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List: Three Ways Obama’s Jobs Plan Helps Young Americans

Posted Friday, September 9, 2011 in Lists by Angela Peoples

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  • List: Three Ways Obama’s Jobs Plan Helps Young Americans

In a speech to a joint session of Congress Thursday night, President Obama laid out his plan to put millions of Americans back to work and grow the US economy, including a number of initiatives aimed at young people struggling to find quality jobs.

The main components of the proposal, which includes almost $450 billion in federal spending and tax cuts, target the chronically unemployed with training and extensions of unemployment benefits and incentivizes for hiring at small businesses and in infrastructure projects.

President Obama outlined several provisions that are intended to combat the almost 16 percent unemployment rate among youth and young adults including:

  • Modernizing at least 35,000 public schools, including $5 billion in funds to build and renovate facilities and other infrastructure at community colleges and tribal colleges. In addition to creating jobs in the construction sector, school modernization will benefit current students trying to get an education at outdated tribal colleges and community colleges and stave off tuition increases that result from schools trying to pay for much need repairs. 
  • Money for innovative employment training program and summer/year-round jobs for youth. Starving budgets of state and local governments have led to significant cuts in youth jobs and training programs across the country.  The president proposed a “Pathways Back to Work Fund” to build off of similar programs that created hundreds of thousands of jobs for low income youth in 2009 and 2010.
  • Incentivizing hiring and wage increases through a complete payroll tax holiday for added workers or increased wages, and encouraging the hiring of unemployed veterans. Young veterans under 30 face a 24 percent unemployment rate and significant barriers when entering the job market. This provision will be particularly helpful for young people who are often hired part time or for lower paying jobs due to cash-strapped small business.

The president’s speech was received by elected officials and beltway media with the predictable praise and criticisms. But it’s unclear whether Congress can come together to pass this or any bill that will help stimulate the economy.

If passed, the American Jobs Act could lead to sustainable employment for millions of middle-class Americans including teachers, firefighters, and construction workers.

Campus Progress is very pleased that President Obama has taken the lead in refocusing Washington on supporting struggling Americans and helping both the public and private sector create jobs. We echo the president’s mantra and encourage Congress to “Pass this Bill” soon and send immediate relief to young people across the country who want to contribute to America’s recovery.

Angela is the policy and advocacy manager for Campus Progress. She graduated from Western Michigan University.

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