Unemployment among Millennials, those between the ages of 18 and 29, hit 12.8 percent in June, up from 12.1 percent in May.
The latest jobs report released Friday found that the nation’s overall unemployment rate stood unchanged from May at 8.2 percent.
The increase in the unemployment rate among Millennials occurred despite the Obama administration’s $1.5 billion expenditure on its summer jobs program, which Labor Secretary Hilda Solis announced in May.
The administration heralded its jobs program, saying it would create 180,000 summer jobs and internships nationwide.
“I think the details of that jobs program what they announced is an initiative of a shrink wrap for paid and unpaid jobs and internships that organizations have done for a long time,” said Paul Conway, president of Generation Opportunity, a conservative advocacy group for younger Americans. “The problem here is that it’s less transparent than smoke and mirrors.
“Young people want full-time work and full-time opportunities.”
If overall participation in the labor force among Millennials were taken into account, the unemployment rate would be 16.8 percent, according to Generation Opportunity.
But while dismal job numbers have reduced Millennials’ enthusiasm for Barack Obama, he still leads Mitt Romney, according to polling data. Pollster Scott Rasmussen told Red Alert Politics last month that Romney has no chance of winning the Millennial vote in spite of the economy.
