In the past it has been the usual to walk into a fast food restaurant or clothing store and only see teens working. Lately though these jobs are more commonly held by adults, some who even have college degrees. Due to the declining condition of the economy many adults are settling for jobs far below their capabilities. For adults the low level of income makes it difficult to pay bills and make ends meet. Teens that would normally be hired to these positions are now jobless and cashless. Without an income and their parents’ income decreased chances are teens won’t have money to spend. The economy depends on teens to spend money just as much as anyone else. It’s teenagers who keep places like malls and movie theatres running. If teens can’t find jobs they can’t spend money. Many malls are already in danger due to harsh economic times.

   So, what to do? Some states like Missouri have programs to help teens ages fourteen to twenty-four find jobs. Michigan, however, has cut funding for similar local programs in Rochester. The government should be helping people find jobs—teens included—not reducing help. The only way to return funding to this program and create more programs like it is for people of the community to contact their legislatures. Share your opinion with Governor Granholm via internet or more effectively hand write her a letter and send it the old fashioned way: in an envelope with a 44 cent stamp.

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm
P.O. Box 30013
Lansing, Michigan 48909

http://www.michigan.gov/gov/0,1607,7-168-21995-65331--,00.html

   Another advantage is a catch-22 for teens: employers can pay them less per hour than adults. So if a teen can present themselves well with strong, non-family references and adequate work experience they have a good chance of getting the job over an adult. Teens without work experience though are in a bad position. For those teens it is unlikely they will get a job in the current job market. To increase their chances these teens should try and earn an internship somewhere in order to gain work experience.