Desperate teens say it is now almost impossible to find a summer job, as experts reveal the three factors that are to blame

By WILKO MARTÍNEZ-CACHERO, US REPORTER Published: 21:59, 26 June 2026 | Updated: 22:10, 26 June 2026 Teenagers who are desperate for summer jobs have insisted that it is impossible to find a gig, with experts revealing the main reasons for their struggles. Until now, teens have usually worked entry-level positions like food preparation and serving jobs, according to data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But now, those sorts of jobs are disappearing, leaving youngsters on an arduous employment hunt. 'A lot of the entry-level roles that once existed simply do not any longer,' Jaune Little, director of recruiting services at the human resources company Insperity, told The Associated Press. She added: 'Those that do exist are on leaner teams that have less ability and desire to develop and train someone.' As a result, teens are now competing with experienced adults for the same jobs, who are prioritizing 'more skilled workers even if they are overqualified.' Teen jobs dropped 25 percent last summer compared to the year before, according to analysis from outplacement firm Challenger, Grey and Christmas. The massive drop, which marked a 77-year low, could be explained through rising inflation and oil prices, as well as a cautious hiring environment, per the report. This summer is expected to mark a new low for teenager jobs in the US, with teens predicted to gain about 790,000 jobs from May through July Jaune Little, director of recruiting services at the human resources company Insperity, said that many entry level roles simply no longer exist It is expected that this summer will mark a new low, according to the firm. Teens are only expected to gain 790,000 jobs, down from last year's 801,000, starting May through July. Jaelyn Chester, 17, said she was one of the teens who had been 'looking everywhere' for a job. Chester, an A+ student and aspiring engineer, said she had sent in dozens of applications but was still trying to land a gig. 'I'm not unemployed because I'm incompetent,' she told the AP. 'I'm unemployed because nobody's hiring.' Chester, of Lake Mary, Florida, said that being jobless left her with no money and canceled plans, leaving her to look for jobs such as dishwashing. 'At this point, it would be hard to say no to anything,' she said. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University student Connor Vukelich (pictured) said that 'no one's actually hiring.' He launched his own job search website this year Max Stephenson, 19, said she had been looking for a permanent job since graduating from high school last year. Stephenson, from Little Rock, Arkansas, said she had applied to between 50 and 100 jobs. 'I thought it would be much easier than it's been,' Stephenson told the outlet. She suggested that some of the advice she was receiving from previous generations was outdated. Stephenson said: 'Old people say, "just walk in there and give them a firm handshake." That doesn't work so well now.' In 1978, 58 percent of US teens were employed, according to the Pew Research Center. But now, youngsters are saying that they are applying and not receiving answers or pathways into the workforce. Teen jobs dropped 25 percent last summer compared to the year before, which marked a 77-year low Connor Vukelich, 20, claimed that 'no one's actually hiring' despite seeing constant job postings. Though no longer a teen, Vukelich empathized with the agonizing search and lashed out at employers. 'They don't see the value in hiring someone without any experience,' he told the AP. 'They're not as willing to give someone that shot.' That led Vukelich, now a student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, to launch his own job search platform called Poppin' Jobs earlier this year. Nicole Bachaud, an economist for ZipRecruiter, claimed that teens were now among the labor market's 'most marginalized groups.' 'The opportunities for workers at the start of the career ladder started to dry up,' Bachaud said. The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.