Summer Hires

Posted on Fri, Aug 19, 2011

Summer is traditionally a time when employers turn to the teen workforce for temporary help. A recent report shows a big job gain for teens this summer: 714,000 16- to 19-year-olds were hired nationwide in June 2011 according to Chicago outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. This is the largest June job gain for teens in four years and a 44 percent increase from last June.

The gains occurred largely in traditional summer jobs in the private sector, such as the retail, leisure and hospitality industries.

In California, the jobless rate for teens is higher than the national average, according to data from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. The nationwide jobless rate for 16- to 19-year-olds was 24.5 percent in June. By comparison, California’s unemployment rate for teens is more than 34 percent.

Be mindful that if you decide to hire minors, you must follow certain legal requirements. Minors are entitled to child labor law protections under both state and federal law. Employers make several common mistakes, including:

  • Not acquiring the proper work permits before hiring minors

  • Not paying the required wages

  • Employing minors in prohibited occupations


Employers should also be aware of safety risks that are particular to employing minors. Employers must follow all relevant health and safety laws to keep young workers safe on the job.

Copyright: HR California/Cal Chamber of Commerce

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