The iconic summer job for high school and college students has been on the wane for nearly 20 years.
But the pandemic is squeezing even more young people out of the workforce. Some are borrowing more money. Others have turned to pick-up jobs like Instacart, only to compete with older people who are similarly sidelined.
A Drexel University education professor says summer work remains crucial for young people’s development, often leading to higher earnings and higher levels of education.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for people ages 16 to 24 was 18.5% in July compared with 9.1% the same month last year.