Is the teen summer job a thing of the past?
The traditional summer job for teenagers is declining, with businesses expected to hire a record low number of teen workers this summer. Factors contributing to this trend include economic uncertainty, competition from older workers, and changing priorities among teens. As a result, fewer than 30% of teens are participating in the labor force compared to half in the 1980s.
- ▪Businesses are projected to hire only 790,000 teen workers this summer, the lowest since 1948.
- ▪In the late 1990s, over 2 million teens held summer jobs, highlighting a significant decline.
- ▪Teens are competing with older workers and are prioritizing activities like college preparation and internships.
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MoneyWatch Is the teen summer job a thing of the past? .chip { background-image: url('/fly/bundles/cbsnewscore/images/chip-bgd/chip-bgd-moneywatch.jpg'); } By Megan Cerullo Megan Cerullo Reporter, MoneyWatch Megan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News 24/7 to discuss her reporting. Read Full Bio Megan Cerullo May 19, 2026 / 4:25 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google A summer job was once a seasonal tradition for millions of American teenagers looking to earn some pocket money and get a taste of the working world. That was then.
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