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Alan Poizner / for msnbc.com
Nick Gentry, 18, has found summer work. Lots of other teens haven't.
Nick Gentry will be able to celebrate two major accomplishments this month: He’s graduating from high school and, after a very long job search, he has landed his first job.
That Gentry, 18, will be collecting a paycheck makes him a rarity in today's working world.
Only about 25 percent of 16- to 19-year-olds currently are working, a drop of 10 percentage points from just five years ago, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The percentage of teenagers who have jobs, expressed as the ratio of employment to population, hovered between 40 and 50 percent for much of the 1980s and 1990s. The percentage began dropping about a decade ago, but the declines have been especially steep since the beginning of the Great Recession in late 2007.
With summer approaching and the job market showing signs of improvement, teens could have a better shot at getting hired than they have had in years. But it could take many more years for teens to resume working at pre-recession levels.
The April employment report, due out Friday, will offer more clues into how things will look in the coming months.
Part of the issue is that fewer teens either want to work or think they can get a job. The labor force participation rate, which measures both teens who are working and those actively seeking work, also has fallen sharply since 2000.
The White House pledged on Wednesday to help lower-income youth find summer jobs in a move likely to appeal to younger voters crucial to President Barack Obama's re-election campaign.
The initiative is in partnership with the cities of Philadelphia, Chicago and San Francisco and is meant to add 110,000 jobs, internships and mentorships to the 180,000 summer work opportunities for 16-24 year olds that Obama has promised to create for 2012.
Still, most teens are facing a job market in which there are fewer positions to be had. What’s more, many believe the jobs that are available are increasingly going to adults who are desperate enough to take a job that might once have gone to a teenager.
Gentry, who lives in Murfreesboro, Tenn., said he’s applied for jobs on and off over the past two years.
He finally got a break this spring when his mother, Brenda Gentry, helped him land a part-time job doing yard work for the company where she works in accounting.
“It was pretty exciting, finally getting one,” Nick said.
He plans to use his paycheck for car expenses and other incidentals and says he’s looking forward to not having to ask his mom for money.
“It’ll feel a lot better …because she works real hard to give us what we have,” he said.
Brenda Gentry’s other son, Wes Kirk, hasn’t been so lucky. Kirk, 16, said he’s applied at retail stores and fast food places, always trying to follow up in person with the manager. But so far, he hasn’t been able to get a break.
“I’ve had them say they’re interested, but no one’s ever called me in for an interview,” he said.
Who does, and doesn’t, work
The job market is unquestionably difficult for all teens, but experts say it’s especially hard for those who may need the money most: Teens from poor families and families in which a parent is out of work.
“It’s the opposite of what everybody thinks,” said Andrew Sum, director of the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University.
Sum said the disparity is partly because many kids get jobs through family and community connections such as parents, neighbors or relatives.
That can also have a ripple effect: The likelihood of working increases significantly once a teen has already held a job, according to his research.
Other research backs up that disparity. Algernon Austin, director of the race, ethnicity and the economy program at the Economic Policy Institute, last year analyzed 2009 data on teens who were not attending school.
He found that 16- to 19- year-olds from poor families, whose income was below the poverty line, were less likely to be working than teens whose families had more money. That was true regardless of race or ethnicity.
“In terms of need, it is backwards,” he said.
The analysis of teens living below the poverty level, just above the poverty level and in middle-class households also found that at every income level, white and Hispanic teens were more likely to be working than black teens.
Austin said low-income and minority teens may not have family connections and role models that can help them land a job. They also may face other obstacles, some as simple as not having access to a car or public transportation to get to work.
“It’s all sort of interconnected – (a) web of disadvantage that makes it difficult to find work,” he said.
‘Nothing like making your own money’
Dominique Plain Bull, 19, landed her first job late last year after her mom helped her connect with a family friend who is a retail store manager. She’s working part-time while attending a community college in Huntsville, Ala., full-time.
Dominique’s mother, Shannon, said she’s glad her daughter found a job and is learning the value of being a good, reliable worker. But she’s also happy that her daughter didn’t work in high school and was instead able to focus on sports and academics.
That’s something Shannon, 35, missed out on because she had Dominique when she was just 15 and started working when she was 16.
“I was kind of wanting her to be a kid, because I wasn’t given the opportunity to have my childhood,” she said.
It can be tiring to work and go to school, but Dominique said she likes her job – and her paycheck.
“There’s nothing like making your own money,” she said.
For some teens who are working, having an entry-level job has provided a valuable life lesson along with a paycheck: It’s taught them what they don’t want to do with the rest of their life.
Moses Goldfarb, 19, didn’t have much trouble landing a job stocking shelves at a grocery store in Seattle in 2009, when he was still in high school. He graduated in 2011 and decided not to go straight to college.
After a year of working, however, he says he regrets that decision and is looking forward to going to school next fall to study film and TV production. A turning point came when he took an unpaid internship last summer working on the television show “Portlandia.”
The hours were long and the pay nonexistent, but he loved going to work every day.
Now, he says, “I want to leave my grocery store and retail days behind me and move on to bigger and better things.”
Reuters contributed to this story.
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Illegals need jobs also...
Exactly what I was thinking.
Several thoughts. Illegals are more and more taking a lot of those summer jobs that teens used to get, because employers can pay them less and they're likely to stay on longer than a summer.
There are also more college and college grads flooding into these "summer jobs" just to have some sort of work, since they are no longer getting "real" jobs out of college quickly.
Then, there is an increasing number of retirees rejoining the workforce in the "easier" summer jobs to make ends meet.
Finally, there are too many parents all too willing to continue spoiling and protecting their young adult teens, and they keep them from going out and getting jobs. They just hand them twenty dollar bills every other day to keep them occupied.
The White House will do nothing BUT pledge to do help teens find jobs. They are pandering for votes. As long as they support driving up the minimum wage, which is union driven, teens will find jobs hard to find. That is the facts.
Yes, and while illegals continue entering our country daily by the thousands more jobs like these will evaporate... meaning Mom & Dad have to foot the bills for son or daughter who can't find work, foot the bill for college they can't help pay for, gas in their car, etc.
I think a big reason was missed in the article, the post, and the replies as to why there are no jobs. The article hinted at it, but did not explain fully. If you look at the jobs usually held by the under 21 crowd, those minimum wage jobs are being held, with increasing regularity, by workers who cannot find any other employment and are forced to work them.
The article stated that the trend was showing a lowering of the number of under-21s having a job since 1995. To me, this shows that the jobs are not available any more due to what I said above.
This is trickle down fantasy at its finest. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer and the teens can't get any work.
Big corporation loves the illegals, they keep wages low for the bottom labor force, this helps with their profit margin. Government will never do much about closing our borders.
Mac, I agree in part, but I think the main reason is something more dire;
In San Diego most teen jobs are in the service or retail industry. I know that local hotels and restauraunts have been icreasingly wary of local youth's work ethic. Hotels especially have been increasingly going overseas (Ireland and Poland) to recruit their holiday and summer help for the front of the house jobs (back of the house tend to be hispanics, who also work hard). It sounds crazy and expensive, but companies are fed up with waisting monies training our irresponsible, entitlement minded youth.
Ton,
Companies like people who work hard, and don't whine all day long. I'm not a fan of illegal immigration, but the truth is our youth suffer from serious entitlement issues, and no company wants that.
Mac, your jab at "trickle down" is kinda out of context, and irrelevant 6 years into ademocraticaally controlled government and 3 1/2 years into an Obama presidency, don't ya think?
Yeah, who else is gonna clean your bathroom and your nasty hotel room when you stay there. I bet you don't care then....just sayin'
Seattle Indie says: "ever notice that you can post comments on the jobs reports articles when it's "good news" but not when it's bad?" Seattle Indie, I guess this blows that theory out of the water. Once again, everyone, passing off opinion as fact.
This is a myth anymore that businesses pay illegals or "almost legals" very little money and below minimum wage. The fact is a motivated Mexican national can and will produce SIGNIFICANTLY more labor output than your typical "American laborer", and a wise employer will pay a premium for higher output of better quality labor. Sorry to bring up facts such as this and sorry to bust your bubble that American labor is best and most efficient. Yes, it is true there are a lot of jobs that American workers won't do so long as they're paid into perpetuity to sit home and watch reruns Dog the Bounty Hunter. We are in many ways and areas, a lazy, spoiled workforce. Get mad if you want but facts are facts.
College grads are replacing teens at burger flipping jobs! Welcome to the job reality USA 2012 :)
A demonstration of the finer points of Obamanomics...
My daughter has had a job every summer from age 15 on. It takes work to find them. Summer Jobs are found in January and February. By May it is way too late. She worked as a lifeguard at our town pool for 4 years. It is cold, hot, sweaty, buggy, aggravating, nasty work. Some of the shifts start at 5:30 am. Some of the shifts end at 10 pm. While her nonworking friends were going to concerts and the beach on weekends and holidays, my daughter was working. She found internships each year in college ( she will be a college senior next fall). The internships will help her land a full time job hopefully.
We do not have money, we do not have connections. Lifeguard and fast food jobs go begging each year. The kids all want to work at the Mall or Starbucks.
I think Obama has been an absolute disaster in terms of jobs and the economy. But the kids ( and adults) that hustle and work their behinds off will find something. When the parents lay around the house all day and don't provide an example, the kids will end up laying around the house all day as well. Despite the incumbent in the White House, people that want to succeed will find a way.
If you can not speak the native language.... you should not be allowed to work in this country. Someone from above said " Illegals need jobs to" and hell yeah I agree 100%.... however that job should be in their country! Come here if you want to... it is the U.S.A everybody wants some.... but come correct... and legally... or GTFO! Im all for you having a better life and more opportunities, but Im not gonna pay for it...Just Saying!
I think it really depends on where you live. My 5 kids all went to work at 14, and always worked these jobs when they were home on college break as they got older. They also have a good attitude and work hard, which employers appreciate.
Gary: Sometimes, not always. Demographics plays a big part. If you're white in Atlanta; unless you "know" someone who'll hook you up with a job, you're waiting tables.
Tod / STexan,
You forgot another huge drawback to today's teen workers: the requirement they have to stop whatever they are doing every minute to text / tweet their friends.
As management, I've had to get in the face and / or fire a few who just couldn't grasp the fact that they are being paid to WORK! My wife tells me it's just as bad with older workers (twenties & thirties) she manages where she works.
Actually some of the teen unemployment is states restricting how much they can do. Granted some of this is warranted, like not letting them use certain heavy equipment or very sharp hazzard equipment like grinders and cutting equipment, but some of these regulations cut down how late they can work, how long they can work, how early they can work, when they take a break.
But some restrictions are ridiculous like not being able to use walk-in coolers and freezers. Some of these regulations brought senior citizens to fast food leaving the youth with less opportunity to get a job.
Hey the youth is so enamored with Obama, here comes their reward: unemployment and poverty. Looks like they will have plenty of time to grab hands, stand in a circle, and sing praises to Barak this summer.
All too true, Kman.
Why would an employer bother? The majority of those getting jobs are older, because in general, they are known to have a better work ethic. Its not rocket science?
fact the plants won't hire americans if green cards are available...you can treat them like crap...they won't quit...thank's for nafta...
Oh, please, the teens I see of my friends hmm and hawww around getting out to get summer work, or putting out applications, and then whine about anything they do get and don't show up and loose their jobs.
The American teen of today, is not the American teen of yesterday. They are spoiled. Their parents have bought their cars, their cell phones, their iPads, even their cigarettes. Why should they get a job? The examples in this story are few and far between.
Illegals have little to do with it, but are a convenient excuse. Thank god someone is doing the jobs our children are too lazy to do.
Don't worry kids, Obama has allowed you to remain on your parents healthcare until age 26, and he is making speeches about keeping the interest rate on your college student loan debt low since your degree will be worthless.
Do you really want a future more than these wonderous "free" handouts? Just kneel and hold out your hand.
When you see men in their prime working cash registers at a grocery store you know the country is effed... Blame the politicians in both parties for being whores to international capital which is destroying domestic jobs, industry after industry.
I wonder if the young people are still as eager to vote for that "Change we can Believe in" again?
That experiment with the first 'Affirmative Action' President didn't work out so well, did it? But at least they had the satisfaction of showing that they were 'post racial'.
Congress was warned to NOT raise the minimum wage to the level it is now. They were warned by business owners that it was going to cost jobs, especially summer jobs that most of us had while growing up. While in the 80s and 90s you'd see "Summer Help Wanted" signs all over store fronts in cities and towns across America, now you rarely see them.
Chalk it up as yet another lesson not learned by the arrogant power hungry for vote pandering Congress representatives who push through what "feels" good whether or not it actually IS good. Democrats are the worst at making the rest of us suffer unforeseen consequences (well, unforeseen to THEM anyway). That's because most of those clueless boneheads never held a real job in their lives other than being ambulance chasing lawyers.
And then, there's Obamacare that Nanny Pelosi said would "instantly create 400,000 new jobs" .............
You tired of these lies and Washington incompetence yet people?
K riley-610474.......I agree. My kids got jobs at 14 and were invited back every year to those jobs right through college. They also were often asked to come back to work during school vacations like Christmas and Spring break. They did not have special skills, they just knew they were expected to show up on time without a phone or ipod ( walkman at the time) plugged in their ear, and do what they were asked without whining ! Employers value people who are dependable and "low maintenance " employees. They always worked and they got jobs out of College ( one with the comany he worked for as a part timer and summer worker). There are jobs there for those willing to work. I pumped gas and my wife waited tables all through our high school and college years. I don't see many American kids working those jobs now, but the jobs are still there.
Cygnus_X-1
You're right!! Before illegals, it was common seeing teens clean up port-o-potties, pick produce, butcher animals,and work construction.
But why not blame our leadership instead for allowing companies to get away with this? It's so much easier to blame the immigrant right?
Parents are a major factor in this. These kids have no work ethic, because their parents have failed to teach them one. Instead, they simply give them everything they want. As a result, we have a generation of goof-offs, constantly tweeting and twittering, when they should be producing.
lol who could possibly be dumb enough to think that the unemployed are just lazy.just because someone is young doesnt mean they have no work ethic.the fact is there are fewer starting jobs because weve exported 6 million manufacturing jobs since 2006.you cant have free trade and no illegal immigration enforcement without expecting high unemployment.you get things cheaper because youve replaced your neighbors as workers
Congress was warned by the business owners--you mean the ones that did not want to pay a living wage? (Not that minimum wage even now is a living wage)
The reason they raised the minimum wage is to try to have people that are working not need public assistance just to stay above water. I think the minimum wage is $7.15/hr now-10tacle could you live on that-even working 60 hours a week? That comes to $429 before taxes I don't think you can live anywhere in this country on that.
It is unimaginable to me that some people think that it is too much to ask business to pay a living wage. There was a time in this country when business felt a symbiotic relationship with their employees and their community but since the late 1970's and through today most business's only cares about their bottom line. It is more important for the CEO to make another million a year than to pay the people that actually do the work a living wage. It is more important to line the pockets of the corporate elite than to care about the community where they are located.
Alot of people say they want to take our country back--I agree with them. I think we need to take the country back to a timewhen business, government and people cared about society, community and people more than the mighty dollar.
In the 1950's this country was very prosperous, people cared about the community as a whole, business made plenty of money and guess what? the top tax rate was 90%.
JohnQcitizen... Yes, that's exactly what we think. That is why we see Hispanics and older people in menial labor jobs. They are willing to work hard in lesser jobs for their money. The spoiled teens of today are not.
It is naive and stupid to think every working Hispanic we see in a job is an illegal alien. They are American citizens, some in our country longer than your parents... doing jobs that your kids are too proud to do.
Jeanette, what is wrong with waiting tables?
Your attitude is what is wrong. I bussed tables in high school. My wife waited tables in high school and college. I was also a janitor in high school and college. Cleaned toilets and ashtrays ( ashtrays were worse) every night for 4 years .
Nobody owes you anything. Not Obama. Not Romney. Not the Federal Government. Get off your rear and wait tables until something better comes along!
so is a college kid with a job........but good old Barry keeps running around the globe visiting colleges trying to get them to vote for him again! How stupid can they be?
My daughter in college was furious when she went to McDonald's and the lady waiting on customers was at least 80! She had her entire life to save money and she gets social security and now she has to steal college kids jobs????
I agree...I feel regret for the American teenagers mentioned in the article - doomed to a life of poverty - but on the other hand, it's a comfort to know that all of the illegal immigrants are being looked after by Mr. Obama and company in Washington
Viva La Raza!!
OK,
I previously posted about the Entry Level, No Benefits, Low Wage Jobs, McJobs, "Hard Work", Jobs being taken by Illegal Aliens (loyal citizens of another Nation) resulting in the actually 52% Unemployment of Children of US Citizens. Hinted at why E-Verify, penalizing US Businesses, etc. do not work (how Illegal Aliens are smart enough to get around those and other measures with the help of US Taxpayer Funded Illegal Alien Advocacy Groups at the US.).
I previously posted about the Illegal Aliens starting to take the US Labor Union Construction Jobs. Result negating the possibility of President Obama's Infrastructure Jobs creating Jobs for US Citizens.
I previously posted the Researched Numbers about the Illegal Aliens NOT paying State and Federal Income Taxes and why. And that Sales Taxes did not even come close to the amount States spent on Illegal Aliens as California, 2004, spent over $10 Billion on Illegal Aliens while collecting only $17 Million in Sales Taxes.
I previously posted about the attitude of the current young and that only 25% even applied for Jobs, the lowest in History.
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7387817n&tag=mncol;lst;1
I previously posted about the President Obama as Commander In Chief Ordering the Reduction In Forces (RIF) of the US Military of:
Already as Ordered by President Obama as Commander In Chief already starting, the Reduction In Forces (RIF) of the US Military of: 80,000 US Military Personnel PLUS 27,000 US Military Personnel Returning from the Wars PLUS 10,000 US Military Personnel returning from the US Military Installations Closed at Germany (Logistics Supply and Transportation Support for Afghanistan) PLUS 5 more Brigades all being thrown on Unemployment.
PLUS xxx,xxx US Civilians that provided support to the soon to be RIF'ed US Military Personnel thrown on Unemployment.
PLUS about 1 (one) Million US Civilians of the US Military Defense Industrial Complex (President Obama's and Secretary of Defense Leon Penetta's "A 10% US Military Defense Budget Cut will result in a million US Civilians becoming Unemployed").
The specific numbers by Branch of Service can be seen here: US Army: www.armytimes.com; USAF: www.airforcetimes.com ; USMC: www.marinecorpstimes.com ; USN www.navytimes.com;
The US Civilians to be Unemployed: www.federaltimes.com
I previously posted about why the US Businesses are NOT hiring, leaving the US over 35% Taxes plus Local, City (County), State Taxes being increased; along with the Rich US and Foreign Business Investors threatened with "Tax the Rich", "Rich Pay Their Fair Share" are going to Vietnam, China, India, etc. any Nation with Taxes of 6-9%.
I previously wrote an article about why the US Economy is going to get worse than a Great Depression:
The Current Global Economic Crisis
http://david393071.newsvine.com/_news/2011/02/22/6107088-the-current-global-economic-crisis
I previously posted how the US lost many US Allies, decreased Strategic Sphere of Influence, and the Required Resources for the current US Standard of Living as well as resources needed for the production of "High Tech" Alternative Energy. The Strategic Goal of the Chinese and Russian Federation to get the US and US Allies out of their Backyard (Resources) of the Middle East, Africa, Asia, now South and Central Americas, etc..
I previously posted my concerns (from Firsthand Experience) about Fundamentalist Islam (Shia, Shiites, Shia Laws aka Sharia Laws) becoming the Majority of the 1.5 Billion Islamic Believers by massacring Moderate Modern Pro Western Liberal Interpretation of Islam (Sunnis) Islamic Believers.
NO Sarcasm intended. So since we have the best minds here. How to we get out of this mess. Do not say (post) anything that would be considered "Anyone stating a radical change to (US) Government is a Homegrown Domestic Terrorist". I already posted about President Obama's January 21, 2009 Patriot Acts (plural) and what those US Laws Legalized.
We get stingy as a Global economic shelter and we help are own for once ! Meaning you have to have lived here legally..
robbopaloobop
The Democrats AND Republicans are responsible for allowing illegals to come and work here.
As if latinos are the only ones here illegally.
Racist much????
Amazing! If you look at illegal immigration trends you will see a correlation with the increased numbers of illegals (taking jobs that American's won't do - right) and teen unemployment.
Perhaps if we had mandatory E-Verify across this country American teens could get their first jobs instead of illegals.
Just sayin...
It has gotten harder for teenagers to find jobs for a number of reasons, including the fact that adults are hurting so much in this economy that they are taking jobs that would normally have gone to teenagers. As for the disparity in employment percentage on a racial basis, there are a number of factors at play there too. Some of it may be the lack of connections to find jobs, but it also has to do with attitude and the desire to work.
As for the illegals, the problem goes even further than just the jobs they are taking away. The illegals will work for far less than Americans will, often accepting below minimum wage. The employers can get away with paying below minimum wage, not paying time and a half for anything over 8 hours a day, and offering no benefits because the illegals can not complain to anyone. This has the effect of depressing the wages and benefits that legal Americans can get from employers. Wages tend to be tiered in an area, so if the bottom most rung is making less it propagates up the chain so that everyone in the area ends up making less. The government needs to get serious about cracking down on the businesses that hire illegals. Cutting off the employment opportunities will do more to reduce illegal immigration than hiring more border patrol. If there are no jobs to be had, they will stop coming here. The government needs to start enforcing the law and seizing the business of any company that employs illegals. If the company owners know that they are going to lose their business instead of just getting hit with a fine they will be far less likely to take the risk of hiring illegals. Most of the businesses that hire illegals now factor in getting caught occasionally and the cost of the resulting fines into their cost of doing business. So long as the fines are less than what they save by hiring the illegals, they will continue to employ the illegals. The punishment for getting caught needs to be far more substantial, like seizing the business as a corrupt enterprise, in order to put a stop to the hiring of illegals.
Very well said. The effect of wage depression is simply the law of supply and demand. With more workers available to do the job the cost of that job decreases.
American businesses have been ver effective over the last 20+ years at paying off politicians to allow essentially unlimited numbers of foreigners - both illegal and legal into this country and the wage depression is across the board.
I saw a study that said wages (adjusted for inflation) of college grads was 15% less in 2012 than in 2002.
Forget going into construction or anything that doesn't require a degree - those jobs are in the hand of illegals now. And for college grad who want to go into tech or just about anything else - the market is flooded with H-1B, L-1 and other special visa holders who cut down the so-called free market wages.
What we need is mandatory E-verify so illegals will self-deport and an immigration timeout of 20 years or so before we even start discussing if we need more people in this country.
With current birth rates (very high among illegals/legal immigrants) we are on track for 500 million people in this country by 2050.
I think we should try to stabilize the population at around 200-250M but that will require a lot of heads to roll in DC before that happens.
Go to any fast food restaurant in Dallas and it is filled with Hispanics, many illegal. Once a company hires the Hispanics, they have to KEEP hiring Hispanics as many only speak Spanish and Americans can't understand them. REVERSE DISCRIMINATION AT IT'S BEST.
Si habla Espanol?.....you all be be soon!!
Agree 100%... My wife doesn't have to work.. I'm happy to bring home the bacon! However she chooses to work because she gets bored at home all day... Only so much to do and so much daytime drool on TV! So she works part time as a manager at the local Mickey D's.....She comes home....and her main complaint is....."How the hell do I train someone who can't speak English?" My response...YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO!
@jw101, not to sound pedantic, but there is no such thing as reverse discrimination, it's just plain old discrimination. If there was a thing called reverse discrimination, that would mean that only white people discriminate, which is not the case. Any form of discrimination is just discrimination.
There used to be a plant that refurbished phones for Verizon, the plant that had hired service members wives, college students, and High School grads for decades suddenly went Illegal. The quality of the phones went belly up. Contract after contract with other providers dried up, as the Failure Rate soared to 75 percent. Rework returns doubled the amount of phones shipped out. The processes were in English, they don't need to speak no stinking English. Two years back the phone division went to Dallas were Verizon could keep an eye on the activities. Quantity does not mean Quality. Kind of reassuring that your Life is good product is put together by undocumented laborers. Provided in an unending stream from local Temp Agencies that advertise they will get you here for 5K.
go to ww double-u dot numbersusa dot com. and learn how to GET ACTIVE on this ILLEGAL ISSUE. They will all have the power soon, then it will be too late. They are a force with their vote, and it's getting stronger and stronger. Their affect on the current presidential elections can be felt....EVEN NOW!
LessThan99%, why do you blame the illegals? Put the blame where it belongs and that's on corporations who hire and exploit illegal immigrants. McDonalds as an example rips the profits by paying low wages. Wake up and smel the coffee.
How many countries do we send billions to ? Can I count on one hand..
All great points! One i would like to add, federal and state income tax revenues are reduced when illegals work, a majority of the time illegals are paid in cash. Many times that cash is sent back home (foreign country). This indirectly effects the workforce. Less federal/state tax revenue for our government to use for re-investment into our infrastructure / education / public works / etc = less jobs. Another indirect effect is the illegals use services the fed, state, and local governments provide; i.e. infrastructure / education / public works / etc = more strain on existing systems.
These discrimination issues become more pronounced as economies struggle.
See post#1.36.
NO Sarcasm intended. So since we have the best minds here. How to we get out of this mess. Do not say (post) anything that would be considered "Anyone stating a radical change to (US) Government is a Homegrown Domestic Terrorist". I already posted about President Obama's January 21, 2009 Patriot Acts (plural) and what those US Laws Legalized.
I guess Shannon had nothing to do with getting pregnant since she "wasn't given the opportunity" to have her childhood. Gimme a break!
That thought crossed my mind also.
Yeah - me too. I got a work permit at 15 and still attended school full time, got good grades, and had fun with my friends. Didn't really "lose" my childhood working at a fast food place....
You kind of completely missed the point of that comment...huh?
The point is obvious, Shanta. But it just sounds like she isn't taking responsibility for her actions. She WAS given the opportunity to have a childhood. But she lost it when she decided to have unprotected sex.
Newsflash:
Teens that actually want to work RARE!!!
I have a teen and work with teens. Most would very much like to work. Teens are still learning and it is up to us to teach them how to work.
NewsFlash:
Generalizations make your look like an ignoramus!
I know plenty of hard-working teenagers.
When I was a teen, I found janitorial and "event security" work very easily. Worked for a university as a daytime dorm janitor and work nights for the concert venue as event staff/security. That was after a ton of failed applications, however; and pure luck as a friend had quit at the University and told me about the opening. The event staff was also due to a friend being involved. Teens need to network a lot more now to have a chance over adults and others who also need jobs.
My is a teen who wants to work because she wants her own car. She's applied at the local fast food places, video store, drugstore, etc. but has no experience. When she went to the local drugstore, they told her they had 2 openings & 9 more people to interview for the positions after her. It's not just laziness on the part of teens or people but a lack of available opportunity.
I'd love to find a teen who would put a flyer in my neighborhood to wash my car $50, wash windows, etc. When I put an ad on the bulletin board at the grocery store a few called, but never showed.
They don't have to "want" to work, they do need to understand that they need to work either to help with family expenses, pay for education, or get soe of the nicer things that they want. We have to learn to do hings tha we do not "want" to do, that is called maturity and responsibility.
@ bmilleroh
I'm a 19 year old college student and just got my first job at Target. But it was in no way easy to find or obtain. The day of the interview, I met people competing with me for the job that were 10 to 30 years older than me. with 10 plus years of work experience. Before I found this job I applied to over 30 different places in the small college town I live in. EVERY fast food joint and department store I could find with no call back. I always took the initiative. I always called a week after dropping off the application to show genuine interest in wanting a job. Yet, no call.
The Target job is actually 20 miles up the road. Which means I'll have to lop off about 40 bucks or so a week for gas.
While the pay is important to me, it wasn't my first priority. I was afraid I would graduate college with absolutely no work experience. So unless I have some sort of specialty degree (a Ph.d or something of that sort) I probably wouldn't get a lot of calls for a job after college.
Anyway, the teen unemployment rate would be much lower if it wasn't for this crappy economy. Of course, laziness plays a factor. It always has. But I know that isn't the biggest factor.
Good luck (I assume you're speaking of your daughter?) finding a job. It's not easy. But it can be done.
there was some guy on these forums that was saying he offered 3000 a week but us lazy americans didnt want to work.i called him a liar.as the thread continued he admitted he was paying a dollar an hour plus commissions.dont believe most of the bs on these threads.young people want to work the opportunities just arent there anymore.theyve been free trade/outsourced
I wanted a job. I NEEDED a job. My mom went to grad school after my dad died in my early teens, but had to work a dead-end, barely-above-minimum wage job for several years before she could test for her license in her field (had to accrue a certain number of hours). I drove my dad's old minivan that sat in the garage for years after he died, but gas for that sucker was expensive.
I started applying when I was 16. I did the standard fast-food, retail-type places everywhere I could find with a Help Wanted sign or online. No bites. I talked with my friends and the very few who had jobs had them through family or friend connections. No one else wanted to hire anyone under 18 because of the wage and hours-worked laws.
Waited until I was 18 and went through the same process again. No bites. I was a decent student, highly involved in extracurriculars and very responsible. Asking around, I saw that the jobs were going to college graduates or adults re-entering the workforce. Again, friends with jobs had them through special connections. Through sheer luck, I ended up with a nannying gig for an infant in the spring of my senior year. Part time became three days a week during the summer and I made enough to have a good cushion going into college.
Within my first week on campus, I had a job at a campus coffeeshop. I'd gone in there for lunch, saw a sign saying they were looking to fill a few shifts that worked with my schedule, walked up to the counter and asked for the job. I signed a few papers and I've been working there part time ever since. The campus will hire students but anywhere else and you're out of luck. Fortunately, I'll get out of college with a good work history and if for some strange reason I don't have a job offer at graduation (I'm majoring in engineering) I'll have some transferrable skills that allow me to work at any Starbucks or espresso stand.
HerrSticks
NewsFlash:
Pay attention to what they (young) say about themselves:
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7387817n&tag=mncol;lst;1
Mike S.-2262427 mentioned part of the above as:
Mike S.-2262427 PhD is NOT a Specialty Degree.
Mike S.-2262427,
Things WILL get worse, just prepare yourself. All of these more qualified, experienced and educated than you will be attempting to take your job away:
Already as Ordered by President Obama as Commander In Chief already starting, the Reduction In Forces (RIF) of the US Military of: 80,000 US Military Personnel PLUS 27,000 US Military Personnel Returning from the Wars PLUS 10,000 US Military Personnel returning from the US Military Installations Closed at Germany (Logistics Supply and Transportation Support for Afghanistan) PLUS 5 more Brigades all being thrown on Unemployment.
PLUS xxx,xxx US Civilians that provided support to the soon to be RIF'ed US Military Personnel thrown on Unemployment.
PLUS about 1 (one) Million US Civilians of the US Military Defense Industrial Complex (President Obama's and Secretary of Defense Leon Penetta's "A 10% US Military Defense Budget Cut will result in a million US Civilians becoming Unemployed").
The specific numbers by Branch of Service can be seen here: US Army: www.armytimes.com; USAF: www.airforcetimes.com ; USMC: www.marinecorpstimes.com ; USN www.navytimes.com;
The US Civilians to be Unemployed: www.federaltimes.com
I started working at 15 and now I'm rich. It wasn't because of my job either. It was because I invested the money and took advantage of capital gains.
Instead of making wall street and corporations your enemy, use them to secure your future.
Two days ago, I drove through a small town that was recently hit by a damaging hail storm. I stopped at a MiniMart for coffee and was taken aback by two dozen trucks, all labeled "Roofing Repair" in one form or another. When I walked into the store, I was floored to see that every person sitting in the booth area was Hispanic. That was not as surprising as their story, freely shared with me without challenge. They call themselves "Storm Chasers" and they drive back and forth through tornado ally repairing or replacing roof systems. I had to ask, and you know the question was coming. "How many of you are legal citizens, if you do not mind me asking?" "One half" came the reply. "We are performing work that most Americans will not perform" came a reply from a twenty-something worker. When I left the store, I Googled Roofing Repairs for that area, and called the first company that popped up on the screen. I asked, "What is the lead-time for roof repairs caused by hail damage?" The reply, "We are booked through to the end of the year, and we have seven full-time crews out right now". "So what is a crew?" "Three to six guys, depending on the job" came the reply. So there appears to be work in the roof repair business, if you are interested.
Those storm chaser companies are committing felonies under federal immigration law and tax evasions while the insurance companies help them. There sits IRS and the Obama ICE watching saying that we need "Comprehensive Immigration Reform." What we need is a leader.
Sorry friends. It was your bud, Geo W who turned a blind eye to the illegals. You've got it mixed up. He let them flood the country because big business loves them. They can hire at poverty wages and get rid of them any time they like. The reason Americans can't take those jobs is because you can't live in America on what they pay.
While you're wheeling your finger and pointing, be sure to point it back at yourselves.
I know plenty of Americans who do roof repair work. The real reason is that Americans won't do the same work as illegal aliens is that they won't cram 10 people into a one bedroom apartment and work for 3 bucks an hour.
Americans would do it but illegals do it for less than Americans would. It has nothing to do with willingness, only the amount people are willing to do it for. That is why illegals either need to be legitimized or sent home because so long as they remain here without status they will continuously undercut labor rates of people who need more to survive.
I tend to agree with mj
I tend to agree with mj
yes, because blaming Bush 3 years after he's left office is surely going to help fix the problems. People like MJ ARE the problem. No solutions, no answers, just blame this guy or blame that guy. Too many people like that out there, too.
Well considering the flow of illegal immigrants across the border is currently a net zero, I think mj has a valid point about people blaming Obama. Obama has deported record numbers of illegals also.
again, so what? blame Bush, blame Obama...there are STILL 14 million plus illegals here. They aren't leaving, AREN'T being deported in anything like the "record numbers" you mentioned.....you really think so? Are you at the border watching the INS buses when they drop off a load? I'm guessing you are like everyone else....you got your canned news from the web, TV, a newspaper....and you believe it.
The ins records are not what's reported as far as numbers of illegals deported. There are FEW actual deportations.
C. Moakler.....And of course there were no illegal immigrants before 2009, right ?
Your ignorance is showing...........................
We had some of these roofing crews arrested here, last year after the string of Tornadoes in late April, It turns out that they were breaking into and stealing pallets of shingles from the yards in plants across the nation. So they could easily underbid the the local contractors. One plant started placing tracking devices in the pallets and that's how they were caught.
Nice FAILED Attempt at the Deflection of Blame Game. Bush has not been US President for over 3 years now.
And it was US Congress that chickened out fearing for their Lives during the 2006 Nationwide (Illegal, no permits, disruption of traffic trade commerce) Demonstrations of Illegal Aliens, US Congress NOT passing into US Law President Bush's Illegal Immigration Crisis Response Act of 2006.
Now let's talk about you worshipping your Messiah. Current Events:
April 2009 President Obama's Policy as stated to the Mexican President, "US Military will not be used to secure the US Borders".
August2009 President Obama's Policy as stated to the Canadian Prime Minister, "US Military will not be used to secure the US Borders".
August 2009 President Obama during Meeting at Guadalajara, Mexico statement to Associated Press:
President Obama is talking about Legalizing the over 23 Million Illegal Aliens at the US. The over 23 Million Illegal Aliens were counted using "advanced" methods, new not known technology like Facial Recognition this information later compared to the Mexican Government National Identification Card Database, computers beyond the current public understanding of commerical supercomputers. Before you even start the name calling and denials, the agency that did this and are under President Obama's January 21, 2009 Patriot Acts (plural) Monitoring and Censoring all US Communications is the Redacted http://www.cbsnews.com/1770-5_162-0.html?query=nsa&tag=srch&searchtype=cbsSearch
The Proof of President Obama's Legalizing the over 23 Million Illegal Aliens at the US, President Obama's Policy August 2011 to circumvent US Congress "Undocumented immigrants without criminal records will not be deported".
Fact: They are NOT Immigrants as majority have NO intention of ever becoming US Citizens (BBC Documentary with Interviews of Illegal Aliens at US). As make money at US go back home and live like Kings and Queens at Nations with little or no inflation and small cost of living. To decrease their expenses with the Legal assistance of US Taxpayer Funded Illegal Alien Advocacy Groups at the US they get Public Assistance and have their Families with them, as required Public Assistance after the Legal Precedent set by the defeat (in Federal Court) of California Proposition 187. The "Black Market" sales of Public Assistance by Illegal Aliens (e.g. high priced meats to local restaraunts). Illegal Aliens do NOT fill out Employer Paperwork as advised by the Illegal Alien Advocacy Groups at the US, as the Employer Paperwork is used by ICE to effectively apprehend and deport Illegal Aliens (President Obama praised ICE use of Employer paperwork); so Illegal Aliens work for Cash Only. This then becomes FELONY CRIMINAL TAX EVASION due to no Employer paperwork to withhold State and Federal Taxes.
Result, decreased Local, City, State, Federal Revenues means CUTS to US Citizen programs. (Stating the obvious for the many that indicate thru their posts that they do not know). example: 2004 California spent over $10 Billion on Illegal Aliens (not including cost of Public Assistance), Sales Taxes of $17 Million do NOT pay for the over $10 Billion. Since then California has increased the Taxes on US Citizens; but, their total Revenue has remained the same, while the amounts spent on Ilegal Aliens has actually gone to over $23 Billion (not including cost of Public Assistance).
Irony ever since the California Lawsuits about the Endangered 20 Species of Fish most of the US Fruits and Vegetables come from South and Central Americas, US Court Injunctions shut down irrigation at the California Fruit and Vegetable Basket. So the lie about Illegal Aliens being those that will only do that work is just that, a lie.
Guess the Americans of Japanese Ancestory that originally settled in the deserts of Southern California during the 1800s (California Archieves Tin Type Photos 1869) and turned all that into farmland using then unknown Japanese Intensive Farming (California Archieves Tin Type Photos), are getting their revenge after all that was confiscated their farms sold to white farmers (William Randolf Hearst made his Fortune), and they were thrown in concentration camps (do not say "internment camps", they were concentration camps especially while letting them die from the "sickness" while the small pox vaccines were just outside the barbed wire). Executive Order 9066.
Ever since President Obama's Policies (listed above) Illegal Aliens have been flooding into the Illegal Alien Harbor States. This flood got worse for the Illegal Alien Harbor States (near or actually Bankrupt) as neighboring States created and started to enforce Anti Illegal Alien Laws. So the Illegal Alien Harbor States started Lawsuits against the neighboring States that created and are enforcing Anti Illegal Alien Laws (including Federal).
The false claim that President Obama is deporting more Illegal Aliens, can be seen like one person with a large metal bucket instead of a small metal bucket attempting to bail water out to prevent the RMS Titanic from sinking.
i lost my second job as a busboy to an illegal alien.i was making minimium wage he was getting half that.i called immigration.i was told they wouldnt come out for any less then 7 aliens.that was the first of many times the united states government has screwed me.ive learned the hard way the government works for the rich.it preys on the working
johnQcitizen....but I'll bet that you did not pay 100% of the taxes due on your tips either, so that would make you the same as the illegal if that were the case! BTW, if your ex employer is paying less than minimum wages, then the agency to call is the Dept of Labor.
C'mon MM, hell, calling the proper agency won't help, especially if they actually do something. It's much easier to be online pissing and moaning about all the illegals taking all the good jobs. Good jobs? Menial labor is hardly a "Good" job especially when it's seasonal. People say that Americans will do the menial jobs that the Hispanics, legal and illegal do. Sure they will. I've asked around here in TN and since I had the time because I was a volunteer for a dog rescue group I had a lot of time sitting in places to talk to people. And, I know a few folks out of work and when I mention roofing, construction, lawn maintenance, I hear; "Hey, no way am I doing that, that's for those Hispanics to do. I'm better than that." And as for some hospital work; "Not me, I'm not cleaing up if some old fart can't control himself." One place where I worked I was 2nd shift maintenance foreman and one old man had problems with diarrhea, he made a mess one night, down his pant leg and on the floor. I asked one of the clean-up crew to take care of it. "No way, I'm not cleaning up his sh*t." One of the ladies on bench assembly, a Hispanic lady, came over; "I'll do it, it's not the old man's fault." My wife was a RN, worked the floor. She had a lot of stories to tell about how White American techs, aides, wouldn't do this or that, but, ask a Hispanic lady and she was on it.
that is one unbelievable CHANGE from Obama. The one I HOPE will go away soon.
I HOPE there is a CHANGE in the Oval Office this November.
If you think either party is going to save you, think again. They're both bought and paid for by the PAC
I'm so tired of hearing people whining.
There are still plenty of jobs for teens. I see help wanted postings on restaurants all the time. People are too lazy to take initiative. It is easier to blame someone else. Suck it up and work as a dishwasher.
I had crappy jobs when I was a teenager. And now I'm 30 and I have a great job and make good money. I didn't come from a rich family.
All politics aside, we each earn what we get. I'm tired of people blaming others for their own laziness.
My work is hiring. Many others are too. It's not the illegals' fault you don;t have a job, its not Obama's fault.
Sorry for being so ranty in this post. I just feel like if people spent as much time looking for a job as they do complaining, they would be far better off.
No party, just common sense, well said. I believe generation Y and the ones after are a bunch of lazy spoiled kids that simply don't want to work. Where I work we are constantly looking to hire student workers. The majority are Hispanics and they are legals. You snooze you lose!
@no party
Really? Is that why the people mowing lawns where I live barely speak any english? And the roofers,the lawn mowers,etc. too?
I know high schoolers who have been filling out applications for +7 months while illegals simply have to sit around at Home Depot and wait for a truck to pick them up.
Are you seriously saying the millions of illegals here aren't soaking up jobs and taking advantage of working for little pay and no benefits? lol.
When my child gets a job he must pay taxes, medical insurance, workers comp insurance (paid by employer but built into his benefit package), unemployment insurance and social security, Medicare, Medicaid. And support the illegal aliens who just took his job.
Illegals can work for less because they get all the money that they earn, eat off of food stamps, get rent subsidies, free medical, public transportation, if they do drive they don't have insurance, and get welfare. It is easy for them because Hispanics have taken over the social aid positions in our government so therefore aliens can just walk in and receive benefits. As a white person try to get on these programs. ha.
American businesses don't care because they save labor costs keeping the extra profits and let the working class absorb these costs through higher taxes and lower wages. Businesses don't have to pay for social programs because of the tax structure, so what incentive do they have to hire legals? It's all about shareholder responsibility. We vote, but business gives politicians money. Until it costs businesses more to hire illegals than legals the situation will not change. Tax structure could fix this issue.
If I hire an illegal I pay lower wages outright, save on social security tax, no unemployment insurance costs, no accounting costs from witholding for taxes, don't have to provide medical insurance, no threat of litigation if injured, and no workers comp insurance. Let me see, illegal or legal, hmm.
It is BS that they are doing jobs that no one else wants. It is just cheaper for irresponsible businesses to hire them. And joe public puts up with it.
Amazing that Allison Linn, the author of the piece, could kill two pages on what we all know and never mention illegal employers committing felonies in hiring illegal aliens over Americans and the administration allowing them to do so with impunity.
As a business owner, I have seen it all. Teen that apply for jobs in their pajamas and completely unkempt. Some are unable to fill out a simple job application. A lot of teens want to say that they have a job but don't want to work. The relentless excuses are annoying as to why they need a day off.
Eaxctly....Too many kids are being brought up with a sense of entitlement and feel they deserve everything for nothing.
It used to be that adults, business owners included would teach teens how to work. Now it is easier to hire adult illegals.
Melissa is correct. I had someone show up for an interview in torn jeans, a tee shirt, and had a Burger King bag and a Coke. The girl informed me that she was hungry, and we could interview while she ate. Didn't even offer to share.
She didn't get the job, btw. Those onion rings sure smelled good, too.
Eric: Did you tell her that she was not being professional? Did you tell her that if she wanted a job from you she needed to dress properly and come prepared for an interview? If not you too are part of the problem.
Eric, Maybe she didn't have any "Interview" clothes. Maybe what she had was all she had. Maybe someone should have taken the time to help her get it right.
^^^
Had a younger person (17-20) show up 10 minutes late to an interview. She was told that if she couldn't even make it to the interview in time (retail store) then she probably would not fit in this work environment, and to disregard the interview. Little did I know her father was standing behind her, who began making a scene in the store about how their clock in the car was 10 minutes off and how it wasn't their fault they were late, demanded speaking with "corporate", you name it, he did it.
So, pjt, were we supposed to inform this candidate and her FATHER that it is common courtesy to at LEAST show up 10-15 minutes early to an interview, and prepared?? Last time I checked, this was a parental duty. Hell, maybe even a guidance counselor at school. But prepping a teen for an interview should not be the potential employers responsibility.
Melissa is absolutely correct. The problem with clueless and lazy teens with an entitlement mind-set is epidemic. So many (no, I did not say all) of these teens have zero work ethic.Business owners and company supervisors will agree. These kids can never seem to be able to work the hours/shifts they are scheduled for, even though they were agreed upon in advance. It's always something. While I don't condone the illegal immigrant hiring, I can certainly understand why employers would rather hire and keep a hard-working illegal than a teen with a terrible work ethic.
of course I told her she was being unprofessional. I told her that bringing food to an interview, all jokes aside, was not considered a good thing to do. Her exact words back to me were "I had to eat. What am I supposed to do, go hungry all day while I interview?" I really couldn't answer that one.
My daughter is not clueless, lazy nor entitled. She has dressed up and fixed her hair and make up each time she turned in an APPLICATION for a job, let alone an interview. When she interviewed for a part-time position at the local drugstore she was told they had 9 more people to interview after her for the 2 openings available.
It was the kids job to look professional enough to be hired. It's not Eric's job to coach her how to get a job. If anybodys, it was her parents.
PJT & Shanta: If the girl's parents didn't tell her what is proper workplace attire or interview attire maybe she should go to a library and check out a book on how to interview for a job. Perhaps if she didn't have the iphone, 2 inch long gold nails with lightning bolts, and dangly earrings; she'd have enough to buy a decent dress. It's not the interviewer's problem.
No, its their parents job to teach them proper job interview etiquette (and etiquette IN GENERAL, but we won't go there).....
Eric, It is ILLEGAL to comment on an interviewees appearance (including dress). Unfortunate, but true, because someone needs to tell kids how to dress for an interview and most high schools have gotten rid of such counseling services and we can only assume their parents aren't telling them.
Shouldn't that be common knowledge? Seems to me Eric shouldn't have had to say anything, we covered that in school
Shanta - even if you don't have interview clothes, you still don't show up for an interview with food
Both my parents and my school filled me in on all that (although it was a long time ago), but my son is in school now and they are teaching that
Would you prefer to hire a bunch of illegals then Melissa?
@eric, if she would have share her food with you would you have hired her? No offense, but I think is halirious.
Nope, I sure wouldn't prefer to hire a bunch of illegals. Most high school kids quit after 3-4 weeks but the ones who work hard have been coming back for years and are now college age. I own a retail garden center so it is dirty, hard work, which most teens are used to. Sorry, but that is the truth. There are women who are in their 30-40's that work harder than most teens.
Literfairy, it is NOT illegal to comment on people´s apperance during a job interview. And contrary to popular belief it is also not illegal to ask about your religion, political affiliation, marital stauts, number of children or disability. Illegal is not to hire someone based on these. So, no smart interviewer would ever ask - they might have a hell of a time proving they did not hire you because you are disabled, a jew...etc.
Sorry, don´t know how I ended up posting in bold.....
Besides it is just plain cheaper to hire an illegal alien. With the money you save you can get new tires for your Hummer.
Was the job worth showing up in full sunday best and having her skip food for 3 hours?
The vast majority of dead end jobs out there expect you to bend over backwards, and yet the paychecks they provide barely cover enough for food much less the expenses a young person is expected to meet. Do you realize that insurance alone if they aren't on mommy and daddy's policy is $300 a month with a GOOD record? Try finding a place to rent for less than $500 a month, or a reliable car for less than $400 a month. Employers with unreasonable expectations are at least half of the problem here. Perhaps she should have shown up in more professional attire and without food, but truthfully would it make the least bit of difference in 80% of jobs, no.
Illegals have taken the jobs American teens use to get. Kick them out.
When I was growing up EVERY teenager out there could get a job. The really great ones were mowing yards (your on time schedule etc). Now guess who is mowing the yards? So a teenager is expected to be a roofer also? Poorly written story. There also used to be a lot of companies - with LEGAL workers - who did roof repair. Now before we get any work done - we ask who the crew will be.
Entered high school in the early 80's and it was NOt easy then to get a part time job in retail or rest - I remember lots of tries before I got one.
Have to agree with Wasn't Me! The job market for teens (and everyone else) in the early '80s was terrible, much as it is now, so I can have sympathy for the kids trying to get jobs. I understand there are people with an entitlement mentality who show up unprepared for job interviews, but I think there are a lot of teens who would be good employees but do not have the work experience. Another thing that is underestimated is connections that you have. I think people need to consider how important it is that you know the right people when you get a job. My first job out of college I was able to get by responding to a classified ad. However, my second and third jobs were both as a result of meeting people at the previous jobs who worked for the employer I was applying to and recommended me for the positions.
@ oregon duck
First ive heard of a UO grad getting work, congrats.
Its tougher to get a job now than it was in the 80's. Three undeniable reasons.
1. Automation (largest reason).
2. Great Recession (much larger than in '82).
3. More migrants.
Just a little History from a "ancient dinosaur " (said behind my back).
At one time the US Military was where you went to get Job Experience, Skill Training: Logistics; Sea, Air, Land Transportation; Aircraft, Ships and Boats (Submarines), Facilities, Weapons Systems Maintenance; Electronics; Communications (all, including Satellite, Internet, etc.); Personnel Administration and Management; US Industry and US Manufacturing; Sanitation (Water Purification, Waste Disposal, Bathing Facilities, Laundry Services, etc.); Food Service (all areas including Management, Baking, Food Preparation, etc.); Supply including Warehouse Management, Stocks; Financial Management; Real Leadership (convincing people to do things they would not normally do); VIP Protection (Law Enforcement and Security Jobs); Engineering (All Areas including US Infrastructure projects/programs and Construction within the US and worldwide); lots of etc..
Then the War at Vietnam ended, 1975 (actually 1976). And the Reductions In Forces (RIFs) of the US Military started. Large numbers of RIF'ed US Military make it difficult to find Jobs, especially for those that just Graduated from High School. The "Peacetime" Volunteer US Military starts (I am being sarcastic about the "Peacetime", as even though the US Public did not know, there were US Military still fighting and dying as "Boots on the Ground" at other Nations, the 1976-1979 Middle East mess resulting in the 1970s Oil Crisis. US attempts to solve this by using high sulfur content US Oil, as the previous US Oil was depleted by the "Black Gold Oil Rushes" of the early 1900s. This is stopped due to the high sulfur content US Oil creating "Acid Rain" (Sulfuric Acid).).
The US Economy starts to fail. As some of the millions of US Citizens of the US Military Defense Industrial Complex are no longer needed to Manufacturer US Military Equipment, the processing of Raw Materials to make that US Military Equipment, US Farming and US Food Processing, etc.. The "Cascade Effect" occurs affecting all sectors of the US Economy. The US Economy is saved by the Foreign Military Sales of F-16s as the "Deal of the Century" (US Jobs for Decades, still ongoing Trillions of USDs). Added later is the other Foreign Military Sales of F-15s (US Jobs for Decades, still ongoing) offsets the US Trade Deficit (hundreds of Billions USDs) with US Ally Saudi Arabia.
The US Labor Unions and US Citizens start to demand as Special Interest Groups and Lobbyists (bribes, etc.) a part of what the US Military does internally "In House" (the Training and Jobs listed above) as Jobs are difficult to find. The US Military is forced by the US Politicians (US Congressional Defense Appropriations Committee) to start contracting out the previously "In House" Jobs to very expensive US Contractors instead of the "In House" below minimum wages US Military Personnel. The US Military becomes Bloated with US Civilians to almost a hundred million directly or indirectly (DOD Civilians, US Civilian Contractors and US Civilian Subcontractors). The US Civilians gain Increased Political Influence. The US Military suffers another Reduction In Forces (RIF) of the US Military primarily those listed above (jobs) in Combat Support, Combat Services Support, etc., while the US Civilians retain their expensive overpaid Jobs that were previously done by below minimum wages US Military Personnel.
The Department of Defense and US Military warn the US Civilians that replaced the US Military Personnel that they may have to be armed to defend themselves in Combat; as well as being trained in many US Military Skills like Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Protective Measures. The US Civilians scream bloody murder to US Congress and outright refuse, the US Contractors, US Subcontractors start filing Lawsuits and Contract Disputes.
The First Gulf War Starts. The US Civilians, US Contractors refuse to go. The US Military attempts to recall the previously trained US Military Personnel that were RIF'ed (thrown out of the US Military like trash). From firsthand personal experience the US Military Missile Maintenance Personnel for the Patriot Missile System especially the Phased Array Radar. This Recall Fails. The lack of skilled maintenance in harsh conditions results in the unnecessary deaths of US Military Personnel due to partial Patriot Missile intercepts of Scud Missiles (Article 32 Investigation, later US Congressional Investigation and US Congressional Hearings).
These unnecessary deaths of US Military Personnel leads to later changes to US Military Contracting Procedures that later Resulted in the US Military ONLY Contracting those US Civilian Contractors with: a. In writing, will go into Combat to provide their Services., b. Previous experience in Combat while providing their Contracted Services., c. Stated descriptions of their Contracted Services., d. etc.. This negates the Contracts of many US Contractors and narrows the Field to only those US Contractors that hired many US Military Veterans. The pool of available previously trained and experienced US Military Veterans starts to decrease. The US Contractors that cannot meet the minimum Contract Requirements (and are too cheap to hire the US Military Veterans) start to scream at US Congress, file Lawsuits, pay for articles to be written for the Court of Public Opinion.
President Clinton Guts the US Intelligence Agencies, and Cuts the US Military to the Bone with both US Military Defense Budget Cuts, Closure of 14 US Military Installations at the US (Collapse of local US Civilian Economies), and extensive Reductions In Forces (RIFs) of the US Military. This further decreased the available previously trained and experienced US Military Personnel, and left the US blind to the events occurring worldwide (loss of Intelligence Assets worldwide) later leading to the 9/11 2001 Attacks (US Congressional 9/11 2001 Committee Investigations, Findings and Recommendations). Firsthand experience, US Military going in blind without or minimal Intelligence asset link ups in hostile Nations (Operation Gothic Serpent, H.R.4655, Operation Desert Fox, weeks after the 9/11 2001 Attacks, Operation Hotel California, etc.), as it only took months for President Clinton to Gut the US Intelligence Agencies of President Bush (41) as previous Director of the CIA; but, it took decades to establish credible verifiable intelligence assets at "Potentially Hostile" Nations while Foreign Intelligence Agencies were/are conducting Counter Intelligence Operations to prevent US intelligence assets to be formed in their Nations again.
The US Contractors that cannot meet the minimum Contract Requirements (and are too cheap to hire the decreasing numbers of trained and experienced US Military Veterans) start to scream at US Congress, file Lawsuits, pay for articles to be written for the Court of Public Opinion. They start to make this a Political Issue. The US Public start to believe these unqualified US Contractors.
The US Military and the US Contractor that were contracted cannot make Public the reasons. US Congress holds Closed Door Hearings.
The 9/11 2001 Attacks occur. President Bush (43) defers US Military matters to the US Military "Experts". Weeks later we do this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arxKhJIjIiY&feature=relmfu. The US Military is forbidden from making this Public and the US Politicians failed to inform the US Public. We chase the surviving Fundamentalist Islamic Jihadists from Afghanistan to Northern Iraq thru the southern part of the Old Silk Road, they reform from Al Quada and combine with other Fundamentalist Islamic Jihadists as Ansar Al Islam. The US Senate Declares War with Iraq (the US House of Representatives previously did with 1998 US Law, H.R.4655, justification Section 2 WMDs) with US Law, 2002 Iraqi War Resolution; so as required both Houses Declared War (not up to the US President). In 2002 just after the ink dried on the 2002 Iraqi War Resolution we go to Northern Iraq as Operation Hotel California to finish the job against Ansar Al Islam (Al Quada), seize the Iraqis Chemical Weapons Facility at Sargat, actions against the Iraqis Military since 2002 in preparation for the 2003 US Military Liberation of Iraq in accordance with US Laws ("Iraqis Liberation Act of 1998") as the US Military Operation Iraqis Freedom (actually 1998 to 2011). Once again the US Military cannot make Public the information and the US Politicians failed to.
Again the US Civilian Contractors that cannot meet the minimum Contract Requirements (and are too cheap to hire the decreasing numbers of trained and experienced US Military Veterans) start to scream at US Congress, file Lawsuits, pay for articles to be written for the Court of Public Opinion. They start to make this a Political Issue. The US Public start to believe these unqualified US Contractors screaming "Haliburton", "KBR", "Blackwater", etc. while completely ignoring the other over 3,000 US Civilian Contractors that make more money and are "Sole Source", "No Bid" (only ones that can provide those required contracted services in Combat). To this day, the uninformed US Public still scream their uninformed nonsense (even after the US Congressional Hearings after President Bush (43) proved there was no merit to the accusations). If the uninformed US Public ever found out about the Foreign Security Contractors employed by the US Department of State (Diplomatic Immunity) they would be demanding certain peoples (Politicians) heads on a silver platter; but, of course they can keep screaming "Blackwater, Xe" etc. and remain uninformed.
So once again, "Same Old Sh!t Again", repeat the same mistakes, after WWI, WWI, Korean War, Vietnam, First Gulf War, etc.:
Already as Ordered by President Obama as Commander In Chief already starting, the Reduction In Forces (RIF) of the US Military of: 80,000 US Military Personnel PLUS 27,000 US Military Personnel Returning from the Wars PLUS 10,000 US Military Personnel returning from the US Military Installations Closed at Germany (Logistics Supply and Transportation Support for Afghanistan) PLUS 5 more Brigades all being thrown on Unemployment.
PLUS xxx,xxx US Civilians that provided support to the soon to be RIF'ed US Military Personnel thrown on Unemployment.
PLUS about 1 (one) Million US Civilians of the US Military Defense Industrial Complex (President Obama's and Secretary of Defense Leon Penetta's "A 10% US Military Defense Budget Cut will result in a million US Civilians becoming Unemployed").
LESSONS LEARNED from Firsthand Experience of the Life or Death School of Hard Knocks: 1. US Military as the previous Solution is no longer a viable Solution to US Unemployment., 2. The use of Foreign Military Sales of US Military Equipment manufactured by the hundreds of millions of US Civilians of the US Military Defense Industrial Complex to keep the US from another Great Depression is no longer a viable Solution (US Citizens oppositions, since they are too uneducated, lack cognitive skills, too lazy to do the research, no Real World Experience, etc.)., 3. US Military teaching valuable Technical Skills and providing Job Experience in those High Tech Fields are gone to the US Contractors and the US Military is not training more, and too expensive for the US Contractors to train replacements., 4. US Loss of Resources, Oil for: Poly (oil based plastic) Silicone Solar Photovoltaic Panels, Oil based plastics for day to day US Standard of Living (look around you, no more tupperware, plastic bags, bottled water, vehicle interiors, electric wire insulation, etc., learn to carve all that out of wood), loss of High Tech Minerals for iPads, iPhones, all computers, etc., loss of Lithium for electric car batteries, rechargeable batteries, disposable batteries, learn to use lower performance Nickel Metal Hydride Batteries (my bad we lost that too), you get my point; learn to live like a Fourth World Standard of Living like the Somalis, Sudanese, etc. that is what the uninformed US Citizens wanted that is what you are getting as what the US Lost and the Chinese and Russian Federation Gained due to President Obama's March 2009 Policy. Good f**king luck getting all that back from the Chinese and Russian Federation, most of us are going back on retirement (loss of US Military Expertise, it is your turn to do your "Civic Duty", President Obama's "US Military Service is a Civic Duty"). If you want to contact us for help dial: 1-800- Dial- A- Prayer, as you will never get us back either, you crapped and peed in your own beds so sleep in that.
I've worked in retail the past 15 years, and most of the teens/young adults that come into the store where I work looking for a job, don't want to work. They just want to collect a paycheck. Anything that requires actual physical labor most of these kids don't want to do.
You apparently do NOT live near me. I also work retail, and the young people that work there are hard workers. It's the not so bright ones that barely speak English that have troubles working. The concept of change (and math) is the draw back.
Same here Texas. I know multiple teens looking for work because they NEED to pay off bills/tution for college or their parents are out of work.
Not because "they want a paycheck".
Most people (less than half ) have no idea how to raise a child and prepare them for the work force, because as a society less than half of us actually have a job! You can't teach what you don't know...
You can thank welfare for that - it rewards making single mothers who make babies.
Exactly Gamera. They have no role model at home- if mom and dad don't work why do "I" have too...
You do of course know that most people who are currently receiving cash assistance are employed or underemployed. Don't make general statements.
There's another issue, here, that isn't discussed. Anyone who receives ANY assistance (including medicaid) has to include the teen's income as family income. That means a teen with a summer job can disqualify a family from getting medicaid... even if that job is a temp. one or if the money isn't given to the parent. My teens are unable to work because I'm disabled and there's no way I'm making them responsible for my medical costs AND they couldn't even begin to make enough to even pay for my medications. It's WRONG to keep teens from being able to do summer work and be able to save for college or getting a car, etc... but this is the way that it is. You have to weigh the whole picture when you're in this position. It's sad, because when I was still able to work as a registered nurse, I could've helped them to get these things. Suddenly becoming poor and relying on others isn't fun. So stop making broad statements about people who have to rely on the government for things. You've obviously never had your entire future taken from you. My teens WANT to work, but they know they can't.
MWP: exactomundo. Most people today dress and talk like Larry the cable guy, or a rapper. they teach their kids this way. Then they interview for a job and anyone who doesn't want to hire them is either a racist or violates their rights. So employers are working their existing crews overtime and they dread having to hire. A lot of silly regulations in the HR business make legal operations too expensive for employers. Jobs are lost to overseas companies or illegals here who can undercut bosses rtrying to do things the right way. So adults take jobs kids used to do if they can get 'em. It's very tough for kids to get a job even if they look, sound and act the part.
It isn't just the jobs typical American teens get that illegals are taking away. The illegal aliens have decimated the building trades. American workers require higher wages because they are not subsidized by our gov't. Illegals get gov't handouts (if you are an illegal, have a baby here in the US and you get gov't handouts for the child). Since the illegals are subsidized by our gov't, they can work for lower wages. How are Americans suppose to compete with that?
I personally know many carpenters who have been out of work for 9 months to a year. Yes, I know the economy is bad and that is part of the reason. However, employers who only hire American workers can't compete with those who use illegal workers.
Spot on Gamera.
You're full of it and spouting off what you've read from others. You can't get any government assistance without showing that you're a citizen... trust me! Also, you've no idea how little you get in assistance. It's certainly NOT enough to even begin to live off of. Parents of a child born in this country are more at risk of being deported if they even dare to apply for assistance for their child... the numbers don't bear out your accusations.
Well Jag there have been many reports over the years of illegals getting driver's licenses from State DMV's. They then use the DL to get other documents and next thing you know they are filing for benies . I've known real a live US citizen living the lifestyle of people who earn $80k because she files for and receives benies to augment her $35k salary in a fT job where her employer pays 100% medical on her. never married she has a kid. She got the state to chase down the daddy and ring $ out of him, the state gave her $ for a down pymt on a house, when it flooded the county bought her house so she could move to one on higher ground. County, state and federal programs provide medical for the kid, lunches at school, after school day care and she takes all the deductions possible for any child care she has to pay for and on and on. I admired her intellect for ferreting her way through a mountain of regulations and bureacracy to collect all this. It's something to see and it took years. But she did iot and still does it. All legit. It can be done. She dont need no stinkin hubby, she's got the taxpayers.
My son, who is 16 yrs old has been working since he was 15. It is however not a common job. He was lucky enough to become an assistant instructor at the Tae Kwon Do school he attends. He is currently a 3rd degree black belt, holds a 3.99 gpa and is first in his class of 190 students at his high school. I believe its how you raise your children. Because he is an only child he was always referred to as spoiled, spoon fed or privileged. We raised him to know that if he wants it, hard work, determination and perseverance will serve him. Education first and foremost are top priority. Yes, because I was able I did give him things most kids didn't have, but those things would quickly go away if he lost his focus on his goals. More parental involvement is key. I know his interests, I have his internet passwords for his emails and his Facebook. I TALK to my son. I feel common conversations and communication have fallen to the way side with most parents. Everyone is so very focused on materialistic things. What happened to love, communication and respect? At 16 he still hugs me, and he's not afraid to tell his friends his parents are the best. Hes a very focused young man with a goal of success for his adult life. I am a really very proud of him.
You should be proud of yourself, too.
Momofablkbelt -
Great, positive post! I come here everyday and read the crazies for entertainment, but rarely post. Your post was refreshing so I was compelled. Thanks!
They're all at the Occupy movements......
CHANGE YOU CAN BELIEVE IN!!!
A much greater percentage of American teens either do not want jobs or cannot keep a job. Fewer teens today have a license, since mom or dad drive them wherever they want to go. The parents pay their cell phone bills and buy their clothes and, of course, put food on the table. Why would a teen want to work when they are chauffered around and given what they need? My brother and I worked for my dad in the family landscaping business since we were 8 years old. My brother has now taken over the business, and he has turned customers away for years because he cannot find RELIABLE American workers. He does not hire illegals, so as a result his business suffers because he can't find Americans willing to work hard. Don't tell me that teens cannot work because of illegals. They do not work because they don't want to get up early for work, don't have a license so they can't get to a job, don't want to work hard and heaven forbid SWEAT, and do not want to do this EVERY SINGLE DAY. We need to stop coddling our teens and telling them it's not their fault because they can't find or hold a job, it's the fault of the illegals. Give me a break! When do we start to teach them that nothing is 'deserved', that if they want something, they need to find a way to earn it. That's a life lesson that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
Do you think maybe mom and dad CAN'T afford insurance? THAT might be the reason the teenagers do not drive. And if they are not working who else is to pay the bills. It's a hard cycle to break; once you start work and find a way back and forth (to fit mom AND dad's schedule) then school starts and you have to quit. SCHOOL is way more important than YOUR landscape business to a teenager. Give ME a break. It sounds like YOU are just a bit too whiny for my likings to be a manager.
The possible lack of $ to pay for insurance is a deterrent - no argument. Let's just not make that as an excuse to justify not finding / having a job. I worked as a landscaper, pizza maker, janitor, etc. all thru high school and college to help pay my way. My high school was a private school, and I cleaned classrooms after school to help pay the tuition. I graduated with a Civil Engineering degree - despite working. No one gave me anything, and my parents would not accept 'excuses'. They gave me the basics, and if I wanted anything above and beyond, I had to work for it. My brother has no regrets about turning away business, but it sure would be nice for Americans to take the jobs that they claim are being taken by illegals.
How much does your brother pay them? Let me guess.........minimum wage? Or something close to it? That may be part of the reason he can't find RELIABLE American workers, and when competitors are more likely than not using illegals, that's probably another reason he has problems. Adults working for minimum wage with no future generally find it hard to stay motivated, but kids are not so picky.
The fact that your father used you as labor in his business when you were eight years old would get him in some serious legal trouble today. It also brings to mind the story from a couple of weeks ago where another father was using his five year old as labor in his landscaping business, and the poor kid was pulled into a wood chipper.
Yes, there are many lazy, spoiled teens out there, but not all of them. Some of them have a genuine need and desire to work, even for minimum wage. I know, because I was one of them, and at the age of 14 worked a 40 hour week landscaping at a rich man's mansion for minimum wage, which at that time was $1.25 an hour, but it was all cash, so it was good. At that age, the existence of the IRS was not of any significance to me, and the total amount of money earned back then, being so little, was of no significance to the IRS at that time. Today, I would probably have a lien on my house for that.
I did not see any evidence where I live that fewer teens have licenses, but rather too many of them do, and in most cases Mom and Dad are both working full time, and chauffeuring them around is not an option. Insofar as buying their clothes and putting food on the table, that is a parental obligation, and failure to do so can get one in serious legal trouble, particularly when they starve them to death, as has happened in this country more than once. Paying their cell phone bills, if you can afford it easily, is not a big deal, and as long as they are responsible in their use, not a major issue for me. When my kids were teenagers, there were no cell phones.
I did not coddle my children when they were teenagers, and they learned that if they wanted that extra spending money I wasn't giving them, they would have to earn it themselves, and they did, finding part-time work throughout their teen years. But at least there were job opportunities for them way back then. Now? Not so much.
There was nothing like the illegal problem we have now when my kids were growing up, but that was 35 years ago, and today you cannot go to a retail store of any size, or a 7-11, or a gas station, and not find illegals employed there. This is a problem that is not going away anytime soon, and most businesses seem to enjoy the status quo of employing illegals because "Hey, everyone else is, so I can too!". So the cycle is self perpetuating, unless the government meaningfully intervenes and punishes the violators seriously enough that it may deter others. I think that is highly unlikely, and current practice is to give them an insignificant fine and slap on the wrist, making them promise to not do that anymore. Wink, wink.
Mymomdidnotraiseafool, I agree with you, times are different, and not everything that we did as children years ago can be done today. My brother pays above minimum wage, but no benefits (he can't afford to, as his profit margins are continually being eroded by the rising costs of fuel and vehicle insurance - just to name a few - and he is finding it increasingly hard to pass these along to his customers in a tight economy). I was taught that any job was better than no job - when did that change for Americans? Have we raised the bar so high for employment that we are effectively justifying why we can't or won't take a job? How does that bode well for our future?
I have noticed that a lot of kids come out of college nowdays and expect to land a management job right off the bat, and some won't accept anything less.
That is sad. Whatever happened to the concept of "working your way up"? The people who start at the bottom and work their way up make the best managers because they know the business inside and out.
It's also true that graduates of the CIA think they can come out and be made the executive chef at Le Bernardin immediately. They are usually cruelly disappointed when they are told to peel potatoes or wash dishes all day. They find out pretty quickly what "working your way up" means, and either accept it and move forward, try to open their own restaurant and likely fail, or get out of the business entirely.
There is no more cruel business than the restaurant business, and it is Darwinian in philosophy and in operation. Can't work sixteen hour days for months on end without a break? You're not fit for the job. Think you shouldn't have to perform nasty and disgusting cleaning tasks, like the grease trap (a festering hellhole if there ever was)? You're not fit for the job. When some customer sends a plate back to you for being not cooked to his liking and you take it personally? You're not fit for the job.
JohnGypsy:
The reason that your brother cannot raise his prices in order to pass along his higher costs is because his competition uses illegal labor and pays below minimum wage (no benefits, no workers compensation insurance, no taxes, etc).
The economy is interconnected. It is a race to the bottom. The most insidious result of using illegal labor (and illegal labor itself) is that only the crooks (the rule breakers) survive. Any business owner trying to play by the rules goes out of business - leaving the crooks to dominate the industry exclusively. This is why there needs to be a ZERO TOLERANCE policy for illegal labor.
Think about it, most business survive on less than 12% net margins. Using illegal labor instead of legal labor is about a 30% cost savings at a minimum (especially in hazardous industries like construction). With labor representing about 40% of all costs, using illegal labor allows a crooked competitor to bid for work at a price that would yield zero profit for an honest business person. [40% labor x 30% cost reduction = 12% margin].
Result is, all business people in such an industry (construction, landscaping, fast food, agriculture...) end up testifying that "we can't survive without illegal labor". That is only true in the most Orwellian sense because those same industries are constantly lobbying local, state and federal governments to not enforce the borders and illegal labor laws.
If we had zero tolerance, then these businesses would hire existing legal labor, we would drastically reduce unemployment, we would drastically raise the work ethic and pride in our country, real wages would rise, and we would reduce the deficit. AND we will replace the bottom three rungs of the professional ladder for our youngest generation so they will regain a chance at the American Dream and turn away from things that idle hands get into.
I had my first job at 12, delivering newspapers for $13 a week. I learned to save my money if I wanted something nice for myself; my parents did not rake in a lot of money. I also learned a lot about responsibility at an early age and how to set and meet goals.
I don't see a lot of that will to work for success today and that is why non-residents are getting jobs over our children...they do have a will to work.
Today in order to deliver newspapers you need a car. The world is a different place then when you were 12. The opportunities for teens are not there because the jobs are being given to adults both legal and illegal. And it would seem, from these comments, that those who may give teens a rare change forget that they need to be taught about working from their employers. It is an additional responsiblity when you hire someone who has never worked before.
you need a car? No you don't. There's this invention called FEET. Yeah, I'm actually suggesting people quit being so lazy they have to drive everywhere. Walk. Ride a bike.
And don't give me that b.s. about the "world being a different place" than when we were kids. No kidding, really? Ya think? There are tons of opportunities out there. I see "help wanted" signs all over here in South Florida. Jobs go begging because they require, you know, actual work and don't pay ginormous salaries right off the bat.
You can't deliver newspapers "on your feet". This country has been building subdivisions as farther and farther out. Also, there are probably 150 million more LEGAL people in this country than when you delivered your newspapers and there are not 150 million more jobs. Just put another billion people on this planet and see what happens then. HA! Hunger games....
Eric: Where I live, in Southern California, newspapers will not hire anyone to deliver papers unless they have a car. They do not hire people to deliver to one neighborhood. You must deliver several thousand papers and complete the work before 7:00am. A boy on a bike is a thing of the past. It must be great to live in Mayberry though.
I've seen several job ads for newspaper delivery jobs. ALL of them listed as a requirement to have a reliable car and clean driving record. You can't deliver newspapers without a car nowadays.
really? Our delivery guy rides around on a bike. Well, you never know. Then again, who bothers with the newspaper anyways? :)
They, the teens, do not need jjobs, they all work for Obama and want free obamamoney. OUR money.
I think your post says everything anyone would ever need to know about you. You need say no more.
Simple thoughts from a simple mind.
I think its about teens not really wanting to get a job and having no work ethic. My brother was given a summer job doing yard work, lawn mowing, etc. at a company my dad works for. He gets paid $15/hour and only works three 12-hour shifts a week - and he complains about it! I know plenty of people who would jump at that opportunity, especially in this economy!
I think many adults would do the same thing. Complaining about a job, even a great one, is a favorite american pastime.
Key word..."my brother was...GIVEN". Most teens aren't given a job by the company that their parents work for. He complains as he goes to work.
It's not like there isn't work to do. The biggest reason is that a part time job doesn't fit with most teen's busy social schedule. As a small business owner, it's tough to find kids now days that want to do any form of regular, predictable work. Oh, I can't come in today, my friends and I are doing "X". etc.
Then you fire them at that moment, and keep looking for a reliable one. If everyone did that, they might collectively learn something and change their behavior, but that doesn't appear to be the case. I know of more than one Sole Proprietor business owner who tolerates this nonsense on an ongoing basis, and don't understand why.
because once you hire someone, generally you can't fire them without them breaking some major rule. if you do fire them they may sue you. even if they sue without merit most small companies can't afford to defend themselves. I've worked for companies that put up with this before and the employee has to be written up so many times, within so many months, until they can get fired. if the employee knows the rules, then they can play the game to their benefit.
every state is different in their labor laws.
The White House pledged on Wednesday to help lower-income youth find summer jobs in a move likely to appeal to younger voters crucial to President Barack Obama's re-election campaign.
Good old Obama. Gonna use our tax dollars to put votes in his pocket.
He found that 16- to 19- year-olds from poor families, whose income was below the poverty line, were less likely to be working than teens whose families had more money. That was true regardless of race or ethnicity
Why is that? cause they make more running drugs then working. Obama should find JOBS for heads of households in poverty. Why give money to kids to buy drugs and booze?
Hate poor kids much? "Hey, you kids! Get off my lawn!"
I don't think what you said has anything to do with the article. The points to lower income ANYONE not being able to work/find work have to do with the fact that it is hard to find reliable transportation. Car/gas/insurance is awful expensive. I pay more than half my income just getting to/from work, so I can not imagine if I did not have another income in the house to help out. Not too many smaller cities have public transportation, and it can be hard to coordinate a work schedule when 3-6 hours of your day is spent on the bus lines. It has nothing to do with drugs on this one, buddy.
I'm glad the article pointed out that most teenagers get their jobs through their parents or their parents' friends/coworkers.
Besides that, can anyone explain to me how an internship is not a way to get labor for free? I just don't understand how anyone can live like that if they have no other means. How is it not indentured servitude? I know you can leave if you want, but it just seems.... I don't know, a loophole to let larger companies/corporations/movie and tv studios a way to get cheap gophers that they do not have to pay. But I could be completely off, I have never interned or known anyone who has. :/
The original idea of an internship was to introduce the inexperienced to higher-end professional work that they may want to try. I too perceive that internships have devolved into a kind of exploited volunteer work in many places.
Kids that are gogetters will always find a job.My grandson has never asked his parents for money.In his sophmore year he took courses in nursing and became a licensed CNA.That summer he went to work in a nursing home,loved helping the elderly.In his senior year he worked 30 hours a week,a local hospital asked him to work for them.Any young person with a CNA will never be out of work.
That is very true, bill.
There will always be jobs in the medical field.
Your grandson is to be commended.
bill shorey, I hope that your grandson goes on to be an r.n. - or even to medical school! I would like to see more nurses and doctors in the medical profession that both love their work and have gotten experience in all the levels of it.
TEENS still support the Incompetent Obama so teens are basically mental. I know when I was a teen I was mental.
"Mental"?
Why am I suddenly reminded of Wayne and Garth?
These folks talking about teens these days... you crack me up. For the record, I'm 23. You baby boomers were brought up with the sense of entitlement. The minimum wage was higher, adjusted for inflation, when you were teenagers. College was also much cheaper, adjusted for inflation, when you were going to school. Teens these days have it harder than you did, not easier, and most of it is your fault. You're the ones who have been running the country the last 30 years... a#$holes. Several people on here, not interested in repeating the same thing their grandparents said about them and the generation before that and on and on... have actually made good points. Walk into a fast food joint. Walk into a grocery store. Who works there? Geriatrics and Mexicans. Just telling it like it is. Multiply the minimum wage by 40 hours a week, which isn't realistic anyway as companies that hire part-time never want to give you anything close to 40 hours. But do it. See what you come up with for a minimum wage worker working full-time. Now I don't know about the rest of the country, but the cheapest rent you can get in Houston without living in the projects is about $550-$650. Now add a 100 a month for electricity, which you're going to need in the Texas summer, I assure you, plus water, car insurance (no public transportation worth using in Houston), either a landline or a cellphone payment, plus gasoline and food per month,... need I go on? It is IMPOSSIBLE, plain and simple, to live on minimum wage these days. Its worthless. I have a Bachelor's degree w/ a double major in Economics and Political Science. Folks have what Economists call a reservation wage. That's the lowest wage they consider it worthwhile to work at. I would the biggest part of the reason teens don't work as much is that there are fewer jobs available thanks to those jobs being plucked up by illegals and retirees with nothing better to do. But a small part of the reason, and a totally reasonable one, is that the minimum wage in 2012 isn't worth working for. Simple, free-market incentive based economics, folks.
Does that apply to teens as well? Do they also have a reservation wage? Why do the mexicans and geriatrics have the jobs that American teens used to have, because they will show up every day and work, that's why, and employers know that. I refuse to believe that any job for a high school teen is a bad job. If nothing else, it shows them the value of hard work, and perhaps provides them with the incentive to better themselves. Where's the down side?
"t shows them the value of hard work, and perhaps provides them with the incentive to better themselves. Where's the down side?"
Dude, if minimum wage these days is the value of hard work, are you sure you want to teach your children that hard work aint worth @!$%#? Maybe they have already learned that lesson, and maybe THAT's whats wrong with this country, because it's true. My stepdad busted his ass at a petrochemical plant for 43 years. His savings evaporated during the financial crash. All that hard work, pissed away by investment bankers hellbent on creating more and more exotic investment instruments that not even they understand. They hire the Mexicans and geriatrics so they don't have to deal with the complexities of scheduling around student's school time. When students are in school 40 hours a week and the adults have nothing but free time on their hands, what type of employees make it easier to draw up your schedule?
Whoa, LL1162, we BABY BOOMERS grew up with a sense of entitlement?
But let's see what YOUR generation does to the country after YOU get done with it.
Wow! Who p**sed in your bowl of life? Hard work IS worth s**t. That's what made us a great country once. It's cry babies like you that is bringing it down. It's never your fault if life doesn't work out the way you had hoped it would for you or your family, is it? It's the illegals. It's the geriatrics. It's the investment bankers. You can continue to find fault and excuses for life's failures, you seem to be pretty good at that. If you used a tenth of that energy for someting that was actually productive, you'd be in a better place financially, mentally and emotionally. It's because of people like you that I know I will always have a job, because no matter what life throws at me, I'm going to get up every day and make the most of it.
Minimum wage was never a wage you could live on your own with. Your whining and blaming the boomers is what cracks me up.
Folks, it the economy It is necessity rather than choice that retirees are taking many entry level positions. People who thought they would have a comfortable retirement were done in by the crisis on Wall St. and the housing market - so they have taken jobs to make ends meet. And boomers who once thought they would be taking early retirement also saw their retirement dreams go down the drain - so they are staying in their jobs as long as they can.
The result is that, in some cases, teens and young professionals graduating from college are not seeing the job market open up when older workers hold onto jobs.
In addition, Hispanics have jobs because they are willing to work and applied for the jobs they have. Have teens applied for these jobs? Probably not. So maybe young people need to hustle a bit to show employers they are able and willing to work.
Oh and Wisconsin you failed to mention taxed to death. Your state like mine NY can't think of a tax they don't like. So if your retired and not making any money, no problem here. We have property and school taxes that will knock your soaks off. All to support 125k teachers, and 100k town of Mayberry Cops etc.
LL1162: if I was as narrow minded and limited in intelligence as you I could say the same about your generation. I spend everyday interviewing people between 18 and 30 that either want Xanax or Adderall (or both), trying to convince me they can't handle the stress of life and can't concentrate while still living with mommy and perfecting their video game skills.
Someone above lied and said that the minimum wage has never been a liveable wage. The fact is, beyond some 25 years ago, the minimum wage sure was a liveable wage. I had a car, paid rent, bought groceries and clothes . . . nothing luxurious, but if one tried, and did some overtime - no problem. And many other people to could get by at that time on minimum wage.
Do I think the minimum wage should be eliminated? Since I am not an employer, my answer is no. But if I was an employer and got it eliminated, I know that although I might make a profit, economically the loss to millions (not everyone can be an employer) will negatively change the social landscape. Some may still say that does not matter - but America will not be America anymore.
"Any young person with a CNA will never be out of work."
Yea right. Do you just blurt stuff out w/o thinking about it. Even though the nursing sector needs people right now, nothing is being done to fill those jobs with Americans. My mom and sister are nurses. They fly foreigners over to take the jobs rather than putting a little more effort into training and employing Americans.