Brianna Kingsbury reported to work Monday at her first-ever job in a white-T-shirt, red shorts and blue flipflops - all part of the uniform for the young lifeguard in training.
The 17-year-old is thrilled to have landed a job at the Treasure Valley's largest and perhaps most popular employer of teen workers in the summer: Roaring Springs Water Park.
She feels lucky to have any job this summer, much less the one that was tops on her list of prospects.
"I looked on the Internet, and there's not a lot (of jobs)," Kingsbury said.
American teens looking for summer jobs to earn some spending money, cash for college and work experience face a job market with fewer opportunities than in years past, according to a study published by the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University in Boston.
Jobs for teens may be scarce this year because of the national economic downturn, but there's also been a long-term trend away from teen summer employment nationwide, the New York Times reported May 25.
Nearly half of all 16- to 19-year-olds had summer jobs in the late 1970s, The Times reported, adding that this summer, about one-third of 16- to 19-year-olds are likely to be employed.
Tracking teen employment in Idaho is tricky because employee age isn't reflected in employment data, according to Idaho Department of Labor spokesman Bob Fick.
Managers at a half-dozen large Valley businesses that employ teens, including the YMCA, Wal-Mart, ShopKo and Kmart, say they're hiring about the same number as last year, though the YMCA is slightly up and Kmart is slightly down.
Many of the hundreds of positions at the four Valley Y's and 21 child-care centers have been filled. But YMCA CEO Jim Everett said they always need lifeguards for their indoor pools.
PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF
Teens in the Treasure Valley report having some difficulty finding jobs this year, though a little planning and a lot of persistence seem to pay off, they said.
"All of my friends are like, 'I need a job,' " said Borah High School student Megan Devine. "You turn in an application, but they never really call you back anymore. It doesn't seem like anyone's hiring right now."
Devine said she'd like to work at a car wash, but she's pursuing a $9-an-hour job as a telemarketer. She wouldn't consider a job in fast food, a common entry-level job.
"I'm afraid I'll either eat a lot of it and get too fat, or get sick of it every day at work," Devine said.
Daniel Kincaid, a 16-year-old student at Centennial High School, got a 10-week paid internship. He will earn $10 an hour at the 40-hour a week job.
Kincaid is going to be a welder at Gowen Field. He's prepared. He studied welding at the Dennis Technical Education Center in Boise.
Kincaid sees it as a perfect summer job: He'll get paid to do something he loves. His long-term plans include college and a career in the Air Force.
"I want to be an officer in charge of a welding group," he said.
JOB FAIR FOR TEENS
A job fair for teens May 10 at Centennial High drew 765 teens from across the Valley, said Diane Severine, who works in the Meridian office of the Idaho Department of Labor.
The number of employers at the fair was down slightly from 40 last year.
About 260 kids were interviewed at the fair, and 111 were hired on the spot. Employers were happy with the turnout and quality of applicants at the job fair, which is an efficient way for them to hire.
"Recruiting can be a very time-consuming process," Severine said. "(A job fair) allows them to do it in a few hours. It's a time savings."
POOLS, PARKS A BIG DRAW
Jobs at public and private pools and parks are among the most sought-after by teens.
Kingsbury, the lifeguard in training, started her hunt for a summer job in April, several weeks after a March job fair at Roaring Springs drew more than 500 applicants for 150 positions at the water park and 30 positions at Boondocks Fun Center next door.
Kingsbury, who is bilingual in English and Spanish after returning from a term abroad in Spain, looked for other jobs - just in case she didn't get her top pick at Roaring Springs.
Hiring is up this year at Roaring Springs, which is expanding its offerings to Saturday nights . Kids want to work there so badly that two rode their bicycles from Eagle last summer and another walked from Kuna.
The water park has a staff of about 350 this year, up from 330 last year, said Roaring Springs managing partner Pat Morandi.
"Our biggest department is lifeguards," he said. "We have 150 certified lifeguards."
There are 25 to 37 lifeguards on duty at any one time.
Most new hires at Roaring Springs start at minimum wage - now $5.85. But that's going up to $6.55 this summer.
BOISE PARKS & REC
The city of Boise also employs many teens and young adults during the summer.
It hires an aquatics staff, including managers, lifeguards, instructors and coaches, of 120 to 130. It hires 15 tennis instructors.
Most employees are between 16 and 24 years old, according to George Scott, recreation coordinator for the Boise Parks & Recreation Department.
City parks department spokeswoman Amy Stahl said the city is hiring at the same pace as last year because it must meet an expected service level.
But there's one thing that's different this year.
"We're seeing more applicants with more experience," Stahl said. "Positions that we might have hired high school kids in the past, we're getting college applicants."
Most of the positions have been filled, though the city is still accepting lifeguard and swim instructor applications for possible needs later in the summer. Some positions are still open for the Greenbelt crew.
BARBER PARK, EXPO IDAHO
Barber Park is another popular place for teens to work in the summer. Staffing will be at the same level as last year.
Ada County has contracted this year with Epley's Inc. to manage the seasonal raft rental services at the park.
Co-owner Connie Zeller said teens of high school age make up the majority of the 10 people hired to put air in rafts and tubes and rent the equipment out. Two cashiers were hired; one is a young teen, the other a college student.
"I got easily 40 to 50 applications," said Zeller, who looks for kids who can commit to working weekends and holidays.
Every summer, Expo Idaho hires about 550 people to work temporary jobs at the fair. Fair workers typically earn minimum wage, said Laura Wylde, a county spokeswoman.
STUDENTS HUNT FOR SUMMER JOBS
Koji Moy, an 18-year-old in West Boise, said it took him longer to find a summer job this year than in years past.
The Centennial High grad, who plans to attend the University of Idaho, said he was looking for $9- and $10-an- hour jobs in construction, roofing, painting or landscaping. He got a landscaping job, but it took a while.
"I was looking for two or three weeks," he said. "The first week I was expecting more interviews. I got only one call back ...
"It seemed like no one was looking to hire."
Devan Marchbanks, a senior at George Fox University in Newberg, Ore., who is home in Nampa for the summer, said he didn't have to hunt too long to land a summer job.
Marchbanks will work at a sprinkler supply company 30 hours a week. But he might get another part-time job to help cover college costs.
"Some restaurants are still hiring, some are not," he said. "Applebee's and Outback aren't - I've checked with both of them.
"There's still places in Downtown Boise. The money is great. You get $7.50. Plus tips, you make $14 an hour.
"That's decent for any high school or college student."
Katy Moeller: 377-6413
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