06/17/2026
Remember the summer job? Lifeguarding, scooping ice cream, working the register at the local pool snack bar?
Fewer teens are doing that today than at almost any point on record.
In 1978, nearly half of all 16-19 year-olds had a summer job. This year, that number is projected to fall below 31% — likely the lowest rate since the government started tracking it in 1948.
What changed?
→ College pressure starts earlier. Many teens now spend summers on test prep, internships, and résumé-building instead of paid work.
→ The job market shifted. Entry-level hiring in retail and hospitality (the sectors that have always hired the most teens) has softened, even without a recession.
The "first job" still matters — for financial literacy, work habits, and that first paycheck. It's just looking different than it used to.
Did you have a summer job growing up? What was it?
