Do you think your generation is the 1st to live through & try to find work in the midst of a recession ? from your post it is clear that you do think that way.
Some of us with myself included live in the same state as you but went through much rougher economic times than your generation is going thru now,times in the early 80's where the Big 3 automakers permenantly laid off several hundred thousand workers in a months time ,those laid off workers were in direct competition for jobs at Mcdonalds with teenagers.
I dont care how damm bad the economy is,if a man truly wants a job he will find one & it wont take being out of work for 18 months either.
The people you mention who have never had a job could it be possible that they dont want to work,or that they fit their job hunting efforts in between texting friends & posting multiple thousands of responses on message boards ?
Any young folk reading this who TRULY WANT TO WORK listen up beacuse myself & others like myself are the one's who hire/fire your generation,if you want to find a job quickly here is what to do.
1 Give up posting applications online & wasting time f ing around looking for work online cause it aint gonna happen,online jobs are filled by employees who fit specific job skills with high levels of experience.
2 Get a whole new wardrobe of work wear,leave those big ass blousy britches that can fit 3 people in them at home & put on a pair of regular levi jeans,just the fact that you are not dressed like bozo the clown in big silly pants like most other young people will make you stand out.
3 Learn how to use the word's yes sir when answering questions from elders,it's a sign of respect that most young people have not been taught how to use & will once again make you stand out above the rest.
4 Forget about filling out applications at noon,get your ass out at 5am & start hitting factories,construction companys & landscape companies.
5 Show up ready to work that day & not in tennis shoes but work boots.
6 Ask to speak in person to managers,supervisors & superintendants,then when you do get a face to face act like an adult who desperately needs a paycheck yesterday & is willing to work a week free to show how damm serious you are about working.
In the time it took to post over 1,700 resposnes on this site alone a job could have easily been landed,its a matter of getting one's priorities in order vs blaming the shitty job market for not getting a job.