Teens struggle to find summer work

BY MARGARET PARSONS
mparsons@record-eagle.com

June 30, 2008 10:01 am

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TRAVERSE CITY -- Leah Ferguson worked as a dishwasher at a local American Legion Post, then for a catering business and finally made restaurant stops at Mustard's and Trattoria Stella in Traverse City.

The recent Traverse City Central grad has plenty of service industry experience, but now struggles to find a job.

"It's disappointing and frustrating because of the jobs that I've had before," Ferguson, 18, said. "And I know that I'm qualified."

Ferguson is just one of the thousands of Michigan teens looking for summer employment. And like Ferguson, who's working one day a week at Mustard's, many are finding the search difficult.

The unemployment rate for teens 16 to 19 is up 1.3 percent from one year ago, according to the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth. The national unemployment average for the entire work force also is up from 5.0 percent to 5.5 percent.

Jim Rhein, a state economic analyst for northern Michigan, said teens are one of the first sectors to feel effects of a faltering national economy.

"There is a typical number of people entering the work force, but there is a higher unemployment rate," Rhein said. "It doesn't bode well at this point that national teens aren't fairing well."

But Rhein said national numbers can't be taken as a "rule of thumb" because northern Michigan is so driven by a tourist economy that can be affected by something as erratic as the weather.

Some area businesses already forecast a slow tourist season and aren't adding to their workforce.

Ferguson's first foray into summer employment was at Hanna Bistro downtown. But restaurant managers told her qualms over high gas prices and fears over a slow tourist season prevented them from hiring new staff.

"They're having to staff less because they don't know if they'll be able to pay them," Ferguson said. "They said if people come, they'll give me a call."

Hanna put an ad in the Record-Eagle at the beginning of the season asking for applicants and received 80-100 responses for four to five jobs, said Rob Giffer, Hanna's manager.

"I want to hire all of them because they seem like great kids," Giffer said.

But he also said high school students should understand why it is difficult for them to find a job when the economy isn't strong.

"When the economy is down, you have to be a little more cautious," Giffer said. "High school students just look at their watch and say, 'It's time to get a job.' And then they're shocked when you tell them that you can't hire them. It's hard to find a job."

That difficulty is dawning on Ferguson.

"I know the problem was that I didn't start looking sooner," she said.

Katie Jacobson, another Traverse City Central graduate, landed a job by looking early.

"If you don't get a job in April, you don't have a job for the summer," said Jacobson, who works at Wares Brothers Frosty Treat.

Nick Reavely, one of the Wares' owners, said he's seeing the same number of teen applications as in past years, but the experience level of those applying has increased.

"There's definitely a higher level this year," Reavely said. "Kids are starting to apply with resumes."

And more young people are returning from college and searching for summer jobs, which makes less room for the high school-age applicants.

Kelsey Hendrickson will be a sophomore at Ohio State Agricultural Technical Institute in the fall and returned to Traverse City for summer work. She reclaimed her previous summer jobs at Mr. Bill's Shirt Company in Traverse City and the Honor Trading Post.

"I know that my coming back stinks for kids trying to get jobs," Hendrickson, 18, said. "But I've built a trust with my bosses. They'll just have to work harder to get jobs."

Some students started to look for jobs after high school graduation. Craig Manning, 17, recently began applying for jobs and said he's optimistic, despite the dour economic outlook.

"I know it's going to be hard to get a job," Manning said. "I'm really just hoping for anything."

Some job-seekers struck gold early on. His parents gave Jordan Thomas an ultimatum and a week-long deadline to find a job or lose their financial support, so Thomas, a 2008 Traverse City Central grad, had a few anxious moments as he waded into the job hunt.

But less than 30 minutes after submitting his application to Red Ginger, a downtown restaurant, Thomas had a job offer.

"I was really surprised I got a job that fast," Thomas, 17, said. "I knew that a lot of people already had jobs and a lot of others were having trouble. I thought I had missed the time to get one."

It pays to have connections, though. Thomas received the Red Ginger tip from a friend, while Grant Floering, 18, a 2008 Grand Traverse Academy graduate, searched for three months before he found a job working for a private irrigation business, with help from his gym teacher.

"It was kind of given to me," Floering said. "I know a lot of students are looking for jobs. I'm just thankful that I found something."

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