Fighting Teens for A Job

According to USA Today, there will be fewer jobs than last summer which was recorded as the worst teen unemployment market in six decades, in a report from the Northeastern University Center for Labor Market Studies.

June-August 2008, 32.7% of teens worked which is a decrease from 45% in 2000, according to seasonally adjusted data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Unemployment for 16-to-19-year-olds was 21.5% in April.

Teen workers are disadvantaged because most employers will hire adults because they feel they require less training. Laid off adults are getting jobs such as: cashiers, babysitter, valet car parker, and amusement park workers.

U.S. theme parks will hire about 500,000 seasonal employees, about the same as last year, according to an estimate from The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.

According to a report by Junior Achievement, 18% of 12-to-17-year-olds are working alongside more adults and former retirees. They are also looking for work in low paying industries such as hospitality and retail. Many overqualified laid off adults are looking for jobs that pay minimum wage, above or below minimum wage such as Summer Lifeguard positions.

Another group affected by the economy are adults in their 20s work are unable to find jobs in the career fields and are forced to work jobs that they did as teenagers. Many teens are looking for summer employment to pay for college or other expenses.

Employers are seeing record numbers of applicants. Workers from previous seasons are coming back to get their old jobs back because there are not as many options available this summer. Many employees are documenting record setting turnouts at job fairs with an increase in applicants and an increase in hopefully job seekers.

Here are 5 tips for teens looking for work:
1. Contact youth organizations
2. Use the internet to search for jobs
3. Go to youth job training center to gain skills that are in demand
4. Talk to your school counselor or former counselor to learn about any possible job opportunities or job leads
5. Do volunteer work which can sometimes lead to a paid job
6. Join organizations like Junior Achievement, Americorps or Peacecorps

Here are 5 tips for adults looking for work:
1. Get up at the same time you did when you were working, no later than 8am, get dressed and be ready in case a prospective employer calls for an interview
2. Attend free networking functions
3. Tell everyone you know or come in contact with that you are looking for a job
4. Lower your standards for employment such as salary, job title, etc. You may have to take a pay cut to get a job but it is better than not having a job. Your ultimate goal is to get a job in your same field making approximately the same amount of money you did when you were unemployed but don't limit yourself
5. Visit job training center to learn new skills, you should have at least 2 skills that are in demand
6. Contact staffing firms or apply for temp-to-perm work