Apr 08 Teen Summer Job Outlook: 2019 Teen Employment Expected to Rise in Tight Labor Market

Published April 8, 2019

With 180K Total Jobs Created per Month This Year, Opportunities Abound in Tight Labor Market

With the end of the school year fast approaching, many teenagers across the country are considering summer employment. While just 35% of teens aged 16-19 participated in the labor market last year, global outplacement and business and executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. predicts job opportunities could increase around 5% this year and the teen participation rate could rise as well, according its annual outlook released Tuesday.

Last summer saw 1,388,000 jobs gained by teens, 7.8% higher than the 1,288,000 jobs gained by teenagers in the summer of 2017. This was the highest number of teen jobs gained since 2012, when 1,397,000 jobs were added.

“Teens have not participated in the job market at the same rate they did since their peak work years in the 1970s. In fact, teen participation has dropped since the recovery in 2009, when 37.5% of teens were in the labor force,” said Andrew Challenger, Vice President of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.

While the teen participation rate hovers near 35%, the sheer number of opportunities, as well as student desire to gain employment experience, may bring more teens back into the labor force.

“Employers value work experience, in some cases, more than education. The summer job for teens is incredibly valuable in showing future employers they are able to work in a professional setting,” said Challenger.

While the traditional retail job may be harder to get for many teens, as thousands of brick-and-mortar store closures have occurred over the last few years, the stronger-than-expected March jobs report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicated a 33% increase in opportunities in Leisure and Hospitality companies. For instance, the BLS report found that food services and drinking places added 27,000 jobs in March.

“Companies in almost all sectors are struggling to find talent. While adults took the place of many teens during the recession and recovery years, we’re now seeing those opportunities going back to teen workers,” said Challenger.

The March jobs report also showed the unemployment rate for teen workers dropped 0.6% from last March, to 12.8%.

In addition to the desire to gain work experience in summer jobs, more teens may choose to work between high school and college as they decide what field they want to pursue. The so-called “gap year” is becoming increasingly popular, especially with the high cost of post-secondary education.

In fact, according to the American Gap Association, an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 teens take a gap year after high school, and that number was an increase of 20% from 2015. President Barack Obama’s daughter Malia brought attention to the growing trend with her decision to suspend college for a year in 2017.

Meanwhile, “Signing Days” at many high schools traditionally highlight student athletes who state their intention to attend post-secondary institutions in the fall. However, Henrico County, Virginia decided to recognize students who chose jobs after high school in the same way they recognized students who chose college after high school.

According to Henrico County’s Facebook post on the subject, “Students and representatives of their future employers both signed letters of intent outlining what students must do before and during employment, what the employer will provide in pay and training, and an estimate of the position’s value.”

Tips for Teen Job Seekers

“For teens seeking summer employment, June is traditionally the most popular month for teen hiring, with 951,000 teens finding employment last year. However, teens who want to find work for the summer would be wise to start readying their resumes and applications now,” said Challenger.

“Teens should reach out to their networks – friends, parents, instructors, coaches, and friends’ parents – to inquire about potential opportunities. They should also seek out the managers of places they frequent to see if they are hiring.

“Create a resume that includes extra-curricular activities, volunteer experience, or any other information that would show an employer the teen is able to work as part of a team, is a self-starter, or can manage a project.

“Teens can also look outside the norm for seasonal employment. In a period of expansion, offices will need administrative staff who can organize files, take calls, or even manage social media profiles. These are great avenues for teens to gain real work experience,” said Challenger.

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Contact Colleen Madden Blumenfeld for more data or to set up an interview with SVP Andy Challenger.

 

SUMMER EMPLOYMENT GROWTH AMONG WORKERS AGED 16 TO 19
Year	May	June	July	Summer Jobs Gained	Change from Prior Year
1998	270,000	1,058,000	675,000	2,003,000
1999	415,000	750,000	852,000	2,017,000	0.70%
2000	111,000	1,087,000	311,000	1,509,000	-25.20%
2001	58,000	1,124,000	560,000	1,742,000	15.40%
2002	161,000	985,000	510,000	1,656,000	-4.90%
2003	152,000	859,000	458,000	1,469,000	-11.30%
2004	168,000	827,000	597,000	1,592,000	8.40%
2005	183,000	1,007,000	546,000	1,736,000	9.00%
2006	230,000	1,033,000	471,000	1,734,000	-0.10%
2007	62,000	1,114,000	459,000	1,635,000	-5.70%
2008	116,000	683,000	355,000	1,154,000	-29.40%
2009	111,000	698,000	354,000	1,163,000	0.80%
2010	6,000	497,000	457,000	960,000	-17.50%
2011	71,000	714,000	302,000	1,087,000	13.20%
2012	157,000	858,000	382,000	1,397,000	28.50%
2013	215,000	779,000	361,000	1,355,000	-3.00%
2014	217,000	661,000	419,000	1,297,000	-4.30%
2015	182,000	609,000	369,000	1,160,000	-10.60%
2016	156,000	691,000	492,000	1,339,000	15.40%
2017	75,000	1,023,000	190,000	1,288,000	-3.80%
2018	130,000	951,000	307,000	1,388,000	7.80%
AVERAGE EMPLOYMENT GROWTH AMONG WORKERS AGED 16 TO 19
		May	June	July	Summer Jobs Gained
AVERAGE Since 1998		154,571	857,524	448,905	1,461,000
AVERAGE Since 2006		132,923	793,154	378,308	1,297,417
Source: Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc., With Non-Seasonally Adjusted Data From the Bureau of Labor Statistics.