American Workers Rally in Detroit, Michigan

With the labor day weekend upon us, one can’t help but wonder; for the 9.1% of American workers who are unemployed or underemployed, is this just another painful reminder of their sticky situation? To make matters worse, according to a recent poll released by the Washington Times, job growth rates during the month of August were nill-with no jobs lost nor gained . The real trouble however, lies in the future, not the present.

According to the Daily Beast, there are over 81-million out of work youth spanning across the globe, a staggering 20% of which are in the U.S and Europe. It is expected that another 350 million young people under the age of 18 will be added to the global workforce by 2020. Former British Prime minister Gordon Brown made a statement earlier today, saying he will be backing new measures aimed at bringing down youth unemployment by the second half of next year. “We really don’t want to have a generation of young people who are out of the labour market for too long because it does hurt ambition and it causes a cycle for the next generation,” Brown said while touring the West London Job Center. The Former Prime Minister also called upon President Barack Obama to take the lead in ” boosting education, training and job opportunities” for 81 million out of work people under the age of 25. “Unemployment is an international timebomb for both developed and developing worlds,” Brown said.

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama’s Labor Day address, will fittingly be held in Detroit, Michigan, where the president will meet with workers and their families “to discuss his bipartisan efforts to create jobs and strengthen our economy,” the White House said in a statement.

President Obama’s Labor Day speech could not come at a more critical time. According to recent polls, Obama’s approval rating amongst unmarried women, people of color, and younger voters — comprising a rapidly growing majority of eligible voters, is quickly diminishing.

See this video below demonstrating the frustration of youth unemployment.
Youth Unemployment Worsening