Say What?

I’m having a hard time making sense of this sentence from a CNN.com page.

Stubbornly high unemployment — nearly 15% for those ages 20-24 — has made finding a job nearly impossible.

First, the sentence is this: “Stubbornly high unemployment … has made finding a job nearly impossible.”

Second, 15% of 20-24 yr olds is unemployed.

Third, my heart genuinely goes out to the unemployed — of all age groups. A student told me today her father lost her job. I sympathize with such folks.

But, fourth, if only 15% of 20-24 yr olds is unemployed, how is that “impossible”? It means 85% are employed. It’s not nearly impossible. In fact, those numbers show that most do find a job.