5 Traditional Teen Jobs Most Impacted by the Pandemic

Very few corners of the economy went untouched by the ravages of the pandemic in 2020, with slow economic rebounds in 2021. While most of the data focuses on jobs held by adults, teen jobs took an enormous hit as well.

Read More: Prices Surge 5% as Inflation Rises with No End in Sight
See: Here’s How Much You Need To Earn To Be ‘Rich’ in Every State

During the summer of 2020, teen employment in the U.S. sunk to its lowest since the Great Recession, according to a Pew Research Center’s analysis of federal employment data. Only about 30.8% of U.S. teens had a paying job in the summer of 2020 (that’s less than one-third). While the economy is rebounding in 2021, here are the teen jobs that have taken the hardest hit from the pandemic.

Service jobs such as retail and hospitality “are the primary employers of teens,” said Rolf Bax, chief human resources officer at Resume.io. These industries have been hard hit by the pandemic. “The World Economic Forum indicates that youth employment around the world has been hurt by the shutdowns and social distancing of the last two years.”

However, this may be shifting as restaurants and retail outlets struggle to find and keep adult workers, providing teens with new opportunities.

Find Out: How Much Money Gen Z Makes in Every State

Michael Hamelburger, CEO of Sales Therapy, points out that “temporary jobs in the hospitality and tourism sector were badly hit by the pandemic and this concerns many teens on part-time status in these industries.”

However, he is optimistic, saying that teens can still find sales positions because “[m]any companies today are preparing for their rebound as the economy is gaining back steam due to the return of many customers.”

Related: 10 Most Promising Careers for Gen Z Workers

In the worst months of the pandemic, when people were urged to shelter in place and many businesses and establishments were on lockdown, child care workers were hit hard with job furloughs and losses, according to Business Insider. Sitters and child care givers reported an 84% drop in business in April 2020, according to Urban Sitter, so it stands to reason that teens babysitting for gas money and college savings also saw their jobs dry up. As the economy bounces back, these jobs may become available once again.

While summer camps were allowed to reopen in all 50 states in the summer of 2021, COVID-19 restrictions and nervous parents meant significantly lower enrollment, thus fewer camp counselor and related staff jobs, according to AP News. Additionally, COVID-19 outbreaks at many summer camps may predict less enrollment in the summer of 2022. 

What better job for a teen than sitting by the pool or beachside for most of your shift, only occasionally being called upon to rescue a swimmer? Despite the cushy job description, lifeguarding jobs have been in decline since before the pandemic. By 2020, however, according to Swimming World, the lifeguarding profession, which relies upon teens for many of these positions, is in crisis. COVID-19 protocols and restrictions also shrank the number of swimmers in 2020 and 2021, forcing many pools to cut hours, thus jobs. It’s difficult to say if this industry will rebound with jobs for teens.

More From GOBankingRates

• Fourth Stimulus Checks Are Coming From These States — Is Yours on the List?
• 10 Reasons You Should Claim Social Security Early
• What Is the Next Big Cryptocurrency To Explode in 2021?
• When Social Security Runs Out: What the Program Will Look Like in 2035