No Room At The Mcdonald's

By Maggie Shnayerson Sunday, July 06, 2003
    • Another sign of the floundering economy: just over one-third of teenagers will find summer jobs this year, the worst showing since 1965, according to Northeastern University's Center for Labor Market Studies. With unemployment so prevalent, high school kids are facing more competition from college students and adult workers for those spots at the fast-food joint. Here's an update on some of the traditional — and less traditional — ways high schoolers make money in the summer.

    Old Reliables

    LAWN MOWING With landscaping companies charging big bucks, teens who take less can beat the competition.

    LIFEGUARDING Pools from Iowa to New York City struggled to fill spots this year with certified guards.

    Going Begging

    HEALTH CARE Bedpans aren't very cool. Despite sky-high demand, few teens are taking jobs in hospitals or nursing homes.

    GRAVEYARD SHIFTS Convenience stores and gas stations pay more, but not many kids want to be night owls.

    New Options

    VIDEO-GAME TESTER Trying out prototypes of Sonic the Hedgehog or Madden football sounds like hot-weather heaven — but who wants to spend all day with one game?

    "MR SHOPPER" Teens are hired by retailers to pose as customers, to surreptitiously test the service skills of clerks.