Summer Jobs for Youth: The State of Teen Employment

(Photo by Brandi Simons - NYTimes)
As the school year ends and summer now honestly feels like it is upon us, I can't help but think of a few things that I have always associated with the season. As a twenty-something, for me this means weekend trips with friends, outdoor festivals and hopefully some time for a little rest and relaxation. For many teens, however, the summer is not just school vacation, but a time to gain critical employment skills through a summer job. Accoridng to a New York Times article I read a few weeks ago, however, finding that job opportunity is not as easy as one might think. One study by the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University reports that only slightly more than one third of the 16-19 year olds in the US will likely be employed this summer. This is the smallest share since 1948 and a sharp drop from the teenage employment level of 45% in 2000.

A few different reasons were cited for this disconcerting trend. Retailers and restaurants are pulling back from hiring as a result of lower consumer spending. Older people are staying in the workforce longer and experienced employees who have lost office jobs are taking the lower-paying positions in retail and restaurants usually available to teens. So what is potentially lost for youth not employed in the summer?

This brings me to the story of my first (non babysitting) job. I was a senior at Montclair High School, in Montclair, NJ. I was 17 years old and looking forward to my first year of college in the fall. The job? Working at an Everything Yogurt and Salad , where I did everything from take and make orders, ring up customers at the cash register and help prepare ingredients in the kitchen. At the time I certainly wasn't thinking, "wow, what a great way to start building my resume, and gain skills that will make me more marketable to future employers." I was just happy to make some money and enjoy the little bit of extra freedom this small influx of cash allowed. Thinking back to those days now, I realize I learned quite a bit that summer, from how to remain composed during a stressful situation (like ringing up a customer while wiping chocolate frozen yogurt from your brow due to a particularly nasty incident with a blender on your second day) to understanding how good customer service can go a long way in addressing all sorts of problems. In the end, it was a truly valuable experience that helped me better understand what "going to work" was about, something that every young person should have the change to learn.

Anyone else want to share the story of their first job? The floor is open.