Teens Have Trouble Finding Summer Jobs

EL PASO, Texas — The last day of school is fast approaching, and if you’re trying to get your teenager to go out and get a job, that may turn out to be a job in itself.

But there may be some help for the young job seeker in your family.

“Probably get some money for me and probably help my Mom since she’s looking for a job, too,” said Dahien de la Sierra, a high school student looking for a job.

This year because of the recession, it’s not just teens looking for summer jobs.

“We’re seeing heavier traffic of customers that are highly skilled, bachelor’s, master’s degrees even,” said David Coronado with Upper Rio Grande Workforce Solutions.

Coronado said while El Paso’s unemployment rate is below the national average, the unemployment rate for teens is in the double digits.

“The youth have more needs as far as employment, you know they have lower skills, they don’t have the education they need to fill the positions the employer is looking for,” said Coronado.

This at a time when many teens really need a job. “I need to help out my Mom and Dad, ” said Victor Rojera, who was looking for a job.

“I need to pay my classes from community college. My supplies, my books and it’s really expensive right now. So, I need a summer job,” said another teen job seeker.

But thanks to stimulus money from the federal government, “we can pay for some of the wages for the employers to hire those workers,” said Coronado.

Some jobs are being created by more than 100 employers including the city of El Paso and UTEP. “It’s a win-win for both employers and job seekers and the economy, overall,” said Coronado.

If you would like more information on the Summer Youth Program, go to the Workforce Solutions Web site.