Teenagers' traditional seasonal employment, a significant milestone, appears to be slowly dwindling.
The summer job market for teenagers in 2021 faced several hurdles, primarily due to the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and shifts in the job market.
As businesses cautiously navigated the economic recovery, many chose to freeze roles or cut seasonal positions, limiting job opportunities for young workers. This was the case for Mudit Sachdev, a franchise owner, who hired five fewer teenagers this summer than last year due to expected lower demand for his services.
The unemployment rate for teenagers rose to 13.4% in May, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, reflecting the challenges faced by young job seekers. Shalini Khiani, a 17-year-old from San Jose, California, and Ugenie Labranche, a 16-year-old high school student, are among those who struggled to secure summer employment this year.
Khiani, who previously worked at an amusement park, found an internship at a local summer camp but earns almost $2 less than her previous job. Labranche, who has applied to over a dozen jobs, has yet to land one. Both teenagers are facing stiff competition from other age groups and demographic shifts, such as older workers choosing to stay in the workforce longer.
The rise of gig economies and online platforms has also altered traditional summer job opportunities. Many positions that were once filled by teenagers are now being taken by adults or outsourced to platforms prioritizing efficiency over traditional employment. This shift was highlighted by Jennifer Bateman, senior vice president of youth development at Boys & Girls Clubs of America, who also mentioned the impact of automation on entry-level jobs for teenagers.
Eugesse Labranche, Ugenie's mother, expressed concern about her daughter's difficulty finding a job and the importance of summer jobs for teenagers' workforce experience. Despite the challenges, Bateman remains optimistic, stating that teenagers are seeking first jobs, adult preparation, and skill development.
Even early job searches for summer work on Indeed were at their highest in recent years, indicating a high demand for summer jobs among teenagers. However, employers are not hiring solely for summer jobs, allowing them to be more selective in their hiring process.
Despite the difficulties, organisations like Boys & Girls Clubs of America reported a 14% jump in membership among teenagers last year, with many citing job readiness as a top reason for joining. This suggests that while the job market may be challenging, teenagers are still recognising the importance of gaining work experience and developing skills during the summer months.
Tourism spending from international visitors to the United States is expected to drop by $8.3 billion this year, further impacting the summer job market. As the economy continues to recover, it remains to be seen how these challenges will affect the summer job market for teenagers in the coming years.
- Recognizing the difficulties in the summer job market, some teenagers are turning to alternative avenues for development, such as education-and-self-development and career-development opportunities, including skills-training and job-search workshops.
- In the face of stiff competition and limited job opportunities, Mudit Sachdev, a franchise owner, has adopted a new business strategy focusing on education-and-self-development and career-development programs for teenagers, providing them with valuable workforce experience.
- As the summer job market continues to evolve, with the rise of gig economies and automation, tourism businesses might consider diversifying their offerings to include education-and-self-development and career-development programs, offering unique summer experiences for teenagers while adapting to the changing job market.
