Snow may still be a recent memory and the chilly night air a reality, but now is the time to help your teens think about summer employment. The good news is that 2015 may be a banner year for summer hires.
“Employers are predicting an increase in total hires as compared to last summer,” said Kim Costa, job coach at SnagAJob. Positions in retail, hospitality and foodservice are already being filled, with the majority of jobs looking to be secured by the end of May. These industries cover more than 40% of all summer youth employment, making this a key time for high school and college students to start their search.
Even with this positive news for teen job opportunities, this generation has gotten a bad reputation in the past as their summer employment figures have steadily declined. According to Market Watch, teen summer employment numbers have seen a downward trend. The numbers cannot be refuted; however, I contend that it is not due to teenage laziness or an unwillingness to work, which is often implied. Rather, I believe that the decline in teen employment is directly due to the recent recession, forcing many retired or semi-retired Baby Boomers back into the summer workforce. There may not be competition for jobs like lifeguard or camp counselor, but you may be interested in a seasoned worker as compared to a “newbie,” if you are running a retail store. Why not offer the same salary to a Baby Boomer with experience than a teenager without any credentials? Who are you more likely to choose? The other issue is that teens or college students often have to leave early to get back to school and Boomers do not.