[HamiltonJay]

You are correct there are always jobs to be had, but trust me it is not like it used to me. I told my 17 year old son he needed to get a job, he applied at about 20+ places, all entry level work, only got called into an interview by 1 place and did get that job... but it took him nearly 2 months.

All of these places were entry level places, places you would expect a teen to be able to go and find work. 25 years ago, I would have likely had a job inside of 2-3 weeks after putting in no more than a handful of applications.

Reality is the long term depression/recession and the complete instability of things due to government actions, has made the labor market far tighter than it used to be, and employers, even the most basic ones far more leery to hire and picky about who they are willing to. Instead of HS kids working those minimum wage jobs as the rule, they are now more the exception.

I do agree there is always work out there, but its definitely a different and worse world than it used to be. Reality is at the end of the day employment in America today is probably the hardest, for the longest duration of my life. Those jobs teens were doing are now being done by adults who cannot even get a better job.

Reality:

In 1999, slightly more than 52 percent of teens 16 to 19 worked a summer job. By this year, that number had plunged to about 32.25 percent over June and July in 2003.

[HamiltonJay]

Sorry that should be 2013 not 2003

[WinMod70]

Don’t know your location but here in Central PA I see many help wanted signs in grocery stores, convenience stores and fast food shops, some advertising $10-12/hr. Believe me some of those places need good help.

[Old North State]

It is harder to find a job, but the democrats cannot simultaneously bemoan the fact while at the same time doing everything they can to reduce private sector job creation and make people dependent on government handouts. Nancy Pelosi is on record saying unemployment benefits are a great way to boost the economy. Obama wants to raise the minimum wage; both dependable job killers, then there is Obama care. Whether or not the long term unemployed are lazy in unknowable and we all have opinions, but extending benefits forever is not a substitute for a growing economy. That is a fact.

[oh8eleven]

he applied at about 20+ places, all entry level work, only got called into an interview by 1 place and did get that job... but it took him nearly 2 months.
Appreciate what you said, but your comment is based on a sample of one.
For all you know, the other 20 places hired kids within one day of their applications.
Just sayin' ...

[CorporateStepsister]

I’m’ in full agreement with you..

In the past, if you had a clean record, there was a job waiting for you. All that had to happen was a solid education and then things would work out fine.

I do know that there is little to no chance that the young can even get a basic teen job like restaurant work since illegals are sinking their merry claws into that.