Job market still one of weakest on record

Despite continued job losses across nearly all industries, the number of teenagers hired for summer jobs through June is slightly ahead of last year, according to an analysis of the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) employment data by global outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.

However, even if teen hiring remains slightly ahead of 2008 levels through the end of July, it simply means that 2009 will go down as the second worst summer job market for teens since the late 1950s.

Non-seasonally adjusted figures released Friday by the BLS show that employment among 16- to 19-year-olds grew by 111,000 in May and 698,000 in June, for a total of 809,000 jobs added so far this summer. That is about 10,000 more than at this point a year ago, when teen employment grew by 799,000 in May and June.

In 2008, employers added another 355,000 teen workers in July. Overall, summer employment among 16- to 19-year-olds grew by a total of 1,165,000, which was the lowest summer job creation figure since 1954, when only 976,000 teens were added to payrolls.

ìWhile summer hiring among teens is by no means robust, it has been stronger than expected, particularly in light of this recessionís impact on retailers, restaurants, tourist destinations, and other businesses that are typically the biggest recruiters of teenagers during the summer months,î said John A. Challenger, chief executive officer of Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

ìGoing into the summer, it looked as though this might be the first time since 1954 that fewer than 1,000,000 teenagers found jobs. Unless there is severe drop-off in teen hiring in July, we should surpass the 1,000,000 threshold, although that is probably little consolation to the millions of teens who were unable to find summer jobs,î Challenger added.

ìFor those who are still wanting a summer job, it is not too late to find one. Some retailers may add more workers for back-to-school sales. Other employers may need to replace workers who didnít work out. High school students may also be able to find positions in the late summer or early fall as college students return to campus,î he noted.