Source: Fortune
Summary
This summer is expected to be the worst for teen summer jobs in nearly eight decades, with only 790,000 jobs available, down 801,000 from 2025. High schoolers are facing a hiring freeze in the labor market, with classic summer jobs like retail sales and restaurant work being hit hard. However, some industries like camp counseling and hosting are seeing an increase in hiring. Experts advise teens to be flexible, entrepreneurial, and to start applying early to increase their chances of landing a job.
Our Reading
The announcement sounds familiar.
Teen summer jobs are being squeezed by inflation, higher oil prices, and a sluggish hiring market. Employers like Sundae School Homemade Ice Cream are receiving hundreds of applications for just 50 open jobs. Meanwhile, lifeguard positions have surged 78% over the past year. The competition for jobs is heating up, with the unemployment rate for 16 to 19-year-olds climbing to 14.4%. Teens are advised to be agile and business-savvy to succeed in this tough job market. The summer job market is a perfect storm of economic uncertainty and fierce competition.
Author: Evan Null
