Youth Unemployment

Abstract

Understood as how to “make a living,” work is an integral aspect of identity. When those whose identities are still in the early stages of development are denied access to work, their inability to make a living warrants concern. Understanding youth unemployment requires examination of factors extending well beyond the individual. Structural macrolevel forces affect youths' experiences in searching for work and set in motion a host of consequences that shape youths' transition to adulthood. Describing the causes and consequences of youth unemployment both helps to raise awareness of an important social issue and documents the need for action. Hence, this entry concludes with a discussion of some implications for future research and public policy.