Report: Summer job market best in five years for teens

Teens seeking work this summer saw the best gains in five years as the competition with older workers lessened and the economy has gradually improved. 

Nearly 1.4 million of those ages 16 to 19 found jobs in May, June and July, according to an analysis of government data released Monday by Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a global outplacement firm.

The surge in hiring is the most since since 2007, about six months before the recession officially started, when more than 1.6 million teens were hired in the three-month hiring period.  

"These are the best job gains teenagers have experienced since the recession," said John Challenger, chief executive officer of the group. 

"While not quite reaching pre-recession levels, these gains are certainly a strong indicator that the overall job market continues to improve.  

"The job gains not only signal better conditions for retailers, leisure and entertainment establishments and tourist destinations, but the fact that these jobs were not being filled by older workers suggests that these more experienced job seekers are finding better positions.” 

With many in that age group returning to school this month, the number of employed teenagers have dropped by an average of 523,000 in August in the previous five years. 

“It is too early to tell, but the strong summer hiring could be a precursor to improved holiday hiring," Challenger said. 

Holiday hiring has increased for three consecutive years, after falling to a near record low in 2008. However, unlike summer seasonal hiring, teens are not the primary beneficiaries of holiday employment gains.

"Many of the establishments that add summer workers — retailers, restaurants, movie theaters and hotels — are the ones adding extra workers during the holiday season."

In July, employers hired 382,000 teen workers, up 26 percent from 2011, when teen employment increased by 302,000.