Teens are finding the summer jobs market isn't so hot. Employment firm Challenger Gray and Christmas forecasts teens will see the lowest number of summer jobs added since 2010. At the same time, indeed, hiring lab economist Alison Shrivasta sees more demand for those summer roles. There is more interest in summer jobs than we have seen in previous years, so there is going to be some more competition. Challenger Gray and Christmas says businesses may hold. On summer hiring as tariff whiplash fuels economic uncertainty with the possibility of higher costs for goods and concerns about consumers pulling back, especially in areas like travel and tourism that typically staff up with young seasonal workers. Shivastov says their data shows businesses not really shedding employees but also not eager to hire. People are kind of frozen in place, you know, it's *** little bit of *** deer in the headlight situation, so. There's only so long that that can go on for before, you know, people have to start making business decisions, especially in those more short run markets like summer jobs. Areas where jobs do remain available are tried and true in-person summer gigs like offices that need administrative help and camps and recreation. We haven't seen really *** shift in necessarily the jobs that people are hiring for for the summer, more of just like an overall decline. It's still very much camp counselors is *** big one. Uh, lifeguards, things like that. In Washington, I'm Karen Keefer.
Teens face challenges in finding summer jobs amid economic uncertainty
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Updated: 6:33 PM CDT May 27, 2025
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Teens are facing a challenging summer job market, with forecasts predicting the lowest number of jobs added in over a decade amid economic uncertainty and increased competition. Employment firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas forecasts that teens will experience the lowest number of summer jobs added since 2010. Meanwhile, Indeed Hiring Lab Economist Allison Shrivastava notes a rise in demand for these roles."There is a more interest in summer jobs than we have seen in previous years, so there is going to be some more competition," Shrivastava said.Challenger, Gray and Christmas suggests that businesses may delay summer hiring due to tariff-related economic uncertainty, which could lead to higher costs for goods and concerns about consumer spending, particularly in sectors like travel and tourism that typically employ young seasonal workers.Shrivastava said their data indicates that businesses are not actively shedding employees but are also hesitant to hire. "People are kind of frozen in place, you know, it's a little bit of a deer in the headlights situation, so there's only so long that that can go on for before, you know, people have to start making business decisions, especially in those more short run markets like summer jobs."Despite the challenges, jobs remain available in traditional in-person summer roles, such as administrative positions in offices and roles in camps and recreation. "We haven't seen really a shift in necessarily the jobs that people are hiring for for the summer, more of just like an overall decline. It's still very much camp counselors is a big one, lifeguards, things like that," Shrivastava said.
Teens are facing a challenging summer job market, with forecasts predicting the lowest number of jobs added in over a decade amid economic uncertainty and increased competition.
Employment firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas forecasts that teens will experience the lowest number of summer jobs added since 2010. Meanwhile, Indeed Hiring Lab Economist Allison Shrivastava notes a rise in demand for these roles.
"There is a more interest in summer jobs than we have seen in previous years, so there is going to be some more competition," Shrivastava said.
Challenger, Gray and Christmas suggests that businesses may delay summer hiring due to tariff-related economic uncertainty, which could lead to higher costs for goods and concerns about consumer spending, particularly in sectors like travel and tourism that typically employ young seasonal workers.
Shrivastava said their data indicates that businesses are not actively shedding employees but are also hesitant to hire. "People are kind of frozen in place, you know, it's a little bit of a deer in the headlights situation, so there's only so long that that can go on for before, you know, people have to start making business decisions, especially in those more short run markets like summer jobs."
Despite the challenges, jobs remain available in traditional in-person summer roles, such as administrative positions in offices and roles in camps and recreation.
"We haven't seen really a shift in necessarily the jobs that people are hiring for for the summer, more of just like an overall decline. It's still very much camp counselors is a big one, lifeguards, things like that," Shrivastava said.
