Summer jobs may be scarce for students

An off day from school meant prom dress shopping at the mall for Alexa Pagel and Kim Tappa from Abrams.

But after the high school milestone, are college expenses. Some students say it seems like there is not enough summer work to go around.

"Everyone is looking for jobs," said Pagel. "I need one. There are two possibilities but you never know if it's going to come through or not. And everyone is like, 'Where are you working? Are there any openings? Are they hiring?'"

Ashwaubomay Park is just weeks away from becoming a summer hot spot in Ashwaubenon, but not if you are looking to work there.

The aquatics director says previous employees have priority on lifeguard and pool staff positions and not many people are leaving in the struggling economy.

"We've had a lot of applications," said Jeremy Moeller. "A lot of people, if they got a job this last summer, then they want to stick with it."

It is the same story for some retail stores. Target in Ashwaubenon says it fills most of its summer positions with employees returning from school. The store does not do mass hiring in the summer like it generally does for holidays.

"A lot of that stuff is pretty slow right now," said Jim Golembeski with Bay Workforce Development.

Golembeski says the federal stimulus will bring training and jobs for about 200 teens and young adults in Northeast Wisconsin. The Work Certified Program is specifically for low income and under resourced candidates. Golembeski says the economy is affecting where they are looking to place those applicants.

"Most of these are going to be non-profit situations simply because we don't want to displace anybody who is on a layoff situation," He said."

If you are interested in the Work Certified Program, contact a state job center for more information.

Job center advisors say students should focus on possible career experience for a summer job, rather than temporary positions in industries like retail or food.