PITTSBURGH,None — Summer is usually a time when teens and college students try to find a temporary job, but with unemployment numbers still remaining high across the nation, it can be difficult for young people to find one.
Fast food chains, grocery stores, and retail business are often a teenager's entry into the working world and many of them are hiring, but store managers said the jobs aren't as easy to come by as they were in the past.
Economists said the recession has forced a lot of older workers, who are unemployed or retired, into entry-level positions. Because of that, the national youth unemployment rate is at a record high of 19 percent. Economists said it's even worse for 16 and 17-year-olds where the unemployment rate is holding at 29 percent.
Target 11 consumer investigator Robin Taylor did some digging and found out where the jobs for teens are in Pittsburgh.
Many employers told Taylor that students will have to start at minimum wage. But fortunately, there are more jobs available in Pittsburgh for young people than many other parts of the country, according to experts.
Jim Hann with Pennsylvania CareerLink said there are many resources available to help young people find work this summer.
"If you've got a kid in college who is a biology major, there's some websites we can send them to for some biology internships or places that are more in line with their field of interest," said Hann.
Hann said other options for young people include Nannying or baby-sitting. Hann said that type of work is typically better paying than working at a restaurant or retail store.
Another good option is landscaping, said Hann. The hours can be long and the work can be physically taxing, but college student Zach Meverden said the job allows him to work in the summer and go back to school in the fall.
"It's a lot easier to get a job in the summer doing landscaping. I used to work in a restaurant. You know, they're only hiring at certain times," said Meverden.
Working at an amusement park is another good option, according to Kennywood spokesman Jeff Filicko. He said most of the workers at the park are between the ages of 16-21. He said they do everything from operating rides and running games to serving refreshments.
"If you're a college student majoring in something related to kids, you might start in Kiddy Land," said Filicko. "You either find out you love it or maybe you don't and you want to rethink things, but it's a great place to get that experience."
Filicko said the jobs usually start out at minimum wage and increase from there and he said it's not too late to apply; the park is still looking for more employees.
"Currently we've had 3,400 applications turned in and we still interview team members on an ongoing basis and we'll call on those team members as we need to fill these positions," said Filicko.
If you're a student and you still can't find a job, experts said consider doing an unpaid internship. They said it can generate valuable experience, add to a resume and lead to other opportunities.
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