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Nevada Teens facing grim employment posibilities

AIR DATE: July 11, 2011
LISTEN TO M3U | DOWNLOAD MP3

Unemployment among teenagers is usually above the rate for the rest of the population.  But, the last few years teens have been shoved out of jobs that were once dominated by young people.  Why?  Part of it is the economy; part of it is technology; and some say part of it lands on teens not having enough motivation these days.  Do you have a teen struggling to find work?  Share your story and experience.
 
GUESTS:
Michael Saltsman, research fellow at the Employment Policies Institute
Renee Ward, founder of teen4hire.org
Nancy White, Program Director Project 5000 Kids


    Nevada Teens facing grim employment posibilities
    As I was listening to your program this ...
    -June
    My 19 yr old has been looking for a year and ...
    -Jennifer Tabor
    The American Lung Association offers great ...
    -Chantelle
    Join the Conversation   
    Join the Discussion
    COMMENTS:
    As I was listening to your program this evening I found myself getting emotional. The unpaid internship option really had me thinking. This type of option is great if you are working for ethical employers, but how many ethical employers are out there? Why pay someone when you can get free labor? There are no guarantees, that if the teen puts in free time that someone will hire them. Ten years ago I would not have thought this way, but after living here in Nevada for the last seven years, I am dismayed to see the way people treat each other with such disrespect. Bottom line: people are dispensable. Just ask the employee who was replaced by the automated answering service, or the person who was displaced by a computer to help with technical questions. As was discussed on your program kids today are getting jobs to help support their families and are being turned away because they write too fast. The pressure they are under has to have health consequences in the future. What will we do about that? What has happened to us? Where did the the belief that people are more important than the almighty dollar go? Yes, your show got me thinking. Great show. Thank you for listening.
    JuneJul 11, 2011 21:56:26 PM


    My 19 yr old has been looking for a year and a half. Every entry level job she applies for asks for six months experience. How can anyone gain experience for an entry level job if you need to have experience to get the job in the first place? My soon to be sixteen year old will be looking for work shortly himself. The normal 'kids' jobs have disappeared. How do you teach work ethics when you cant send your teenager to work? How do you encourage a child to head to college when he sees college grads working at a fast food restaurant or retail? Who wants to get student loans to work for minimum wage?
    Jennifer TaborJul 11, 2011 16:13:22 PM


    The American Lung Association offers great volunteer experience in tobacco control. We need teens for out TATU program and young adults & adults to train as facilitators in our smoking cessation classes. It's a great way to boost resumes while gaining teaching, leadership and facilitator experience with a nationally recognized health organization. Please visit http://www.lungnevada.org/Vegas/tobacco.htm for more information.
    ChantelleJul 11, 2011 15:37:18 PM


    I share a success story. My son was offered an internship by the local college, after his excellent writing skills were observed by a media teacher. He worked hard for several weeks, showing up on time, and showing willingness to learn new skills. He is now on paid staff in the newsroom and loves it! When opportunity meets preparation, good things can and do happen. It took less than a month for him to join the paid staff. It has made a such a joyful difference in his life.
    KathleenJul 11, 2011 09:50:13 AM


    My two younger brothers, ages 18 & 19, have been constantly looking for jobs for the past year or two. They hardly ever hear back from applications for even the lowest paid positions. The 19 year-old just got a position, thanks to a referral from a family friend. I just graduated from college, with experience in my field, and I'm not getting any bites from jobs, including ones for which I am overqualified. Soon, I will be forced to take more jobs away from teenagers like my brothers, because other overqualified professionals are forced to take entry-level positions. It's a cascade effect. And it sucks.
    JasonJul 11, 2011 09:21:45 AM


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