Likely 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Monday decried youth unemployment and suggested a model that would provide “wage subsidies” to corporate America.
In Washington to talk urban policy at the Center for American Progress, Clinton offered up the German system for boosting employment as the model to keep people employed.
“The other thing that Germany does, is instead of an unemployment system, they have a wage subsidy system so you don’t let people go in the first place,” she said.
Clinton, who started the “Job One” program at the Clinton Foundation, said funds should also go to corporate training programs.
Noting that 5.6 million people age 16-24 are either not in school or employed, she said that they also lack skills. “They don’t have the hard skills, but they also don’t have the soft skills,” she said.
“So part of the challenge is working with companies that … will make it possible to have these entry points where companies with, I think, either already existing government support or revamped support for skills training, will coordinate,” she said.
She also hinted at her future, turning to Compton, Calif., Mayor Aja Brown and suggesting that she may get a “call” to come to Washington to discuss policy.
“Don’t be surprised if you get a call to come. Maybe we’ll start not too far from here in a beautiful domed building, get everybody in the same room,” Clinton said.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
