Teen Employment Drops Sharply as Competition Intensifies

219,000 fewer teens were working in May 2026 compared to May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics—a dramatic shift in a decades-long decline.

Teen labor force participation has fallen from nearly 58% in the 1970s to about one-third today. Economists attribute the squeeze to a perfect storm of AI, inflation, tariffs, and global disruptions.

A Tough Market for Young Workers

Mariella Silva, 19, finally landed a barista job at Zeke's Coffee in Washington D.C.—but only after an intense search. Her experience reflects a broader trend: teens are no longer the default hires for entry-level positions.

Brad Hershbein, an economist at the W.E. Upjohn Institute, notes that teens now face increased competition from other demographics—including college graduates willing to take any work they can find. Meanwhile, a growing share of 18- to 19-year-olds are neither employed nor in school, a status economists call "idle."

Employer Perspectives: Barriers and Opportunities

Jesse Lauritsen, an employer at Zeke's Coffee, points to practical challenges. Scheduling conflicts and limited availability are significant barriers to hiring teens. Many employers, Hershbein suggests, now view hiring teenagers as a community service rather than an immediate productivity gain.

Yet some employers see it differently. Gayle Hurn, hiring manager at an Ann Arbor pool, employs over 100 teens annually as lifeguards and swim instructors, emphasizing their value to the workplace. Hurn provides training on professionalism—covering phone use policies and managing vacation schedules—to bridge the gap.

Community Response

Cities and school districts are actively working to connect teens with job opportunities, recognizing the need to reverse the "idle" trend among young adults.

Article published August 13, 2026, based on interviews with economists, employers, and a young worker.