Tough Economy Means Only One-Third Of Teens Looking For Summer Jobs Expected To Land One

New York, NY (AHN) -- Teens looking for summer work may have a tough time this year.

The Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University recently released a study projecting the teen employment rate for the summer to be the lowest it's been since 1948 at less than 37 percent.

A large part of the reason cited is the struggling economy. For instance, with less consumer spending, retail outlets, a popular source of work for teens, have had to cut back on hiring.

The New York Times said that another reason that teens may have a difficult time finding work is that many older people are staying in the work force longer, and others who have been laid off from their professions may return to places like restaurants, another common source of employment for teens, to make ends meet until the economy improves.

Employers are said to have more faith in older workers, as they say teens may be less reliable and less focused. Also, many teens do not have their own transportation, which can often be a hindrance to showing up for work.

The Times said that only about one third of teens will find employment this summer.