So much for the summer job

From Time:

Where Did America’s Summer Jobs Go?

It’s not like the jobs aren’t there. The ice cream still needs scooping. A Tilt-a-Whirl doesn’t run itself. And that floppy, weirdly heavy rubber frog that somersaults toward the rotating lily pads? Hit or miss, someone’s got to bring it back to the catapult for the next lucky player. The work of an American summer remains, sticky and sweet as cotton candy, which doesn’t sell itself either.

But when Jenkinson’s Boardwalk went looking for seasonal employees last year, the response was not at all what the company expected. To fill some 1,200 summer vacancies, an Easter-time job fair drew just 400 people.

Applications did bounce up this year, but not nearly enough to reverse a grave trend that summer employers have noticed well beyond the Jersey Shore.

“It is getting harder to find students that will work,” says Toby Wolf, director of marketing at the boardwalk. “Each year it’s getting harder and harder. None of us has been able to pinpoint why. Is it a change in society as a whole?”

This is a question to chew over on the long road trip from Glacier National Park–where concessions could be staffed by Bulgarians on work-study visas–to Maine, which each summer struggles to fill the lifeguard chairs above its beaches. The same story holds at the water attractions at Wisconsin Dells and on Cedar Point’s roller coasters in Sandusky, Ohio. As a nation, we have lately endured the demise of comity and the fracture of factual truth. Are we now witnessing the slow death of the summer job?

The numbers are not encouraging. Forty years ago, nearly 60% of U.S. teenagers were working or looking for work during the peak summer months. Last year, just 35% were. Note the element of declaration: what the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) tabulates are reports of actually desiring work during the months when most high schools and colleges are off. It is a statement of intent. Plotted on a chart, the decline is unmistakable and, since the turn of the new century, precipitous–plummeting 15 points in 15 years, to where we are now: only about every third youth working or looking for work this summer.

This entry was posted in Economics, Employment, National Real Estate, Shore Real Estate. Bookmark the permalink.

57 Responses to So much for the summer job

  1. No One says:

    Friskies

  2. Chi says:

    I see the Fat Man straight up lied to the public about being on the closed public beach the other day

  3. 3b says:

    I have been saying this for years now. Kids don’t want or their parents don’t want their kids to work. What will the neighbors say? But they definitely think an unpaid internship is the key to their kids getting a good job. Americans are a such a stupid bunch.

  4. Phoenix says:

    Are you surprised? Not sure if the following applies.

    Modern Technology
    Audio Recordings
    Video Recordings

    Woman beats up Uber driver caught on camera, another tells Uber driver she was going to claim sex assault. Female teachers caught sexting with students, Female road rage incidents. Everyone suspects it is automatically only men. Technology is proving that theory very wrong. Yup, women are as capable and doing the same things as men, still a double standard there.

    Law enforcement cameras show many things about your society-no hiding from it now.

    Lying is no longer considered taboo. It is just a way to get ahead. How many people go to jail for perjury? What is the time frame? Look up perjury in family court-no one prosecutes it at all. George Carlin said it best when he said ” If honesty were suddenly introduced into American life, everything would collapse. And I think that somehow, deep down, Americans understand this. Because given a choice, Americans prefer their bul**it right out front, where they can get a good, strong whiff of it.”

  5. JJ fanboy says:

    Chi,

    It’s ok. He was wearing a hat so he didn’t get any sun.

  6. Phoenix says:

    3b,
    With technology, I think American parents are going to get their way.
    Robots are now reading your resume. Are they guilty of nepotism when they hire a kiosk over a human?

  7. D-FENS says:

    Interesting article about voting and demographics in CA.

    Reminded me of NW NJ and south Jersey and the contrast in politics in those regions when compared to NE NJ.

    Thought Essex might find it interesting…if he still reads the blog from sunny CA.

    https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/02/us/california-far-north-identity-conservative.html

  8. MikeWraro says:

    [url=https://essaywritingservice.us.com/]third grade homework[/url]

  9. Hillary's Cankles are ground zero for Zika virus says:

    Very cool chart comparing annual cost of leasing versus owning of new/used cars.

    http://www.mymoneyblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/carcostcomp_full.png

  10. Blue Ribbon Teacher says:

    lol, pure gold.

    M. LaMalfa, who live son a farm, says California’s urban denizens think of the rural areas as their “park,” and deplores what he describes as trophy legislation to protect animal species.

    “You have idealists from cities who say, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to reintroduce wolves to rural California?'” Mr. LaMalfa said. He has a half-serious counterproposal: “Let’s introduce some wolves into Golden Gate Park and the Santa Monica Pier.

    He’s right, my sister moved out to Portland and I’ve seen countless posts by her and her new found friends about the wolves.

  11. The Great Pumpkin says:

    Thanks for the 411 on fireworks, we were trying to figure that out.

    My daughter is getting a kick out of the local lizard population. On my drive down from Miami, almost ran over an iguana. Never thought I would say that…lol.

    That mermaids restaurant did a superb job with scallops. My wife is a scallop addict, and was really impressed.

    Have a great 4th of July with your family!

    Njescapee says:
    July 3, 2017 at 1:25 am
    Pumpkin, enjoy your stay in Key West. We have our grandson staying with us down here for the 4th. Fireworks are right next to the Casa Marina on the pier. It’s always a big draw. Can’t compare with big city stuff though. We enjoy Latitudes for birthdays and special occasions.

  12. The Great Pumpkin says:

    Just another country boy hating on the city. He’s just so much smarter than city folk. You live in a rural area, don’t cry about the wild life. It’s their world too. Hell, my brother just sent me a pic of a fox outside his place in ocean city, nj. Most predators don’t mess with humans unless they are provoked.

    ““You have idealists from cities who say, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to reintroduce wolves to rural California?’” Mr. LaMalfa said. He has a half-serious counterproposal: “Let’s introduce some wolves into Golden Gate Park and the Santa Monica Pier.”

  13. D-FENS says:

    I like to lease for 3 years…then buy the car at the end of the lease. That would convert my ownership status from lease in year 3 to “buy used…3 years old…keep for ten years”.

    When at the dealership…and negotiating…I never tell them whether I’m financing…either by loan or lease…or using cash. I negotiate the price…starting at $100 over invoice…not counting incentives.

    Hillary’s Cankles are ground zero for Zika virus says:
    July 3, 2017 at 10:12 am
    Very cool chart comparing annual cost of leasing versus owning of new/used cars.

    http://www.mymoneyblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/carcostcomp_full.png

  14. D-FENS says:

    He’s a farmer you dunce. The wolves eat his livestock.

    The Great Pumpkin says:
    July 3, 2017 at 10:43 am
    Just another country boy hating on the city. He’s just so much smarter than city folk. You live in a rural area, don’t cry about the wild life. It’s their world too. Hell, my brother just sent me a pic of a fox outside his place in ocean city, nj. Most predators don’t mess with humans unless they are provoked.

  15. Hillary's Cankles are ground zero for Zika virus says:

    Yup.

  16. Alex says:

    This could be the first time Pumps has ventured out beyond a 10 block radius.

  17. abeiz says:

    Where the [expletive] did Christie find a beach chair that doesn’t buckle under 350+ lbs?!?!

    I was cycling around the GWB area and two cars stopped to ask me how to get into Palisades Park…I directed everyone to the second entrance 2 miles up Hudson Terrace. Now it makes sense.

    NJRE group (road) bike ride?

  18. Blue Ribbon Teacher says:

    lol, what a dunce, why did he even bother lying about not being on the beach. This guy is literally shooting for a 0% approval rating.

  19. Blue Ribbon Teacher says:

    If you are in vacation in Florida, I suggest you stop posting while you are there.

  20. Hillary's Cankles are ground zero for Zika virus says:

    Exactly. Was in Tahoe last week. Scanned the blog once by the pool. Gorgeous part of the country.

  21. JJ fanboy says:

    Pumpkin seems mellower ever since the new Ken doll with a man bun was announced. Coincidence?

  22. D-FENS says:

    @va_shiva Jul 2

    I’m deeply saddened @SenWarren refused my thoughtful (gift-wrapped) Birthday Gift: the 23&me DNA Test Kit. Most unfortunate! #FakeIndian

  23. Fabius Maximus says:

    CC didn’t lie, he just gave an alternative fact.

  24. Fabius Maximus says:

    NJRE group (road) bike ride?

    I can follow behind in the car shouting “Single File Aholes!”

  25. The Great Pumpkin says:

    God forbid you post while on vacation. It is 2017. You guys love to bust my balls.

    Love Tahoe, absolutely beautiful. Wife won a poker tournament at the casino. Locals were so pissed a women beat them. Free vacation=winning!

  26. The Great Pumpkin says:

    God forbid you post while on vacation. It is 2017. You guys love to bust my balls.

    Love Tahoe, absolutely beautiful. Wife won a poker tournament at the casino. Locals were so pissed a women beat them. Free vacation= winning!

  27. The Great Pumpkin says:

    God forbid you post while on vacation. It is 2017. You guys love to bust my balls.

    Love Tahoe, absolutely beautiful. Wife won a poker tournament at the cas!no. Locals were so pissed a women beat them. Free vacation=winning!

    That trip was awesome. Landed in Seattle, drove the pacific coast highway down to sf straight to napa,, then Tahoe, then sf, and then the pacific coast highway to big sur and Santa Cruz.

    Lol even stopped in the town where goonies was filmed. A favorite movie of mine during childhood, so it was cool.

  28. The Great Pumpkin says:

    And your point? He can’t learn to co-exist? Has to wipe the species off the map which lived there long before humans came to the area.

    D-FENS says:
    July 3, 2017 at 10:52 am
    He’s a farmer you dunce. The wolves eat his livestock.

  29. Hillary's Cankles are ground zero for Zika virus says:

    Anyone sure that was Christie and not a beached whale sighting?

  30. Blue Ribbon Teacher says:

    I’m going to Florida in August. I won’t be reading this blog. As far as wild life….we could reintriduce wolves into Wayne as well.

  31. Anon E. Moose, Ghost of JJ says:

    The Great Pumpkin says:
    July 3, 2017 at 2:27 pm
    And your point? He can’t learn to co-exist? Has to wipe the species off the map which lived there long before humans came to the area.

    For the last 70 years the Palestinian Arabs have refused to acknowledge Israel’s right to “coexist”, but you want to try negotiating that with a species of non-sentient attack hunters. You’ll say the stupidest sn!t so long as you aren’t directly affected by the consequences. That parochial worldview is just one reason you aren’t taken seriously.

  32. The Great Pumpkin says:

    Wtf? And why would I take this comparison seriously? You use the most divisive area of human civilization, an anomaly, to make a point about a farmer protecting his livestock from wolves? You are telling me wolves are the only predator after his livestock? Give a break, just busting my balls like usual.

    “For the last 70 years the Palestinian Arabs have refused to acknowledge Israel’s right to “coexist”, but you want to try negotiating that with a species of non-sentient attack hunters. You’ll say the stupidest sn!t so long as you aren’t directly affected by the consequences. That parochial worldview is just one reason you aren’t taken seriously.”

  33. D-FENS says:

    Walmarts in Jersey fully stocked with fireworks folks.

  34. D-FENS says:

    Some stores raided by cops and fire marshals. Fireworks remixed due to confusion over the law.

    https://www.reddit.com/r/walmart/comments/6kioa6/nj_fireworks/?utm_source=amp&utm_medium=comment_header

  35. D-FENS says:

    Remixed = removed

    Prolly love to levy those $10,000 fines. Big money maker. Bastards.

  36. Fabius Maximus says:

    They are selling them just over the border in Rockland county in Car Park tents.

  37. D-FENS says:

    WTF is a car park?

  38. 3b says:

    Brit term for parking lot.

  39. The Great Pumpkin says:

    Amen, Pope. Why is this so hard for some to understand?

    “”The capitalism of our time does not understand the value of the trade union,” Francis added, “because it has forgotten the social nature of the economy, of the business.””

  40. Juice Box says:

    In flyover country this week, just filled up a shopping cart full of fireworks, 2 for one sale too, stuff iI have never seen in Jersey or picked up in NYC even 30 years ago in little Italy. GO MERICA with our (Chinese) fireworks.

    No real blockbusters or M-80’s but I have bricks and bricks of firecrackers and it’s of really cool rockets.

  41. Fabius Maximus says:

    Car Park = Parking Lot

  42. D-FENS says:

    3% is all it took. Happy 4th.

  43. 3b says:

    Fab it’s Americas birthday go with parking lot.

  44. Ottoman says:

    If you’re not email negotiating before you step foot in a dealership, you’ve already lost.

    D-FENS says:
    July 3, 2017 at 10:51 am
    I like to lease for 3 years…then buy the car at the end of the lease. That would convert my ownership status from lease in year 3 to “buy used…3 years old…keep for ten years”.

    When at the dealership…and negotiating…I never tell them whether I’m financing…either by loan or lease…or using cash. I negotiate the price…starting at $100 over invoice…not counting incentives.

    Hillary’s Cankles are ground zero for Zika virus says:
    July 3, 2017 at 10:12 am
    Very cool chart comparing annual cost of leasing versus owning of new/used cars.

    http://www.mymoneyblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/carcostcomp_full.png

  45. No One says:

    Posting from Florida at Disney World. Bad time to visit but this is where my daughter’s dance competition brings us.

  46. No One says:

    What’s the best way to get a good price on a Porsche Panamera? Need space for tennis gear and golf clubs.

  47. The Great Pumpkin says:

    Wow, the state didn’t screw over the horizon customers, are helping all taxpayers, and now have transparent oversight of horizon. Things are starting to get better, one step at a time! Go Jersey!

  48. The Great Pumpkin says:

    Everyone talking about getting a good deal on a car left out the most important part, what type of vehicle are you buying. Buying mass produced Honda type car, and you can score great deals. Economy and high end are two different worlds.

  49. Grab them by the puzzy says:

    @StephenKing

    Happy 4th of July, all you Twitters, here and elsewhere.
    I love my country;
    it’s just the president that makes me want to blow lunch.

  50. The Original NJ ExPat says:

    I would have thought he was shoveling while dancing a jig and just fell over. Poor guy was probably waiting for wage inflation so he could sell his crappy hut.

    Natural disaster ( JJ edition):
    http://nypost.com/2017/07/04/what-was-this-man-doing-when-mount-vesuvius-erupted/

  51. Grab them by the puzzy says:

    @tonyschwartz

    Only a matter of time before some crisis is excuse to declare martial law and try to shut down free press.
    #ever vigilant #never surrender

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