Teens face tough job hunt, so start now, experts say
Unemployment is down, but experts say it will still be tough — though not impossible — for teenagers to find jobs this summer.
Teens have faced an uphill battle for summer gigs during the past few years as older workers displaced by the recession took jobs that historically have gone to youngsters.
The U.S. unemployment rate for teens ages 16 to 19 has improved significantly fromits height of 27.3 percent during the economic downturn. But it’s still at 19.1 percent as of April, meaning young people still will have to hustle to land a job. The overall unemployment rate for the country was
6.3 percent.
“It’s a far better state of affairs than itwas,” said John Challenger, chief executive officer of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, an outplacement consulting company. “Teens that are intentional about getting out there and looking — not sitting behind their computer — do have an excellent chance of finding a job.”
The key for those who want to land a position? Start now.
Utilize referrals from family and friends, show up in person to apply and ask to meet the manager whenever possible.
“Come in with a smile, well-dressed,” advised Murieal Robinson, area supervisor for Subway restaurants in Lake County. “Your personality is what’s going to get you that job.”
Liz Casey, a 17-year-old Winter Park High School student, landed a job as a counselor at the YMCA’s Camp Wewa, where she’s been a camper for nearly a decade. She completed the counselor-in-training program last year, and by early this year, she had a job in hand.
She’s finding she’s luckier than a lot of her friends.
“Alot of kids I’ve talked to, they’re like, ‘Man, I need a job,’ ” Casey said.
Even in fields such as retail and fast food, teens are competing with experienced workers. Nationally, the median age of retail workers in the U.S. is 38 years; in food service, it’s 28.
Though olderworkers are more familiar with the workplace, teens can excel thanks to their energy, familiarity with technology and openness to change, said Shellonda Rucker, who works with Career Source Central Florida to place at-risk teens in jobs.
Florida teens may also benefit from the fact that retail jobs in the state grew by 4 percent in the past year, outpacing the growth nationally. Jobs at restaurants and bars are up 5.2 percent.
And other outlets for seasonal hires, the theme parks, are all boosting their work forces.
Universal Orlando is staffing up for the debut of its new Harry Potter attraction, while Walt Disney World plans to fill 1,200 positions during its summer-job fair, which runs through May 31. Sea World expects to add 1,500 seasonal employees.
Though unemployment numbers have fallen, economists caution that some of the improvements are because of workers who have given up looking for jobs.
University of Central Florida economist Sean Snaith said the labor market isn’t completely recovered, and teens may still face “a tough rowto hoe” whenit comes to finding a summer job.
“I still think there is pressure from people who’ve stepped down a rung or soon the ladder in the labor market,” he said.
Not all teens are in search of work, opting instead for volunteer work, extracurricular activities or summer studies.
“All of these factors take away from time that used to be spent in a traditional job,” Challenger said.
In April, just 33.2 percent of teens age 16 to 19 had a job orwere looking for one, compared with 64.9 percent of workers age 20 and older. Teen participation in the labor force is down from 34 percent a year ago.
For those who don’t find jobs, there’s more at stake than spending money.
“You don’t get this experience in the summer, and it sort of haunts you as you progress,” Snaith said. “It’s a delay. They’re not getting out of the blocks at the time that they shouldbe, so they’re further behind.”
Among those fighting for experience is Kaley Book hardt, a business major at Florida Southern College. She’s applied to at least 10 businesses and is hoping to land a job in retail soon.
“It’s kind of difficult because everyone’s looking for work experience,” the 19-year-old said. “Being so young, I don’t really have a lot.”