Teens battle scarce summer jobs in a tight hiring season

A nationwide look at teens’ summer job searches shows they’re finding far fewer opportunities and more roadblocks than in prior years. Data from Pew notes teen employment fell since the early-2000s, while applicants report ghosting and endless applications. Some teens do land roles after long efforts (e.g., a 16-year-old who finally joined Sonic after dozens of applications), but many remain unemployed or end up in less ideal gigs. Experts point to a leaner entry-level market, plus factors like automation and wage laws that favor more experienced workers, making first jobs harder to secure.