By David Fleet
Editor
Michelle Lyon is employed and happy.
‘It’s hard to get jobs,? said Lyon, 18, and a senior at Brandon High School.
‘My advice to those looking for work this summer’start early in the year and get as many applications out as you can. Also it’s better to find work in something I love animals so my job at Pet Supply Plus is perfect for me.?
Lyons who will attended Michigan State University this fall found part time employment dispite a higher minimum wage and soaring area unemployement rates’a combination that could make teen job hunting challenging as summer approaches.
Debe Smith, career development facilitator for Brandon High School reminds students to be proactive in the summer job search and to start looking several months before school is out.?
‘Oakland County area is a little less impacted than other communities,? said Smith. ‘Many parents of students are still working here in Oakland County compared to Genesee County. At this point the current unemployed issue has not hinder the job market for students this summer. I’m not hearing that adults that are unemployed are taking the jobs of high school students.?
‘The summer months are on the way and a lot of local businesses employ high school kids in this area,? added Smith. ‘Now’s the time to check out the Great Lakes Crossing or fast food businesses.?
A 44 percent hike in the minimum wage over the next two years, from $5.15 to $6.95 an hour, went into effect Oct. 1. The second phase of the minimum wage increase, to be implemented in July 2007, will raise the pay to $7.15 per hour and then to $7.40 an hour in July 2008. The first boost in the minimum wage in nine years was signed into law in March last year.
‘Most of the retailers were already at $6.95, the new minimum wage,? said Smith. ‘Retailers were saying it was difficult to get a student to come to work at a lower rate rate anyway.?
Jim Rhein, economic analyst, for the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth said a teen summer job forcast would be released in May and would not comment on the summer of 2007. However, he did say that the 2006 summer job forcast for teens was very competitive and the Michigan economy has not improved a lot since then.
According to the 2006 Teen Summer Job report 341,700 teens were in the workforce with 278,800 employed. A total of 62,900 teens or 18.4 percent were unemployed in the summer of 2006.