Texas Teen Summer Jobs Seen Falling to 790,000, Pushing Workers Toward Gig Platforms
Updated
Updated · The Dallas Express · Jun 24
Texas Teen Summer Jobs Seen Falling to 790,000, Pushing Workers Toward Gig Platforms
3 articles · Updated · The Dallas Express · Jun 24
Summary
790,000 summer jobs for 16- to 19-year-olds are forecast this year, down from 801,000 in 2025 and the lowest level since federal tracking began in 1948.
A 70% drop in leisure and entertainment hiring plans through April—to 8,261—has hit the sector teens rely on most, as employers face inflation, high fuel costs and broader economic caution.
Older workers staying employed longer, recent graduates competing for entry-level roles and automation such as self-checkouts and kiosks have further squeezed openings in retail and fast food.
Texas students described applying to hundreds of jobs and internships with little success, pushing some to platforms like Sparehandstudents.com, where short-term work can pay about $25 to $30 an hour.
Economists still see pockets of demand in transportation and retail, but the broader shift suggests more young workers may need flexible gig work until traditional summer hiring rebounds.