September 10, 2025
A new report is out about young people and jobs and it’s is troubling if you’re a young person or the parent of a young person.
The report by Axios says younger adults are facing the worst labor market shock in years — one more acute than the rest of the population.
As the report puts it, “The unemployment rate among 16- to 24-year-olds was over 10 percent in August, the highest since the aftermath of COVID. Excluding that period, youth unemployment has not been this high since 2016.
They point out that the unemployment rate for 20- to 24-year-old college graduates rose for the fourth month in August.
They describe the situation as misery for young people who can't find work and suggest that what’s happening could slow their growth in a career for years.
That’s the bad news. The good news is this:
Recent studies show that generally, young people have significantly high levels of optimism and hope for their own futures even if their optimism about society’s future can be lower.
And for a lot of young people, that concern about society’s future drives their passion for wanting to do something about it.
And that’s something we all need.
(Photo Getty Images)