Time for teens to start annual summer search

Last summer, the number of working teens in the country rose 29 percent over the previous year.

And job opportunities should only be growing for ages 16 to 19 this summer, according to  outplacement consultant Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

“Last year’s teen summer job market was the strongest since 2007, when a pre-recession economy added nearly 1.7 million 16- to 19-year-olds to employer payrolls,” John A. Challenger, chief executive officer of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, said in a media statement. 

“There is a chance we could reach that level again in 2013, not necessarily because the economy is booming but because the types of employers that typically seek out teens are doing better.”

In the Flathead Valley, at least one traditional employer of teenagers, McDonald’s, will need to bump up its hiring. Starting Memorial Day, the three Kalispell-area McDonald’s will be open 24 hours a day.

Michelle Hadwin, along with her husband, Scott, own all three Kalispell McDonald’s locations, as well as the franchises in Whitefish and Libby. She said that the sites will probably be adding around 50 new employees.

They hire those who are ages 14 and 15 in limited roles and after age 16 teens can work more extensively.

“If they really give McDonald’s their all, it’s a great steppingstone,” she said. “Working at McDonald’s is good for your future no matter what you do.” 

Hadwin said McDonald’s offers a great deal of flexibility for teenage workers and even more so now with the extended hours. The managers are happy to accommodate students who only want to work one day a week for school reasons or because they have another job, she said.

“We always say school is your first job, McDonald’s is your second,” she said.

The Hadwins back up that philosophy by paying eligible student employees in middle, high schools or college a bonus for grade-point averages above 3.0 or perfect attendance. 

As business spikes at Super 1 grocery stores each summer, they also look to hire extra employees from ages 16 and up. Teenagers under 18 are not allowed to work in delicatessen areas and other departments that require special equipment, but there are often 15 to 20 other summer positions open at each store. 

Columbia Falls especially needs extra hands each summer since the store is packed with tourists heading for Glacier National park. 

Jennifer Young, director of Kalispell City Parks and Recreation, said her department hires about 100 seasonal employees, ages 15 and up, for its roster of summer programs. At age 15 students can do things such as work concessions or the front desk at the Woodland Water Park, and ages 16 and up can lead summer day camps or help with park maintenance.

Students seem to appreciate the opportunities there, Young said, and the department usually has a 60 to 70 percent return rate each summer. 

Tim Frye, workforce consultant at Flathead Job Service, said he encourages young job seekers to register at the job service. Job postings in general are up, as the office hit the 400 job postings number last June for the first time since October of 2007.  Frye said that there were 369 jobs on the board last week, well ahead of last year’s number for the same time period.

“I’ve spoken to a lot of classes at high schools and a lot of that is to encourage kids to come to job service,” he said. “We offer a lot of classes and experts who are more than willing to take time to talk to them.” 

The nationwide picture might also offer some ideas for local teenagers. 

“Earlier this year both Home Depot and Lowe’s announced they would be adding 80,000 and 45,000 seasonal workers, respectively,” Challenger said in the media release. “These openings, as well as those at shopping malls, clothing stores, amusement parks, day camps, etc., are ripe opportunities for teenagers hoping to earn some money this summer. 

“Moreover, an improving housing market could mean that more homeowners plan home-improvement and landscaping projects this spring and summer after postponing such projects during the downturn. This could mean job openings with landscaping companies and contractors.”

Last year, the number of working 16- to 19-year-olds rose by nearly 1.4 million in May, June and July, according to nonseasonally adjusted data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That marked a 29 percent improvement over 2011, when 1,087,000 teens found summer jobs.  

In 2010 only 960,000 teens were added to payrolls — the fewest since 1949, government data show. 

Business reporter Heidi Gaiser may be reached at 758-4439 or by email at hgaiser@dailyinterlake.com.