It is an annual tradition. It is a rite of passage. It is part of the American culture. Each summer, thousands of high school and college students look for summer jobs to keep themselves busy and to help them earn a little spending money. With the current state of the economy and the subsequent effect it has had on the job market, the summer of 2009 may be drastically different than what we have come to know in past years.
Teenagers seeking summer employment has been common place for decades here in the United States. Often those new to the workforce will search for opportunities at fast food restaurants, movie theaters, the local water park, or maybe even the family business. The summer of 2009, however, is likely to be different than anything we have experienced before.
With a slew of layoffs and the rising number of business closures that have occurred over the last year as a result of the economic down turn that has wreaked havoc on our nation, many of these summer job opportunities may just not be available. With millions of people scrambling to find work, it is entirely likely that job positions that have been prevalent in past years may be filled by the time school gets out. Unfortunately, many of the traditional seasonal employers may not be able to weather the financial storm well enough to have open positions or even keep their doors open by the time summer comes around.
This is certainly an unprecedented era for the generations of people who comprise the current labor force. The jobless rate is as high as it has been for more than twenty-five years, and it does not appear that a quick turn-around is likely to occur before the summer months arrive. These circumstances are likely going to create a strange shift in a societal tradition that we have all become accustomed to.
This does not mean that all of the hopes and aspirations of American students will be unmet, as there are thousands of employers who rely on this group of eager workers each year. The impact of the current economic climate in the US on summer jobs, however, will surely be felt to some degree all across the country.
States that may be particularly hard hit are places like Nevada, California, and Arizona as a result of the significant down turn in the local housing markets there. Areas known for their historically strong industrial heritage such as Michigan, Indiana, and Pennsylvania have also been hard hit financially, and we may see evidence of changes there as well.
A word of advice to the high school and college students who are counting on putting in those extra hours this summer would be to start looking now. It may be a good strategy to start your search early this year to try and line up an opportunity sooner than later. As the dog days of summer approach, a little preparation and advanced planning in these uncertain times may go a long way. Good luck, and remember that June, July, and August will be here before you know it.
Author Resource:-
Jason Begley of Aspire Jobs provides an expertise and focus on creating opportunities for phoenix jobs, arizona jobs, and chicago jobs.