COVID-19 and Youth Unemployment in Selected Metro Areas, January 2019–June 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a stark rise in youth unemployment across the nation. According to data recently analyzed by Mathematica for the Schultz Family Foundation, of the 15 metro areas where data are available youth unemployment rates almost tripled in Atlanta; Boston; Minneapolis; and Seattle; between the second half of 2019 and the first half of 2020. Whereas increases in the unemployment rate were not as steep in the same time period were Dallas; Houston; Salt Lake City; and Washington, DC.