Why does it feel like every store says “Now Hiring,” but so many teens still cannot get a summer job?

Take Julian, a 17-year-old in New Jersey. He thought summer work would be easy to find. But he applied to about 20 places, like grocery stores, restaurants, and shops, before anyone called back. His story matches the national picture. ABC News, using federal labor data, said teen employment rose by only 801,000 from April to July 2025, the smallest jump for that period since records began in 1948. And in April 2026, about 5.19 million teens ages 16 to 19 had jobs, down from 5.48 million a year earlier. (abcnews.com)

So, what is going on? First, the whole job market is cooler now. By March 2026, there were about 0.9 job openings for each unemployed worker in the United States. That means companies can take more time, ask for more, and choose more carefully. (hiringlab.org)

Now here is the part many people miss. Young workers often get hired in restaurants, hotels, amusement places, and stores. In July 2025, leisure and hospitality was the biggest employer of young people, and retail was next. A St. Louis Fed study says teens are especially likely to work in those two areas, and both have seen weaker hiring and fewer openings since 2022. So when those businesses slow down, teens feel it first. (bls.gov)

There is one more change. Many first jobs now start with online forms, not a short talk at the counter. Employers also seem to want stronger communication skills before they hire. So for teens today, the first job lesson may come before the first paycheck: don’t wait quietly. Ask, follow up, and keep going. Sometimes growing up begins with one more application. (abcnews.com)