California Business Minute™

The California Redevelopment Association, (CRA) provides legislative
advocacy, professional development and public education.  In support
of its members it responds to legislative proposals and administrative
regulations.

For further information, contact us www.calredevelop.org or at 916-448-8760

Hi, I am Tim Johnson and welcome to the California Business Minute.

The recession has had a tremendous impact on California’s teen population finding jobs
and it appears that the summer of 2011 will be no different according to a new assessment
by the outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc.

In 2010, teen job seekers experienced the weakest summer job market in decades. Data
from the Bureau of Labor Statistics illustrated that summer employment among 16 - to
19-year-olds increased by only 960,000 jobs. That was down 17.5 percent from 2009,
number of 1,163,000. Last year’s 960,000 summer jobs was the lowest level of summer
hiring since 1949, when teen employment increased by 932,000 during the summer months.

This year there is concern that any hiring gains achieved in the slowly improving
private sector could be offset by losses in the public sector, where teenagers often
find summer employment as camp counselors, lifeguards, office assistants, laborers
and clerks.  If gasoline prices continue to rise, typical private-sector teen employers,
such as amusement parks, hotels and resorts, landscapers and other businesses that
suffer when energy costs increase, could also cut back seasonal hiring plans according
to the assessment.

Competition for jobs will be significant. Young job seekers will not only compete with
other teenagers, but in certain types of jobs like retail and food service, they may
compete with recent college graduates or older workers who need to supplement retirement
income,

So if you have a teen at home and it is spring vacation, get them out knocking on doors
early.

I am Tim Johnson and this has been the California Business Minute.