USA Today reports that more than 7 in 10 teenagers are jobless this summer
Once a rite of passage to adulthood, summer jobs for teens are disappearing. Fewer than three in 10 American teenagers now hold jobs such as running cash registers, mowing lawns or busing restaurant tables from June to August. The decline has been particularly sharp since 2000, with employment for 16-to-19-year olds falling to the lowest level since World War II.
And teen employment may never return to pre-recession levels, suggests a projection by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Overall, more than 44% of teens who want summer jobs don’t get them or work fewer hours than they prefer.
This can be discouraging news, but I have a solution:
Start a Micro Business!
You can do it. Hundreds of teenagers do.
1. Get an Idea. Offering a service is usually the quickest way to start. Tons of ideas here: Ideas for Micro Businesses
2. Do a mini market survey. Ask at least 5 potential customers if they would hire you and what price they will pay.
3. Volunteer to do one of two jobs and use customer comments in your advertising.
4. Create a business card or flyer and tell everyone you know that you’re for hire!
Make this a great summer. Learn a lot and earn some money!
Carol Topp
