Teen Job Seekers Hurt By Slow Market

For some teens, summer is a time to kick back, relax, and soak in the sun. But for many others, it is a time to make money by landing a summer job.

However, across the nation the job market has been weakening and teens are feeling the impact.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the nation’s teens, ages 16 to 19, are experiencing a record low employment rate since the late 1940s. In 2007, 34.8 percent of U.S. teens were employed, the lowest average employment rate for teens since the end of World War II. All ages, races, and genders are experiencing the weakening job market, but teens who are 16 or 17 years, males, black and Hispanic and low-income are most at risk of joblessness.

Although it can be difficult for all young people to land jobs, high school students have other obstacles besides a slim amount of available jobs—especially now.

Senior Parker Bonello has had a difficult time securing a summer job. “A lot of people are not really looking because they have people from college coming back or they need more than part-time employees,” he said.

Bonello tried unsuccessfully for a job at The Original Soup Man restaurant, which he found listed on Craig’s List. He then applied to work at Urban Outfitters, but once again was turned away.

“I was having a hard time finding places that were hiring right now at places I am interested in. I don’t want to settle for a job I won’t like,” said Bonello. “Places are just not hiring a lot of people. There’s a lot of demand [among job searchers] but not a lot of supply. There are a lot of people looking for jobs and not nearly enough jobs to fill everyone. I have definitely felt the decline in jobs for people my age.”

Senior Jane Lucas from Hopkins High School in Minnesota thinks that being too selective may be the problem.

“There really are a lot of options. The thing is if you are picky, it can be hard to find a really good job,” said Lucas. But she does agree with the statistics showing a weak job market. “I definitely see that it is the teens who are getting most of the job opportunities taken away.”

Lucas works at the Bryn Mawr Coffee Shop and The Tea House, a Chinese resturant. She secured both her jobs through family or friend connections.

Senior Annalise Sundberg struggled all last summer to find a job. “It’s hard because realistically you need to be 18 to get a lot of jobs. I turned 18 at the end of the summer, but I wasn’t at the right age at the time. It’s also hard to compete with the college kids. You have to apply earlier than you realize.”

This summer may be one of the worst times for teens. In a new survey, researchers at the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University in Boston predict that this will be the toughest job market for teens since 1948, when the federal government began measuring teen employment.

Because of the weak economy, they report that only 33.5 percent of the nation’s teens, ages 16 to 19, had jobs in the January through March period compared to 35.8 percent a year earlier. This summer will also be weak, they predict, with only 34.2 percent of teens employed.