Teenage Wasteland: Jobless Rate For Young Is 25%—and Rising

Published: Wednesday, 13 Apr 2011 | 3:40 PM ET
By: John Melloy
Executive Producer, Fast Money

A quarter of teenagers were jobless in March, representing a surprising increase from February, even as the unemployment rate for the rest of the population decreased.

This figure may only get worse if budget-strapped states raise the minimum wage, and it could also be a sign of greater structural damage underlying our economy, analysts said.

The unemployment rate for 16- to 19-year olds jumped back up to 24.5 percent in March, up from 23.9 percent the prior month, according to the latest jobs data from the Labor Department.

The total unemployment rate fell to 8.8 percent from 8.9 percent.

“Even when comprehending that teen employment is volatile in nature, the data that exists serves up some shock and awe,â€