Black Chicago teenagers are experiencing higher jobless rates and slower recovery from the pandemic, a new study reports.
Why it matters: The youth employment study paints a bleak picture of Chicago’s inequalities.
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- Not having jobs can turn kids to other pursuits, including gang activities and street violence.
By the numbers: The report, written by University of Illinois Chicago Great Cities Institute and commissioned by the Alternative Schools Network, shows that the city’s jobless rate for Black teens is worse than the national average.
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- In 2022, the jobless rate for Black 16- to 19-year-olds living in Chicago was 86% — more than 16% higher than the national average for that same demographic.
- To compare, white Chicago teens had a jobless rate of 76%, which is 16% higher than the national average for white teens.
- The rate in some Black neighborhoods was as high as 92%.
Stunning stat: The jobless rate gap between teens on the city’s South and West sides, which are predominantly Black neighborhoods, and teens in suburbs like Schaumburg was stark, up to a 40% difference.
From AXIOS Chicago (To go to the actual article, please click on this link.)
