Summer Jobs for Teens

The New York Times reported that summer jobs for teenagers this year are fewer and farther between than they have been in 50 years. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/25/business/25teen.html?_r=1&ref=jobs&oref=slogin


Overall, only 1/3 of all teenagers between 16 and 19 years old will find summer jobs this year. That's pretty poor. I know Anthony Weiner is working on getting more federal funding for youth employment programs, but is that going to come through quickly enough to save us from a long, hot summer?


With 2/3 of the kids on the streets, idled, we are at risk for the kinds of trouble kids get into when the weather is unbearably hot and sticky, there's no money in their pockets, and nothing productive to do.


What's the alternative? Well, in New York City, at least there are volunteer opportunities, and plenty of free events. Jason will be taking classes in job hunting and office skills at Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow. He'll also take a math class at his college to prepare for yet one more entrance exam (and here I thought he was exempt from those).

Kids in need of volunteer work (which, by the way, can lead to paid job opportunities once you show them what you can do) can find opportunites at Volunteer Match or at Idealist. The public libraries have programs almost every day, and there are free museums, free book readings, concerts, and lectures. So kids don't have to be out on the street looking for mischief, at least not if they make an effort to find something productive to do.

Still, it's hard on the self-esteem, and reduces opportunities to put paid summer jobs on kids' resumes. The economy is in a mess, true, but there's got to be a way to get kids working.