Teens4Hire.org Celebrates 20 Years of Assisting Jobless American Teens -- Yet Teen Employment Lower Today than 20 Years Ago
When Teens4Hire.org began its service in 2002 the labor force participation rate (LFPR) for teens 16-19 years of age was 47.6%. Today it has plummeted to 36.9% according to Fred Economic Research Data. A poll on Teens4Hire.org confirms that most teenagers want paying jobs but have never held one.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Teens4Hire.org works diligently to fulfill its mission as the leading nationwide online job and career center for American teens.
Over the past two decades Teens4Hire.org has served millions of visitors and connected hundreds of thousands of teens with visionary companies such as UCLA Healthcare, UPS Store, Honey Baked Ham, Golf Club of Houston, FEMA’s AmeriCorps, Pappa Roti, Trees Atlanta, Grady’s Family Fun Park, ReStore, Minnesota Travel Authority, and others.
In addition to fulfilling job vacancies, companies support teenagers by providing a positive experience where the teen can learn life skills and build character. Kenneth Lucas, a five-year employee of the UPS Store #15 in Huntington Beach, California extols the benefits of his early work experience.
Lucas says, “I started working at The UPS Store the day I turned eighteen. I learned how to break out of my shell. Before I started working here, I was a quiet loner who was uncomfortable speaking up about anything. Working in this store has allowed me to find my voice and become more comfortable interacting with others, handling tough situations, and becoming a more responsible and respectable adult”.
Many jobs that traditionally employed teens have been phased out due to advances in automation and technology. Think about it. In years past it took 10-15 employees to staff a shift at a fast-food restaurant. Now with touch screen and kiosk ordering systems, that number has been cut in half.
Teens4Hire.org works to bridge gaps between young job seekers and companies facing talent shortages.
For example, UCLA Healthcare in Los Angeles, California supports Teens4Hire.org as the need for healthcare workers across the board continues to grow particularly in nursing. Teens as young as 14 can qualify for meaningful volunteer opportunities that exist today. High school graduates and junior college students can apply for paid entry level jobs and if hired, may qualify for generous tuition assistance to pursue a career in a high paying specialty area.
Trees Atlanta recruits teens for its summer youth program.
"We believe it is important to not only raise the next generation of environmental stewards, but also prepare those individuals for the workforce by providing meaningful employment during the summer.” – Dana Render, Director of Human Resources, Trees Atlanta
Vivi Goenawan, owner of The UPS Store #15 and a strong advocate of teen employment says, “I take a chance every time I hire a teenager without prior job experience, but the ones I hire are eager to learn and adapt well to what we need for store operations. This is experience they can take to their next endeavor.”
Teens4Hire.org services are free of charge to teens 14 and above. At the discretion of their editorial staff, companies can post legitimate openings or become listed as a featured employer with a link to their career center.
Online since 2002, Teens4Hire.org is a national online career center for teens seeking jobs and companies willing to recruit, hire, promote, and retain them.
Emily Ayala, 18, serves as Executive Director.
Teens4Hire® is a fiscally sponsored project of Empowerment Works,
a 501c3 nonprofit organization EIN: 31-179-6801.
All donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
To support our efforts donations can be made payable to:
Teens4Hire® 7171 Warner Ave Suite B466 Huntington Beach, CA 92647