Issue Position: Youth Empowerment

Issue Position

Empowering Our Young People
Maryland's youth unemployment rate currently stands at 13.5%. That's more than double the current statewide and national unemployment rates and over 3% higher than the highest unemployment rates during the 2008 Recession.

Maryland's at-risk youth who live in poverty and rely on the state for welfare assistance are particularly effected by this high unemployment.

It is time to end this cycle of unemployment in Maryland that is all too often based in economic and racial disparities.

Last year, I proposed the Maryland Youth Employment Act to provide businesses with monthly tax credits to put at-risk youth to work in full-time STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) jobs.

I believe that it is imperative we help young people gain the necessary skills and experience to be competitive in the 21st Century economy. There's a growing demand for qualified workers in fields such as advanced manufacturing, information technology and health care, and the Maryland Youth Employment Act will help our most disadvantaged youth take advantage of those employment opportunities.

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