Wisconsin
Chasing the (Invisible) Bag: Youth Employment in Minnesota and Wisconsin – YR Media
The youth unemployment in Minnesota and Wisconsin are typically much lower than in Illinois. While the specific data for the youth unemployment rate in Wisconsin and Minnesota have yet to be published, their youth unemployment rates tend to be higher than the overall rates due to factors such as little-to-no experience and temporary jobs.
And, Wisconsin and Minnesota, with lower overall unemployment rates and proactive youth employment programs, have fared better than Illinois where systemic issues such economic disparities and minimum wage laws and economic disparities continue to impact job opportunities.
Achieve Twin Cities, a nonprofit organization that provides access to college and career readiness programs in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, held a 2023 web seminar to discuss the state’s youth unemployment rates. They were joined by RealTime Talent, a Minneota organization that ensures young adults and teenagers have the necessary skills when seeking a job.
Erin Olson, director of strategic research at RealTime Talent, mentioned how younger workers are more likely to have their jobs impacted by events similar to the pandemic.
“Younger workers are also more likely than other age demographics to have their jobs impacted. Youth also tend to have lower levels of seniority and work experience, and that makes them more vulnerable,” Olson said.
Minnesota’s youth employment rate has seen better days since the pandemic, however. According to research from Minnesota Employment and Economic Development, the state has seen the number of teens in the labor force grow by 24,600 since 2021. The teen work participation rate went from 53.5% to 54.9% during the time span.
Achieve Twin Cities career and college readiness coordinator Kelsey Massey noted that many youth aren’t fans of certain jobs due to the pay. However, she encourages them to understand what’s on stake for the future when it comes to these jobs.
“How we are changing that around jobs … we are informing students that yes, these are not the highest paying jobs. But the benefits that come with this, and the connections that come are long term,” Massey said.
Other youth employment programs in the Midwest include Earn & Learn in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was started by the city’s former mayor, Tom Barrett, in an effort to give young people in Milwaukee work experience through local businesses and nonprofit organizations.
It includes a summer internship program for 16-19 year olds, along with a community experience group for 14-24 year olds.
Established in 2007, Barrett expressed the need for today’s youth to be in the workforce, as it gears not just Milwaukee’s community, but for all youth to be great.
“There are a shortage of workers in a number of areas. We’re doing ourselves a huge disservice if we’re not training the young people, because they’re the future workforce.” Barrett said in a 2022 video discussing the program. “If we don’t have young people who are trained for jobs, those jobs are simply gonna go somewhere else, and the entire community suffers.”
Rashad Alexander is a Green Bay, Wisconsin-based journalist and an alumnus of Marquette University. He can be followed on Instagram and X @ruhshaaad.
Carleigh Lewis is a high school journalist in Chicago.
Edited by Nykeya Woods
With the action-packed Wisconsin high school boys basketball regular season completed and March Madness beginning, it’s time to take a look at some of the outstanding players and cast your vote for the best.
We began by looking at the most prolific individual scoring threats, talented 3-point shooters,strong rebounders, and top free-throw shooters so now it’s time to take a look at the high-caliber guards from throughout the state.
There are hundreds of high-caliber boys basketball players in Wisconsin, and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive.
Voting remains open until March 9 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
(Players are listed in alphabetical order and all nominees are leaders from the 2025-26 season as compiled by Bound.com, and WIAA; the poll is below the list of athletes)
Castillo is averaging 25.4 points per game with 5.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals for Greendale (18-6 overall record).
Collien is averaging 15 points per game with 4.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists for Oakfield (21-3 overall record).
Edwards is averaging 14.1 points per game with 7.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists for D.C. Everest (21-3 overall record).
Gray Jr. was averaging 24.3 points per game with 6.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.1 steals prior for West Allis Central (22-2 overall record).
Hereford is averaging 36.4 points per game with 9.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 4.1 steals for Beloit Memorial (22-2 overall record).
Johnson is averaging 27.3 points per game with 8.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 3.6 steals for Milwaukee Juneau (22-1 overall record).
Jones is averaging 23.3 points per game with 5.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.6 steals for Germantown (15-9 overall record).
Kern is averaging 16 points per game with 6.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists for New Berlin West (21-3 overall record).
Kilgore is averaging 14.6 points per game with 7.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 3.0 steals for Kewaunee (24-0 overall record).
Kohnen is averaging 16.3 points per game with 3.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.3 steals for Slinger (20-4 overall record).
Knueppel is averaging 17.4 points per game with 7.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.9 blocks, and 1.4 steals for Wisconsin Lutheran (24-0 overall record).
Loose is averaging 18.2 points per game with 5.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.3 steals for Port Washington (23-1 overall).
Manchester is averaging 35.8 points per game for Mount Horeb (19-5 overall record).
Platz is averaging 19.5 points per game with 7.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists, and 1.4 steals for Brookfield East (19-5 overall record).
Prochnow is averaging 21.3 points per game with 11.1 assists, 4.8 assists, and 3.2 steals for Reedsville (21-3 overall record).
Resch is averaging 21.3 points per game with 3.3 assists and 2.0 steals for Arrowhead (18-6 overall record).
Schultz is averaging 27.4 points per game with 6.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.0 steals for Plymouth (17-7 overall record).
Schwalbach is averaging 15 points per game with 4.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds, and 1.7 steals for Kaukauna (21-3 overall).
Sweeney is averaging 15.5 points per game for Appleton North (20-4 overall record).
Vandenberg is averaging 13 points per game with 2.3 assists and 2.0 rebounds for Freedom (23-1 overall).
About Our Player Poll Voting
High School on SI voting polls are meant to be a fun, lighthearted way for fans to show support for their favorite athletes and teams. Our goal is to celebrate all of the players featured, regardless of the vote totals. Sometimes one athlete will receive a very large number of votes — even thousands — and that’s okay! The polls are open to everyone and are simply a way to build excitement and community around high school sports. Unless we specifically announce otherwise, there are no prizes or official awards for winning. The real purpose is to highlight the great performances of every athlete included in the poll.
— Jeff Hagenau | jeffreyhagenau@gmail.com
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