The Ann Arbor News has this story today: Ann Arbor area teens face tough market for summer jobs.

A snippet:

The number of teens entering the labor force rises sharply in May and peaks in July, so it’s best to start looking for work in the spring, said Jeff Aula, an economic analyst for MDLEG. The state’s poor labor market environment has increased the likelihood that teenagers are competing with adults for jobs, he said.

Jens Mayer, general manager of the Big Boy Restaurant in Ypsilanti, isn’t hiring right now. He said those who have jobs at the restaurant are hanging on to them.

But every day, three to six people come in looking for work, he said. About 60 percent are teenagers.

I would certainly agree with seeking out summer job posts in the spring in future years. My daughter was in serious job hunting mode three months ago.

Another option if the opportunities are limited, if your teen has a reliable vehicle and can be flexible with hours, is to sign up with a temporary agency.

I worked as a temp one summer as a college student when the available jobs didn’t mesh with where I wanted to live that summer. I didn’t earn a lot of money as an office clerk, but at least I had something to show on my resume for that time frame.