May 31, 2021 - Economy

Teens clean up at summer jobs with perks, raises

Axios

A McDonald's sign that reads " Work here $15 and free meals" — Help wanted in Sinking Spring, Pa. Photo: Ben Hasty/Reading Eagle via Getty Images

America's luckiest workers are teens, as employers pour on perks and higher pay, the New York Times reports.

Why it matters: In the face of a nationwide hospitality and restaurant worker shortage, more teenagers from 16 to 19 are working now than before the pandemic erupted, per Bureau of Labor statistics cited by the Times.

Workers at Kennywood theme park outside Pittsburgh "are receiving season park passes for themselves and three family members — a bonus worth around $300," per the Times. Kennywood's starting wage is $13, up from $9 last year.
Applebee’s has offered an 'Apps for Apps' deal to give interviewed applicants a free appetizer voucher.
Restaurants and gas stations across the U.S. are offering workers signing bonuses.
Lifeguards are getting raises, and some age requirements are dropping from 16 to 15.

Reality check: Data show that white teens are doing better than Black or Hispanic teens, possibly because of transportation disparities:

"[W]hile places like Cape Cod and suburban neighborhoods begin to boom, some urban centers with public transit remain short on foot traffic."

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Teens clean up at summer jobs with perks, raises

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