Teens to have trouble finding summer jobs

BOSTON, May 3 (UPI) -- The summer of 2004 promises to be bleak for millions U.S. teens -- especially poor and minority teens -- looking for jobs.

Northeastern University economist Andrew Sum projects only 42 of every 100 teens ages 16 to 19 may expect to find a job this summer in the United States -- far below the 52 percent that found work during the summer of 2000.

Despite the recent job growth nationwide, out-of-work adults, immigrants, new college graduates and retirees have squeezed teens out of employment opportunities.

Following a peak in 2000, when half of U.S. teens were able to find work, the percentages has dropped each year -- especially for teens from poor families.

Less than one third of young people with annual household incomes of $20,000 or less were able to find work last summer -- compared with 46 percent of those who found work who come from households earning between $60,000 and 75,000 per year.

This summer might tie last summer for the lowest teen employment rate since the end of World War II.