Native American Youth Face Post-Pandemic Job Barriers

The COVID-19 pandemic worsened economic challenges for Native American communities, with young residents on reservations facing stark gaps between education and job opportunities. Kyle Mesteth, director of advocacy group Ground Control, describes a cycle of frustration: \"Someone studies filmmaking, returns home to the 'res' out of love—but there’s no work here. It’s like the system sets them up to leave forever.\"

Mesteth also criticizes media portrayals of reservation life, arguing they often miss the resilience and creativity of Native communities. \"We’re more than statistics—we’re people building futures with limited tools,\" he says, urging policymakers and corporations to invest in reservation-based industries like renewable energy and tech.

Why it matters: Over 60% of Native youth aged 18–24 on reservations are unemployed or underemployed, per 2023 data. Could partnerships with remote-work startups or cultural tourism initiatives help bridge the gap?

Reference(s):

The Race Gap in the U.S.: Because a lot of great things are happening

cgtn.com