U.S. Census: Idaho Summer Jobs In Short Supply

Some new numbers on Tuesday from the U.S. Census Bureau put Idaho youth in a tough spot.
According to the stats, it’s harder here to find a summer job.

University of Idaho junior Tara Abruzzese knows all about the challenges of finding work during the break from school.

“I want to work because it will keep me busy,” she said.

Abruzzese trekked all the way to Idaho Falls from Moscow for the summer to work a summer job in the service department of Teton Toyota.

“The skills that I will learn here will help me prepare for my future,” she said.

Difficulty finding a summer job is a trend across Idaho.

Nationally, about 25-percent of American youth said the dog days of summer see them unemployed. In Idaho, it’s worse. About 28-percent of youth are summer jobless.

“Any work history in junior high school, high school, builds on to be work history in college,” said Center for Advanced Energy Studies internship director Todd Johnson.

Johnson said they may be scarce, but summer jobs are a goldmine for youth. He said the Idaho National Lab has a high opinion of those kids who spend summers working.

“I’d say work experience has a greater value than GPA,” he said.

Abruzzese said it is all about persistence.

“I think if you try really hard you can get a summer job,” she said.

Johnson said students should focus on their interests. If you’re a parent, he said to talk to your kids and get them excited about summer work.

He said it may be a little too late this year. He said kids should start filling out applications for summer work in October.