Recession Hitting Teenagers

by Pearl Hahn

Do you recall teenage summers of flipping burgers, lifeguarding at the community pool, or scooping ice cream? During my summers in high school, I did various stints from stamping envelopes at a veterans hospital (unpaid) to performing skits as a camp counselor (paid… barely).

Thanks to a toughening economy, it looks like teenagers may be forced to play the summer away. Forbes Magazine takes note of a tough summer job market for teenagers. Currently, the unemployment rate for 16 to 19-year-olds is as high as 24%, the worst since 1965.

It’s a good time for young people to get creative, like this nine-year-old.