Teen Summer Job Market Faces Historic Decline

For many years, securing a summer job has been a familiar rite of passage for American teenagers. Whether it’s serving ice cream, stocking shelves in grocery stores, or working at amusement parks, these early work experiences are often cherished. However, a recent report indicates that today’s teens are confronted with the toughest job market since records began in 1948.

As many traditional summer jobs fade from view, the outlook for teen employment has taken a significant hit. A report from Challenger, Gray, and Christmas, a workforce consulting firm based in Chicago, reveals some concerning details about the upcoming summer job market for teens.

Citing Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the report highlights that total teenage employment dropped dramatically last summer, hitting its lowest point since the government began tracking in 1948. Specifically, summer employment for teens plummeted to just 801,000 jobs in 2025—marking a historical low in the Bureau’s 77 years of data collection.

Worse yet, the forecast for this summer appears equally grim. According to Mr. Challenger, Mr. Gray, and Mr. Christmas, projections suggest that employers will offer only about 790,000 job opportunities for teenagers in May, June, and July 2026.

Before this, the most challenging moment recorded was in 1949, following post-war adjustments when teen employment fell to 932,000. In 2010, the aftermath of the Great Recession saw another decline to 960,000 jobs.

Around a third of 16- to 19-year-olds in the U.S. reported working last summer, which is considerably lower than the approximately 60% rate in the late 1970s. Applications for New York City’s Summer Youth Employment Program in 2026 have already surpassed previous records, with over 200,000 candidates competing for just 100,000 positions.

Furthermore, the number of job listings for summer camp counselors on Indeed has dropped nearly 30% compared to the previous year. “Last summer saw the weakest teen employment on record,” remarks Andy Challenger, a labor and workplace expert at Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

It’s noteworthy that this situation occurred without a recession, which is quite surprising, as Challenger pointed out.

The report attributes this historically weak summer forecast to various factors, including rising inflation and oil prices, along with a generally cautious approach from employers regarding hiring. The influence of automation and older workers remaining in the labor force are compounding these challenges for teens seeking jobs.

“With inflation and increased fuel prices affecting households that typically hire teens—like amusement parks and restaurants—employers are tightening their profit margins. They tend to delay hiring decisions until they see a rise in demand,” Challenger added. “We anticipated a quiet summer last year, but it turned out to be an even quieter one. Those dynamics persist, and in some instances, they’ve intensified.”

In April, the number of employed teens aged 16 to 19 stands at 5.193 million, a drop from 5.487 million in April 2025. Challenger remarked, “When fewer teens are working in April, catching up later in spring usually doesn’t make up the difference. We can expect June to be significant, but the overall trend seems downward.”

Challenger, Gray, and Christmas also reported that employment announcements in the Entertainment and Leisure sector—historically a significant sector for teenage jobs—have declined by about 70% compared to last year.

The job drop in entertainment and leisure is a clear red flag as we approach summer, according to Challenger.

He added that employment opportunities at places like theme parks, resorts, and events are likely to decrease even further this year. “That’s precisely the type of work teens rely on,” he stated.

The report does suggest that there may still be opportunities in industries like agriculture, hospitality, and food services. Notably, it mentions that crackdowns on illegal immigration in certain areas might lead some employers to seek local teenage workers more actively.

“In regions where labor is scarce, teenagers can be a viable solution for businesses,” Challenger asserted.

Interestingly, some areas will offer “bright spots” for teens in roles such as lifeguarding or retail, as explored by another source.