Teens competing with adults for summer jobs

by Kelli Cheatham (kcheatham@wsbt.com)

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Teen job search

Twenty-one-year-old Kayla Jimerson (right), is 1 of 150 candidates applying for a summer position at Potato Creek State Park. There are only 20 positions available. (WSBT photo)

By WSBT News1

Story Created: Mar 23, 2009 at 3:40 PM EST

Story Updated: Mar 23, 2009 at 5:18 PM EST

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY — The Bureau of Labor Statistics says teenage unemployment was nearly 22 percent in February. That's the highest it's been in 17 years. As the applications pour in, many seasonal employers are seeing lots of over-qualified candidates.

The jobs don't pay much — minimum wage or a little more — but for many people these days, any money is a lot of money.

Take 21-year-old Kayla Jimerson.

"I'm looking for a job, but it's kinda hard because nobody's hiring," she said.

Applying for a summer job at Potato Creek State Park will make Jimerson 1 of 150 candidates competing for about 20 positions.

The pay for the jobs, ranging from housekeeping to landscaping and yard work, is $7.60 an hour.

"It seems like there are a lot of young, fresh college students that are not finding something in their field so they're coming here," said Potato Creek State Park Assistant Manager Alex deGroot.

But Jimerson and her friend Andrew Gravitt don't have degrees. In fact, Gravitt said in the last two months he's submitted applications at 15-20 local businesses.

But they both understand why their applications keep getting rejected.

"A lot of people do have more experience than I do so they probably have a better shot," said Kayla.

deGroot said he's seeing exactly that.

"There was one young girl who has done some tremendous volunteer work at AmeriCorps, and has dealt with thousands and thousands of people and went to Hurricane Katrina," he said. "And [she] just has this outstanding resume."

With competition like that Jimerson and Gravitt know the best they can do is hang on and hope for the best.

All that competition also means more teens and college students than usual are applying everywhere else. For example, at Ritter's Frozen Custard in Mishawaka, the owner said he had 40 applications for 10 summer positions.

Coveleski Stadium in South Bend saw a similar outpouring of applicants at a job fair a few weeks ago — 300 people applied for about 100 positions.

That's double the number of applicants in past years.

Coveleski spokeswoman Amy Hill told WSBT a lot of people are looking for a second job, and the Cove is convenient for that since games are on evenings and weekends.

Where are the jobs?

So where can younger people find work this summer? The St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce suggests fields like hospitality, food service, health care and lawn service. They say some retail sectors are hiring, but not all.

Local WorkOne offices have specific programs for young adults, including skill assessments to see what would be a best fit.

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