Teens Facing Challenges in Job Hunt

The following article was writen by Ian Stewart and David Fletcher, students at .

With the economy suffering and unemployment rates up, there is one pertinent issue on almost every teenager’s mind; how can I get a job?

Teenagers are finding it increasingly difficult to get hired, which isn’t a surprise considering that even college graduates are running into trouble.

“The hardest part of getting a job is finding a place that’s hiring,” said Heather Borysewicz, a senior student at Alta. “There are also requirements for each job, some of which high school kids don’t want to or can’t meet. Job applications also have questions that may throw off younger individuals, especially if they have no previous work experience.”

Borysewicz applied to four different businesses before she was hired at Target, where both her mother and brother work as well.

“It is difficult for high school students to get a job because the simple jobs they would normally have are being taken up by college graduates and older citizens who need a job themselves,” said Mark Hill, guidance counselor at ALTA.

And Hill is right.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that over the past 30 years, the number of teenagers in the workforce has declined by nearly 50 percent.

The data from an early 2000s study showed that as of 2005, only 33 percent of teenagers are in the work force. This is significantly lower than the 60 percent involved in the U.S. workforce in 1975.

Why would an employer hire a teenager who has no prior work experience and has not graduated from high school?

Employers are much more likely to hire an adult who has submitted an application for the same job a teenager has. Adults often have more diversified work experience, a high school diploma and established job references.

They may also have a college degree, something that teenagers definitely don’t have.

Employed teenagers often use the money they earn to buy cars and save for college. Without the income that comes from having a job, high school students could face future challenges in the job market, both from lacking transportation and being unable to seek higher education.

Although the situation looks grim for the nations adolescent job hunters, those teenagers who have jobs offer encouragement.

“Try your best to get a job anywhere you can. Don’t give up just because they don’t get back to you on your application. Keep trying until you get a job, you’ll be hired in time.”