Will Teen Workers Save The Day?

    Tess Baldwin lives in Phoenix, Arizona. She was interviewing for her first job. She had just turned 16. She wanted to be a host at a restaurant called Serrano’s. A host has to be good with people. But Tess was nervous. She could barely talk.  

    But it didn’t matter. “Do you like Serrano’s?” the manager asked. Um, yes. “Are you good at talking to people?” Um, yes?

    “It took about two minutes,” she says. “He offered me the job right there.”

    Tess got her job last August. But experts say it should still be easy for teens to find work this summer. The economy is coming back from Covid-19 shutdowns. But more adults have been quitting their jobs. 

    To solve that problem, many employers want to hire teens. 

    Tess Baldwin was scared. The 16-year-old was interviewing for her first job—to be a host at a Serrano’s restaurant near Phoenix, Arizona. A host has to be good with people, but Tess was so nervous she could barely form a sentence. 

    As it turned out, however, that didn’t matter. “Do you like Serrano’s?” the manager asked. Um, yes. “Are you good at talking to people?” Um, yes?

    “It took about two minutes,” she explained. “He offered me the job right there.”

    Though it was last August when Tess got her job, experts say it should be just as easy for teens to find work this summer. The economy is coming back from Covid-19 shutdowns. But more adults have been quitting their jobs than ever before. 

    And many employers want to hire you to help solve the problem. 

    You may have heard your parents say that kids don’t work as hard as they used to. Well, it’s true—kind of. Today, only about 1 in 3 teens work during the summer. In your parents’ day, about half of teens had summer jobs.

    It’s not that you and your friends are lazy. There has been less work available. Adults took over a lot of the part-time jobs teens used to do. During the summer of 2020, those jobs were even harder to find. Many restaurants, stores, and pools had to close because of the pandemic. 

    Now, experts say, that’s changing fast. Businesses are opening again. But not all of those adult workers are coming back. Some are staying home to take care of their kids. Some are afraid they might get Covid-19 at work. Still others have decided to change careers. The result is a labor shortage—that means there aren’t enough skilled workers willing to fill open jobs. 

    Some adults say that kids don’t work as hard as they used to. That’s kind of true. Today, only about 1 in 3 teens work during the summer. In your parents’ day, about half of teens had summer jobs.

    Why do fewer teens work these days? It’s not that teens are lazy. The reason is that there are fewer jobs available. Adults took a lot of the part-time jobs teens used to do. During the pandemic, those jobs were harder to find. Many restaurants, stores, and pools had to close. 

    Now, experts say, that’s changing fast. Businesses are opening again. But not all of those adult workers are coming back. Some are staying home. They need to take care of their kids. Or they are afraid of getting Covid-19 at work. Others have decided to change careers. The result is a labor shortage. That means there aren’t enough skilled workers to fill open jobs. 

    You may have heard your parents say that young people don’t work as hard as they used to. Well, it’s true—kind of. Today, only about 1 in 3 teens work during the summer, while approximately half of teens had summer jobs in your parents’ day.

    It’s not a matter of you and your friends being lazy—there’s simply been less work available. Adults took over a lot of the part-time jobs teens used to do. During the summer of 2020, those jobs became even more difficult to find. Because of the pandemic, many restaurants, stores, and pools had to close. 

    Now, experts say, that’s changing fast as businesses are opening again. But not all of those adult workers are coming back to their old jobs. Some are staying home to take care of their children or because they’re afraid they might get Covid-19 at work. Others have decided to change careers. 

    The result is a labor shortage. In other words, there aren’t enough skilled workers willing to fill open jobs. 

    The new job market has made it hard for employers to find workers. So some bosses are offering flexible work hours. Many businesses are also paying workers more. Last year, wages at restaurants, bars, and hotels went up 16 percent. 

    Ric Serrano runs the restaurant where Tess works. In 2021, he did not have enough staff. So he had to close on Mondays. Now he offers a $200 bonus for new workers. “This is the best job market I’ve ever seen for teens,” he says.

    The new job market has employers scrambling to find workers, so some bosses are willing to offer extra perks, like flexible work hours. Many businesses are also paying workers more. Last year, wages at restaurants, bars, and hotels increased by 16 percent. 

    Ric Serrano runs the restaurant where Tess works. In 2021, he had to keep the restaurant closed on Mondays because he didn’t have enough staff. These days, he offers a $200 bonus for new workers—and an existing worker who brings in a friend who gets hired gets an additional $100. “This is the best job market I’ve ever seen for teens,” notes Serrano.

    This summer, Covid-19 may still keep people from wanting to work. Doctors say the health risks to teens are low. But if you’re worried about your health, you can always ask about an employer’s safety rules. Do workers wear masks? Do customers have to be vaccinated? 

    Or you can learn from Noel Villepigue, a 16-year-old high school student from Connecticut. He worked outside last year as a soccer referee. That made him and his parents more comfortable with the job. “Outside it’s really low risk to get Covid-19,” he says. “It was great not to have to worry about it.”

    Whatever happens with Covid-19, chances are this summer will be a great time to find a job. You might not get hired in two minutes like Tess did. But if you’re nervous, try to remember—most businesses probably need you just as much as you need them. 

    Covid-19 has not gone away. Some adults may still want to stay away from work this summer. But the health risks to teens are low, say doctors. If you’re worried about your health, ask questions before taking a job. Do workers wear masks? Do customers have to be vaccinated? 

    Or you can learn from Noel Villepigue. He is a 16-year-old high school student from Connecticut. He worked outside last year. He was a soccer referee. The job felt safe to him. “Outside it’s really low risk to get Covid-19,” he says.

    Even if Covid-19 numbers drop this summer, it will likely still be a great time to find a job. You might not get hired in two minutes. But remember—most businesses probably need you just as much as you need them. 

    Covid-19 might still keep people from wanting to work this summer. Doctors say the health risks to teens are fairly low. But if you’re concerned about your health, you can always ask for information about an employer’s safety rules: Do workers wear masks? Do customers have to be vaccinated? 

    Or you can follow the example of Noel Villepigue, a 16-year-old high school student from Connecticut. Last year, Noel worked as a soccer referee outdoors, which made him and his parents more comfortable with the job. “Outside it’s really low risk to get Covid-19,” he explains. “It was great not to have to worry about it.”

    Whatever happens with Covid-19 this summer, chances are it will be a great time to find a job. You might not get hired in two minutes like Tess did. But if you’re nervous, try to remember—most businesses probably need you just as much as you need them. 

A) Use your connections. 
Ask your friends if their bosses are hiring. Ask your parents if they know any local employers. 

B) Sell your skills. 
Babysitting your cousin  shows an employer you’re responsible. Being team captain proves that you’re a leader.

C) Prepare for an interview.
Learn about the job. What do you like about the business? Why will you be good at this kind of work?

D) Remember to follow up. 
Call or email the person who interviewed you. Thank them for their time. It’s kind, and it reminds them you want the job.

A) Use your connections. 
Ask your friends if their bosses are hiring. Ask your parents if they know any local employers. 

B) Sell your skills. 
Babysitting your cousin  shows an employer you’re responsible. Being team captain proves that you’re a leader.

C) Prepare for an interview.
Learn about the job. What do you like about the business? Why will you be good at this kind of work?

D) Remember to follow up. 
Call or email the person who interviewed you. Thank them for their time. It’s kind, and it reminds them you want the job.

A) Use your connections. 
Ask your friends if their bosses are hiring. Ask your parents if they know any local employers. 

B) Sell your skills. 
Babysitting your cousin  shows an employer you’re responsible. Being team captain proves that you’re a leader.

C) Prepare for an interview.
Learn about the job. What do you like about the business? Why will you be good at this kind of work?

D) Remember to follow up. 
Call or email the person who interviewed you. Thank them for their time. It’s kind, and it reminds them you want the job.