By Kellene Stockwell
Posted: June 6, 2008 06:55 PM EDT
If you think its tough finding a job as an adult, try asking a teenager how things are going this year.
The numbers don't look good, especially now that summer break has begun.
The Center for Labor Market Studies predicts this summer's teen employment rate is 34.2%, an 11 point drop from 2000.
19-year-old Lauren Wallace says she's lucky to have a job. She's a UNR student, who's working five days a week at Peg's Glorified Ham & Eggs in downtown Reno.
Lauren said many of her friends are struggling to find a job, and most are competing with adults who are applying for entry level jobs to make ends meet.
18-year-old Erica Heavrin is also seeing the same trend. She is working two jobs, but many of friends are having a hard time finding just one.
Angela Lee of Peg's said Erica and Lauren are outstanding workers, and that oftentimes attitude matters more than age.
She said if someone is outgoing, positive, and hard working, she'll consider hiring them, no matter how old they are.
