In a new report for Demos, Stuck: Young America's Persistent Jobs Crisis, authors Catherine Ruetschlin and Tamara Draut examine the state of the youth workforce in the United States and find that while the overall economy is showing signs of improvement, young workers are still in a state of crisis. The authors warn that if policy isn't changed to address the challenges young people face, "we risk a generation marked by the insecurities of the Great Recession for the rest of their working lives."

Among the key findings of the report:

• The economy would have to add 4.1 million new jobs for young workers in order to return to pre-recession employment levels.
• There are more than 5.6 million unemployed workers between the ages of 18 and 34 who are willing to work and are actively looking for jobs they can't find. This remains virtually unchanged over the past year.
• The rates of unemployment and underemployment among young African Americans are nearly double those of young white workers. For Hispanics, the rates are 25% higher than for whites.
• The rate of unemployment for workers with a high school diploma is twice that of workers with a bachelor's degree.
• Labor force participation of 18- to 24-year-old workers is at its lowest point in four decades.

Ruetschlin and Draut conclude:

This generation of young adults will bear the scar of the Great Recession well into their working lives. If we continue to add jobs at the 2012 average rate, it will take until 2022 before the country recovers to full employment and restores the opportunities that our young people need. Meanwhile, those attempting to establish financial independence are held back by bad timing and inadequate policy response. They will start their careers later, earn less and put off the kinds of investments that establish security for the future. Last year passed with no efforts to address this trajectory, and young people muddled through. The latest numbers from 2013 reveal no significant change in the trend. Looking at the labor market experience of people under 35 shows a generation running in place; despite the efforts and attitudes of young adults, life is moving forward but their position stays the same.

Read the full report.