Youth Employment in New Jersey

One teenager, Carly Thompson, is currently working as an usher. Her responsibilities as a sixteen year old is to usher people in and make sure that the children are safe while playing in the moon bounce. She is currently earning approximately $7.25 per hour but she loves every minute of her job. Thompson says that she enjoys working because it allows her to keep busy during the summer months while she is out of school. Thompson also says that she is holding on to her money because she wants to use it for college expenses. During the next school year, Thompson is going to be a senior at the high school, Steinert High School, located in Hamilton. Thompson has some serious goals and aspirations, hoping to become a surgical nurse at some time in the future. Knowing that youth employment numbers continue to decline, Thompson says she is very happy to have a job.

Thompson is, however, one of the teenagers who were lucky enough to find employment. Many other teenagers are seeking employment but have been unable to find it. Jobs like the one Thompson hold, known for being the perfect job for a teenager, are slowly declining and have been for several years now. For over a decade, the employment numbers for teenagers have been declining but this year seems to be one of the worst years for teens who are looking to find employment. There are not nearly as many jobs available for teenagers.

Another teenager, Kyle Greschak, is also sixteen years old. He was able to find employment; however, it was through a connection. He is working at shop that sells frozen yogurt and one of his friends mother owns the shop. Greschak said that he is happy to have a job, especially because many of his friend do not have job. He says that a lot of his friends have been looking for employment but college kids and older individuals are getting the jobs instead of teenagers. He also said that of his friends who do have jobs, many of them are not working enough hours to make a significant amount of money. What he says is true, as an analysis shows that 44 percent of teenagers who are looking for summer employment are unable to find employment and if they do, they are working fewer hours than they originally wanted.

The fact of the matter is that the labor market is depressing for teenagers at this point. Due to the recession and a struggling job market, people who normally would not have worked such jobs are taking positions that were normally held by teenagers, especially during the summer months, which leave these teens out of work.