Michigan teenagers have a slightly better chance of getting a job this summer than a year ago, but the competition for employment will still be fierce, a state agency said Friday.
According to a forecast from the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget, fewer teens in the state will be searching for work this summer and employers will be hiring more of them. It predicts that Michigan's teen unemployment rate this summer will decline to 30.6 percent from last year's 35 percent.
This level is still high, which means that getting a summer job will only be slightly easier than it was a year ago. "This year, teens will likely face increased competition from adults for available jobs," warned Rick Waclawek, director of the agency's Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives.
The forecast estimates that 274,100 Michigan teenagers will be looking for a job once school lets out, down 4.6 percent from the 287,200 teen job seekers last summer. It expects 69.4 percent of them to find jobs, up from 65 percent in 2010.
The forecast also estimates that employers will hire 3,600 more teens than a year ago, an increase of just 1.9 percent.
The agency advises teen job seekers to contact Michigan Works! at 800-285-96757 to determine whether they qualify for Workforce Investment Act Youth Programs.
