It used to be that summer months provided an ideal opportunity for teenagers to gain the valuable career experience that comes from entry-level jobs. Yet the effects of the Great Recession, combined with the consequences of a 40 percent minimum wage increase between 2007 and 2009, have left teens with far fewer opportunities to earn that experience.
Unfortunately, our elected officials are currently considering further increases in the federal minimum wage, which would only worsen the teen unemployment crisis.
Currently, the national teen unemployment rate is 24.1 percent. Want to know how your state compares? Check out the figures below, and see a list of all 50 states here.
| Rank | State | Teen Unemployment Rate |
| 1 | South Carolina | 33.2% |
| 2 | California | 33.1% |
| 3 | Georgia | 30.6% |
| 4 | Arkansas | 28.9% |
| 5 | Illinois | 28.6% |
| 6 | Washington | 27.9% |
| 7 | Arizona | 27.2% |
| 8 | Oregon | 26.6% |
| 9 | New Jersey | 26.5% |
| 9 | Colorado | 26.5% |
| 11 | Virginia | 26.2% |
| 12 | North Carolina | 26.0% |
| 13 | Rhode Island | 25.6% |
| 13 | Nevada | 25.6% |
| 13 | New York | 25.6% |
| 16 | Mississippi | 25.4% |
| 17 | Connecticut | 25.3% |
| 18 | Hawaii | 25.1% |
| 18 | Maine | 25.1% |
| 20 | Delaware | 24.4% |