[Madeleleine Brand:] OK, here's some good news on the jobs front for both men and women. A new survey out today from the employment firm Manpower finds that about a quarter of employers will add jobs this summer. That's for adults, but for teenagers this summer's job market is shaping up to be the weakest in more than 50 years.
[Alex Cohen:] So, how do you get your teenage kids not to spend the entire summer glued to the couch? You're about to get some tips from Michelle Singletary. She's Day to Day's personal finance contributor. Hi, Michelle!
[Michelle Singletary:] Hi!
[Alex Cohen:] So why is the summer job market so hard for teens this year?
[Michelle Singletary:] Lot of things going on right now. We've got a tough economy. We've got a lot of college graduates going into the market. We have people who are losing their jobs and taking jobs that would traditionally go to teens, like in restaurants and retailers. And we have a lot of older people holding on to their jobs and not retiring because they can't afford to retire. And that puts teens at the end of the line when it comes to these types of jobs.
[Alex Cohen:] So you've got a teenager at home, a little bit young for the working world just yet, but what would you say to a teenager who's out there hunting around for a job?
[Michelle Singletary:] If you absolutely need a job, keep looking. You know, obviously the types of jobs that teens tend to go for in retail, fast food, you know, they still need people. And oftentimes you know, listen, you may not get the job at the beginning of the summer, but hold on because in late summer, when some of those college students are going back and perhaps some of those people who lost their jobs are finding permanent positions with more pay, you might be able to still get that job. So don't give up, you may spend a month or month and a half without it, but go back to those retailers and those restaurants and those fast food places to see if they still need someone.
[Alex Cohen:] And now I know parents like having the break from providing allowance. But, you know, is are there reasons maybe not to push your teen towards taking a job?
[Michelle Singletary:] I think it absolutely is. In fact I think too many teens are working and they don't need to work. They're some who absolutely need, they're contributing to their household or they're putting money into their own college fund. But more often than not, what parents do is say you've got to get a job, and then the teens get the job and they spend all the money on clothes and you know videos and iPods and paying their cell phone bills because they don't need a cell phone anyway.
[Alex Cohen:] So it's not going towards the college tuition at all.
[Michelle Singletary:] It is not. It's just disposable income that they're disposing of. And parents are not setting any limits and you know and then the kids get used to the fact that they're using all of their paycheck. That's another bad habit. Because they don't have to pay bills and all, all their income goes through you know this stuff. And when it comes time to get a real job, they're surprised they don't have enough money. And so you know what? You can wait to work. Instead, maybe they can spend the summer volunteering at a charitable organization or you know going back to school and boosting up their math skills or their English skills. We push the teens out into the market too soon, I think for some families.
[Alex Cohen:] But now let's say your kid is working. What tips can parents provide in terms of holding on to that summer money?
[Michelle Singletary:] You know, before they get their job, they need to sit down with them and do a budget. So before they actually work and get that first paycheck I mean, you know, have them draw up a budge where the money is going. And you ought to have some requirements for some of their money. That's right, be a parent. So make them put some of it towards their college fund, if in fact they're headed for college. You know what? Make them put some away, I call it the tax fund, even though they may not have to pay taxes, but to pay for long-term things that they may want. You know, books once they get to college, or maybe they want to get a car, and they can actually pay cash for it, with some of these funds. Don't let them just go out and spend it on movies and stuff. You ought to set some guidelines this is where you should put the money. And look at their budget.
[Alex Cohen:] Day to Day's personal finance contributor Michelle Singletary. Thank you, Michelle!
[Michelle Singletary:] You're welcome.
[Alex Cohen:] Stay with us. NPR's Day to Day continues.