Teen Summer Hiring Falls to 790,000 as Automation, Older Workers and Inflation Squeeze Jobs
Updated
Updated · Morning Brew · May 26
Teen Summer Hiring Falls to 790,000 as Automation, Older Workers and Inflation Squeeze Jobs
7 articles · Updated · Morning Brew · May 26
790,000 teen jobs are projected for May through July, Challenger, Gray & Christmas said, putting summer hiring on pace for its lowest level in decades.
801,000 jobs were filled by teens last summer and 1.077 million in 2024; the drop reflects AI-driven automation, older workers delaying retirement, and weaker hiring in traditional teen roles.
70% fewer hires are expected in leisure and entertainment than a year ago as inflation and higher gas prices raise costs for theme parks, hotels and activity centers.
78% more lifeguard postings and stronger retail hiring offer some offsets, while workers aged 17 to 25 are the fastest-growing group on Uber and DoorDash and Gen Z registrations rose 8.4% year over year.
As teens flock to the gig economy, is it a path to freedom or a dead-end career trap?
Beyond coding, what simple skills can make a teenager irreplaceable in an automated world?
With AI erasing entry-level roles, are we creating a future with no experienced leaders?