Facing Historic Labor Shortages, Companies Snap Up Teenagers

The United States is currently dealing with a severe worker shortage, reports the Wall Street Journal , prompting businesses of all sizes to explore the labor market's youngest echelon. Employers ranging from General Electric to Michelin North America Inc. are expanding their hunt to teens. In March, the 12-month average unemployment rate for teens was 13.9 percent, the lowest year-round average since 2001. Some employers are plucking skilled students from high school vocational programs. Others are dropping age and experience requirements so they can consider teens. Teens' median pay is half that of older adults, and they typically do not demand perks such as healthcare benefits or retirement contributions. They hone skills learned at high schools, which are beginning to re-emphasize technical education amid worries about student debt at four-year colleges. This comes as the share of working teenagers is increasing for the first time since the 1990s, to 30.7 percent last month.