It's not too late for teenagers to find summer jobs

More teens are expected to be working this summer, and for those looking to land a job, there are plenty of opportunities. It's not too late to start looking, says Andrew Challenger, work and workplace expert and senior vice president of Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc.

The business and executive outplacement and coaching company projects teens will gain 1.3 million jobs across the country in May, June and July 2024 due to consumer demand and teens' desire to work this summer.

That would be the highest number of summer jobs created since 2020, when teens filled 2.19 million new positions during the summer months, according to the Chicago-based company. This also exceeds the 1.03 million jobs actually created by employers for teens during the summer months of 2023 and the estimate of 1.1 million jobs released by the company last year, a said Andrew Challenger.

“As summer approaches, there are already a lot of teenagers working,” he said. “They are working year-round at a higher pace than we have seen in over a decade. Inflation has something to do with it. Families and teenagers need these extra hours of work to have spending money and be able to do what teenagers want to do.

In April, 5.59 million workers aged 16 to 19 were employed. That's down a bit from March, according to unadjusted data from the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. But it was the highest total for March since 2007, the firm noted.

Even though inflation has eased, it continues. Food prices are 26% higher than in January 2020 and rent prices are up 22%, Conference Board economists Dana Peterson and Erik Lundh told CNN in March.

The average basket of goods and services that most Americans buy in a given month is 17% more expensive, they noted. Consumer prices rose 0.3% in April, down slightly from the 0.4% rise recorded in March and February, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported earlier this month, but over the past 12 months, prices have increased by 3.4%.

While affecting family budgets, inflation also drives up employers' labor costs. That makes some employers slower to hire, but the need and demand for teen workers remains, Challenger said.

“Some industries like food and restaurants have been consistently understaffed for some time, so they are happy to bring in additional workers during the summer as teenagers look for work,” Challenger said.

Other industries that generate employment during the summer months and present traditional opportunities for teens seeking employment include amusement parks, retail stores, summer camps, cinemas and leisure sites such as public swimming pools.

Wage increases have made jobs more attractive to teens, and depending on the position, teens can expect average wages between $16 and $20 an hour, Challenger said.

The South Suburban Special Recreation Association is among the employers looking to fill summer positions. The Tinley Park-based nonprofit offers recreational programs for children and adults with special needs and is seeking to fill camp and internship supervisor positions paying $15.50 to $16.25 an hour, a said spokesperson Anna Broccolo.

“We provide all the training,” she said. “They don’t need any prior experience, although it’s wonderful if they have experience.”

She said they are looking for teens who are patient, kind, compassionate and kind.

Mentoring Youth Through Technology, which aims to improve opportunities for young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, is also seeking summer teen staff to work as program assistants , said Millicent Walker, community engagement manager. The organization is based in South Holland and has a STEM center in Matteson.

Applicants for teen summer jobs don't need to be tech savvy, Walker said. The organization also offers training. The ideal candidate would be someone “responsible, comfortable with young students, open to learning, committed, motivated and a good team player,” she said.

The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership provides summer job opportunities for teens, said Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller, who advises teens to consider summer employment.

“Take advantage of the opportunities that are out there,” Miller said. “They should try to find something that might interest them because it's a good way to learn.” If they are still in high school, perhaps these types of jobs will help them decide what their major will be in college.

For teens interested in finding a summer job, if you haven't started looking yet, go ahead, Challenger said.

“June is traditionally the most popular month for hiring teenagers,” he said.

He advises job-seeking teens to create and connect to their networks. You may think you don't have one. You make. Reach out to friends, parents, parents of friends, current and past teachers and coaches, and managers at places you attend who may know about job opportunities, he said.

Teens should create a resume, cover letter, and email template to send to potential employers. It should include extracurricular activities, volunteer experiences and any other information that shows a potential employer that you are self-starter and can be a team player, he advised.

Challenger also recommends that teens consider paid summer internships in industries they find attractive to gain real work experience.

And think outside the box. As teens think about summer camps, retail, theme parks and movie theaters, many offices need administrative staff who can organize files, take calls or manage profiles of social networks, Challenger said.

Here are some useful links and contacts for teenagers looking for summer employment:

Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership: chicookworks.org/initiatives/opportunityworks/

Illinois Secretary of State's Office: Ilsos.applytojob.com and click on summer jobs.

Illinois Department of Employment Security: ides.illinois.gov and search for summer jobs, or go to portal.il.cis360.org/

Cook County Government: www.cookcountyil.gov/service/cook-county-connects

Calumet City: calumetcity.org/summer-youth-employment-program/

South Suburban Special Recreation Association: visit sssra.org

Youth mentoring through technology: visit myttil.com or email [email protected]

Francine Knowles is a freelance columnist for the Daily Southtown.