High School Students to Enter Dismal Job Market

A report from the Economic Policy Institute shows that high school graduates are entering a worsening job market with less access to health care, lower wages, fewer opportunities, and fewer pensions. This trend indicates that new jobs are predominantly falling in the low-wage sector and those jobs that do provide a moderate income are denying employees access to healthcare and pensions, two benefits that had been a pillar of the strength of American capitalism and building blocks to a strong middle class. A strong middle class has been the strength of America in the post-WW II 20th century. These figures show the erosion of this strength now and for the future. Young Americans must take action and tell their representatives and officials seeking election that they will not accept this continued deterioration in wages, opportunities, or benefits.

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"As high school graduations take place around the country, it is timely to examine how young high school graduates are faring in the job market. From 1979 to 2003, the inflation-adjusted hourly wages earned by recent high school graduates (one to five years past graduation) have fallen by 17.4% among men and by 4.9% among women. Thus, the quality of jobs available to recent high school graduates has deteriorated remarkably over the last few decades."