As the U.S. House of Representatives Education and Labor Committee met Thursday to discuss declining employment opportunities for young Americans, Penn State's Career Services said it has seen the effects.
Over the past decade, youth employment rates have decreased by 20 percent, and under-employment of workers
25 and under was 32 percent in 2009 -- 20 percentage points higher than workers ages 35 to 54, according to a House press release.
"Until the economy as a whole turns around, younger workers will continue to be hit the
hardest," U.S. Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., chairman of the House Education and Labor committee, said during the hearing.
Miller said the economy will not only affect the employment prospects of young Americans but will also lower their overall income compared to workers who entered the job market during a healthier economy.
Penn State Career Services has seen several indicators of a shrinking job market for students. In normal years, the office usually conducts 20,000 on-campus interviews. Last year, they held only 11,500.
This is in addition to a lower attendance from employers at this year's fall career fair and a larger number of students signing up for graduate school prep courses, said Jack Rayman, senior director of Career Services.
To help students prepare for such a market, Career Services has conducted more seminars and workshops emphasizing the difficulty of finding a job, Rayman said, adding the Career Service Center also provides handouts and information on how to look for and obtain a job in a tough economy.
Nationally, policies presented at the congressional hearing ranged from increasing the amount of funding for employment services to assisting students in financing their education in return for their labor after graduation.
Matthew Segal, founder and co-chairman of the 80 Million Strong for Young American Jobs Coalition, was one of five key speakers at the hearing.
Segal suggested increasing entrepreneurship resources, reforming student debt policies, and turning public service projects into career pathways.
"Among the many national and global challenges today's
20-somethings face, we are the first generation likely to be less better off than our parents," Segal said at the hearing.
But at Penn State, some students feel the services provided by the Career Service Center are helping students remain competitive in the job market.
"I think they're doing as much as possible; they can only do some much," Kristina Spinello (senior-marketing) said. "In terms of making us more competitive, I've seen changes to keep us ahead just this semester."
