Local teens having a hard time finding work

Rindy McLennan had a big incentive to find a job this summer: No job equaled no driving.

But finding work was easier said than done for the Sedro-Woolley teenager.

“It's actually really hard,” McLennan said. “Being a teenager, you can’t really be picky. I want to say ‘I have to get up and go to work,’ even though most adults don’t say that.”

McLennan dropped off an application at Kohl’s last week in Burlington — she had filled out more than 15 applications so far this summer — hoping to secure a steady source of income. When she returned home, her mom, Jeanne, told her that she needed to be more persistent.

So Rindy McLennan returned to Kohl’s the next day and asked to speak with the manger. Minutes later, she had a job.

Persistency paid off.

Despite McLennan’s success, many Skagit County teens are having a tough time finding work. A combination of fewer jobs for high-schoolers paired with a shifting attitude among employers have caused the change, Worksource Skagit administrator Brian Humphrey said.

“The labor market is still pretty good,” Humphrey said. “But there’s been a change in the kind of jobs availalble, and what employers are available. It's not what it used to be.”

Adding to teenagers’ difficulties is the fact that many employers are leaning toward hiring employees 18 and older.

Employers must abide by state laws limiting when and how long teenagers can work during the school year, and most teens who find summer jobs continue to work during the school year.

In 2007, more than 80 percent of the teens who worked held jobs outside of the summer months, according to a release by the Washington State Employment Security Department.

State officials said that most teenagers in the state are employed in the hospitality, restaurant, retail, agriculture or construction industries. All have seen job declines, with the exception of hospitality, the release said.

Job opportunities in those vocations are all available in Skagit County, Humphrey said, but state law also limits what teens can do on the job. He said any labor that involves working with machinery, ladders or even lawnmowers is illegal by state standards. Employers must obtain a waiver in order to bypass the laws on an individual basis — a practice many employers aren’t willing to do, Humphrey said.

State laws are also strict in other areas. McLennan said she originally wanted to work as a waitress, but state law also forbids teens under 18 from serving alcohol.

Not having a job forced McLennan to explore all of her options, her mom Jeanne said.

“She happened to get her first job easy,” Jeanne McLennan said. “She worked at Papa Murphy’s in Burlington and wanted to change her hours. She drove around and found the response wasn’t real favorable.”

Humphrey said there is still hope for teenagers who haven’t found summer work. One of the most critical things for employers is hiring a worker who will show up every day on time and do what they’re asked to do. If a worker can show proof, such as a school attendance record, they’ll have a better chance of snagging a job.

“That’s the biggest rub against teens — job hopping,” Humphrey said.

McLennan said she wanted to find a job that’s able to accommodate her busy schedule once school begins in the fall. She said she hopes to be able to work on her senior project before school begins — a 72-hour minimum commitment — and continue to play golf in the spring.

But for now, filling up her gas tank is the No. 1 priority.

For more information about finding a job in Skagit County, visit http://www.worksourcenorthwest.com or call 360-416-3500.