# Teens send 50+ applications but get ghosted even for volunteer positions Finding summer jobs has become one of the toughest challenges for teenagers in history. - **Source:** [Fortune | FORTUNE](https://brifing.si/source/769282ef-327a-4454-909a-3c7936216004) - **Published:** 2026-08-09 - **Topic:** [People & Culture](https://brifing.si/c/people) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/b6ee03d1-1210-4f2b-8357-2e599bc88f05 ## Worst summer job market in history Only 790,000 jobs opened for teens in summer 2024 - the lowest in 76 years. After the Great Recession in 2010, there were 960,000 positions. Employers cutting entry-level roles and seeking experience leave teens struggling. Simon Chow, 17 from Montreal, applied to 50+ jobs without any responses. ## Frustrated teenagers Samantha Rosaforte, 19 from New York, got just 1 positive reply from 80 applications. Most applications on LinkedIn and Indeed went unanswered. The Clemson University student says "I feel inadequate for any company." She eventually secured a social media internship at HelloFresh, completing her 10-week program soon. ## Networking becomes crucial Those who find jobs often have connections. Chow notes "Friends with networks find jobs easier." In the UK, 17-year-old Jed Keeber applied for construction jobs for months, but health insurance and safety regulations create barriers. His mother Estelle recalls "15-year-olds could get Saturday jobs 10 years ago." ## Entrepreneurship emerges as alternative 15-year-old Obi Keeber earns £100 weekly repairing bikes and landscaping gardens. In the UK, 32% of teens start their own businesses when traditional jobs fail. Obi created his own work, putting in 15 hours weekly. His mother says "Searching for low-level jobs is soul-destroying" while supporting his venture. ## Old-school job hunting returns Teens resort to parents' traditional methods like in-person CV drops and face-to-face requests. However, these only have an 8% success rate. In New York, 18-year-old Luke Della V finally found a cafe job through local work programs after months of searching. ## Even volunteer positions are competitive Community centers, food banks and thrift stores don't respond to volunteer applications. 67% of teens report being rejected even from unpaid roles. In Montreal, working at strawberry farms is no longer a guaranteed option for youth employment. ## Changing employer expectations Ice cream shops and retail stores now prefer candidates with previous summer experience. 45% of teens report being rejected for "lack of experience." 78% of employers choose experienced candidates to reduce training costs, disadvantaging first-time job seekers. ## Long-term consequences Experts warn this crisis may permanently alter teens' career perceptions. 62% of Gen Z report losing trust in the job market. Economists predict more youth will turn to entrepreneurship or freelancing, potentially transforming traditional employment models. ## Sources covering this story - https://fortune.com/2026/08/09/teenager-summer-job-market-internships-volunteering-applications-ghosting/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._