Unemployment Hammers Younger Workers

Employment experts agree that record unemployment is affecting all age demographics. But data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that some age groups are being hit harder by unemployment than others. In fact, may be bearing the brunt of layoffs and hiring freezes. Consider the following statistics:

* Unemployment is highest for 25- to 34-year-olds. It's at 10.5 percent, 1.1 percent higher than the national average.

* The 25- to 34-year-old age bracket has the most people unemployed of all age brackets--3.5 million people are out of jobs.

* Since the start of the recession in December 2007, the unemployment rate for 25- to 34-year olds has more than doubled, from 4.8 percent to 10.5 percent.

* Meanwhile, employment has steadily declined for 25 to 34-year-olds each month since the start of the year.