United States: Once a scorching terrain for teenage job seekers, the US summer employment scene is now cooling rapidly. The glow that once surrounded youthful summer gigs has dimmed, reflecting the waning embers of a post-pandemic hiring surge. The economic climate that once rolled out red carpets for high schoolers now offers fewer doorways and even fewer keys.
Fewer Teens, Fewer Hires: A Vanishing Chapter
The volume of teenagers eyeing a paycheck is shrinking, and among those hunting, a declining fraction secures positions. Labor analysts suggest the golden moment for teen workers — born of pandemic-induced labor gaps — is drawing to a close.
“We’re seeing a reversion to pre-pandemic youth labor patterns,” said Alicia Sasser Modestino, a labor economist from Northeastern University immersed in teen employment dynamics.
Are Doors Closing for Teen Workers?
Between May and July, projections indicate that teens will only secure about 1 million jobs, the lowest since 2010, according to figures from Challenger, Gray & Christmas. The broader slowdown in the US economy, rising uncertainties stemming from President Donald Trump’s tariff decisions, and the gradual creep of automation are erasing roles that once served as entry points to the workforce for teenagers, according to USA Today.
June is poised to bring only 113,000 new positions — a sharp decline from May’s 139,000 — according to Labor Department indicators.
Despite this, small enterprises haven’t abandoned youth labor entirely. Payroll processor Gusto reported that 19 percent of May hires among their clientele were teens, only slightly off from the spring hiring levels of 2023 and 2024. Still, overall job growth for 15- to 19-year-olds fell to 11.8 percent, from 14.3 percent the prior year.
“Firms still reliant on teen labor are sticking with them,” noted Gusto’s Senior Economist Nich Tremper. “But slower hiring radiates ripple effects far and wide.”
Teen Labor Participation: The Downward Drift
The percentage of 16- to 19-year-olds working or actively job-hunting dropped to 35.4 percent in May, down from 37.4 percent a year before — the lowest since pandemic-pummeled 2020.
At Chip City, a dessert stop in Arlington, Virginia, store manager Marquise Shiemvs shared that although teens comprise most of the seven-person team, attracting new recruits is tougher than ever. “They’re not walking in with resumes anymore,” Shiemvs remarked. “We’ve ended up hiring a few loyal customers,” according to USA Today.
Unemployment Among Teens on the Rise
The unemployment rate among youth climbed to 13.1 percent — a leap from 12.1 percent last May, the highest May rate since 2020. Overall, unemployment remains relatively stable at 4.2 percent. Just 5.5 million teens held jobs last month — the leanest May showing since 2022.
Decades ago, summer jobs were a rite of passage for teenagers. In May 1979, 55 percent of teens were employed or job-hunting. But that number dwindled to a third by the 2010s as extracurricular activities, volunteering, and gig work took precedence.
COVID-19: A Short-Lived Job Boom for Youth
The pandemic opened up the job market. As lockdowns eased, employers desperate for staff turned to teens. Pent-up consumer demand surged; teens, stuck at home for months, leapt at the chance to earn and engage. In-person roles dangled premium pay, with median wage growth for 16- to 24-year-olds climbing from 8 percent in 2020 to a sizzling 13 percent by 2022.
Teen unemployment plummeted to 9.5 percent in May 2021 — a low not seen since 1953. And by 2024, teen labor force participation climbed to its highest level since 2009.
“Summer gigs instill real-world aptitude — punctuality, interpersonal skills, team dynamics,” said Tremper, as reported by USA Today.
“These brief stints,” Modestino added, “correlate with long-term societal gains — reduced entanglement with law enforcement, higher high school completion, and elevated early-career earnings.”
Headwinds Now Hindering Teen Hiring
1. An Economic Squeeze
After a post-pandemic consumer rush, businesses are pressing the brakes. Tariffs introduced during the Trump era are injecting uncertainty and potential cost spikes, stifling hiring plans. Monthly job creation shrank from 168,000 in 2024 to just 124,000 in 2025.
US households are trimming spending — especially in discretionary areas like travel and recreation — key sectors for teen jobs. May spending fell 0.3 percent after inflation, with airfare down 1.1 percent, recreational services down 0.6 percent, and hotel spending inching up only 0.1 percent.
“The slowdown’s first casualties? Teens,” said Modestino. “They’re low on experience and first on the chopping block.”
2. Rivalry with Graduates and Adults
Tight job supply means teens aren’t just competing with peers, but also with older job seekers. Companies cautious about layoffs post-pandemic are still operating with slimmer staff. And many young adults — especially recent grads — are job-hunting longer.
Between January and April, the count of 20- to 24-year-olds unemployed for six months or more rose 32% versus 2019.
3. Tech Ousting Traditional Teen Roles
Retail chains are installing more self-checkout kiosks and embracing automation, which is reducing the number of staff positions. While artificial intelligence hasn’t yet decimated job slots for teens, its shadow looms over the coming years.
4. Immigration’s Twisting Tale
Immigration patterns have seen-sawed. Under President Trump’s stricter deportation policies, fewer undocumented migrants are working, which could theoretically open more job spots for teens. Yet, under the prior Biden-era leniencies, net immigration surged, boosting labor supply.
Oxford Economics estimates immigration will taper drastically to an annualized rate of 500,000 by year-end, down from the 2.8–3.3 million surge in 2022–2023. But that influx still fuels today’s job competition.
Hispanic teen participation dropped to 32.4 percent this May from 35.7 percent a year ago, partially due to immigration raids. Yet, when immigrant parents are arrested, their US-born children often enter the workforce to help financially, as reported by USA Today.
“With crackdowns on migrants intensifying, we might see more US-born teens — particularly Hispanic youth — stepping into summer work,” noted Andrew Challenger of Challenger, Gray & Christmas.
Conclusion: A Fading Season for Teen Workers
America’s teens once stepped confidently into summer jobs. Now, they face a frostier outlook. Fewer roles, fiercer competition, and rising automation mean the landscape is no longer a welcoming field, but a narrowing path. What was once a tradition is now a challenge — and for many, an elusive opportunity.