Look around at the desks of stores and restaurants. Typical teenage jobs such as taking coffee orders, bagging groceries, or cleaning up tables have unfamiliar faces doing them. Instead of battling through a midlife crisis because they have gained too much weight, middle aged people have been forced to take the jobs teenagers would normally get. The hunt between adults and teenage job availability spreading thin has caused common teenage jobs to disappear.
Senior Ryan Martin has been looking for a job for over a year. He’s applied to around forty places, but since he has no prior job experience, he’s lucky to even get a call back for an interview.
“It makes more sense for employers to hire someone with a lot of experience over a high school student if they are paid the same wages,” Ryan Martin said. “It seems that the only way to get a job is by either having a connection to the job or by having experience. It’s very difficult to get a job by just applying.”
Teenagers who have no prior work experience are especially suffering. Stores like Jewel often used to hire teenagers cashiers, even if their resume is lacking. However, since middle aged people cannot find jobs in their field, they have to resort to jobs such as being a cashier. Jewel has no choice to hire the more qualified person.
While some people may not enjoy teenage jobs being occupied by adults, there is no doubt the benefits of some of these jobs. Starbucks offers insurance for its employees that normal teenagers do not need because they are covered by their parent’s insurance policies. Older adults who are working at places like Starbucks work there exclusively for the benefits.
There is no doubt that students who are searching for a job are losing out to middle aged people. With unemployment rates around ten percent, job availability is slim. In the meantime, typical teenage jobs are being taken by adults.
Matt Paras, Staffwriter
