I was reading an article earlier today which gives nine reasons why the economy is not getting better. You can read it here. I don't have a problem with the article. I think all of the reasons it states are dead on. However, it seems to be lacking one important factor in all of its reasoning. As a matter of fact, I would go so far as to say there aren't just nine reasons, but rather ten.

So, what is my tenth reason for judging that the economy is not getting better? 

Teenage unemployment.

Many teens find themselves loosing out on summer job opportunities because unemployed adults are filling in applications for those positions, and getting them. However, because newly come-of-age teenagers have not previously worked, or maybe they have but perhaps only as summer hires, they don't seem to be mentioned in the count for the mix of numbers. It is possible that I don't know what number they figure into, but it seems like they just aren't being counted at all

Let me give you an example of this adult taking over teenager jobs theory I'm working on. A month or so ago in our Sunday School class at church we talked about a local job opportunity that had over 100 hopeful applicants waiting in line for over an hour just for the chance to submit their application. What job was it? Unbelievably, it was for the position of dishwasher at the local golf course. Folks, this isn't your top of the line CEO position we are talking about here. This was a no benefits, barely making minimum wage type job. Typically jobs like this are filled by teens wanting to make a few bucks after school and on weekends. Unemployment is so high right now that every Tom, Dick, and Harry are applying for the job that Johnny High-schooler would probably be doing.

A second example centers around our local commissary. Baggers in military commissaries work for tips only. This isn't a bad deal because any typical day can give a regular bagger upward of $75-$100 a day in tips. That's really not a bad source of income when you realize many of these guys work 5 or 6 days a week for at least 8 hours a day!! Most summers find the commissary full of high school baggers. That just isn't the case this year, at least not in our area. I've been helped by maybe two teens so far this summer!!

The harsh truth of the matter is that out of all the teens we know through church and other activities, only one so far this summer season has been able to get a job. There just aren't jobs -- full time or part time -- anywhere to be found! I'm very thankful that our daughter has been working for quite a while as a helper to a lady in our church. She only works one day a week but at least it is job experience, as well as it gives Victoria a little bit of spending money.

Have you noticed this trend in your own area with less teenagers working in places that you would expect to see them at? I'd love your comments on the subject..

Sallie

In Christ,

Sallie