Brittany Critchlow, a sophomore at Hempfield High School, learned about more than math and science this year.

She also learned about persistence.

Brittany applied for 30 summer jobs before finally getting hired at Musser's Market in Mountville.

"I started applying back in January," Brittany said. "No one was hiring."

Then, three weeks after she applied at Musser's, the store called her. Brittany was hired after a 30-minute interview.

It may take some thorough searching, but teens are more likely to find a summer job this year than in recent summers.

According to Andrew Garner, youth director at the Lancaster County Workforce Investment Board, jobs for teens are more available.

"I am beginning to see more jobs popping up, and I do believe there is more opportunity out there to find work." Garner said.

"It's still tough but not impossible."

WIB executive director Scott Sheely agreed.

He said work for teenagers is "probably fairly steady, and for college graduates it is probably growing."

One encouraging indicator is the countywide unemployment rate, which continues to fall from its recessionary peak.

It dropped to 6.3 percent in April from March's 6.4 percent, the state Department of Labor & Industry announced last week.

That compares to a high of 8.1 percent in February 2010, the worst experienced during this economic downturn.

According to Sheely, the economy is "definitely coming back," especially in industries such as manufacturing and computers.

Summer construction jobs, a traditional source of teen employment, are still lacking, though, Sheely said.

Bill Sholly, an analyst with the Department of Labor & Industry, concurred with Sheely and Garner.

"There are signs that (the job market for teens) is loosening up," Sholly said.

"I won't say it's going to be easy. It won't be anything like '05 or '06," when the economy was booming and jobs were plentiful, he said.

"But it might be a little easier this year."

Federal data support his view that the teen job scene is getter better, but is nowhere near as good as it was.

For instance, in the boom year of 2006, the unemployment rate for Pennsylvanians ages 16-19 was 13.9 percent.

By 2008 and 2009, as the economy faltered, the rate soared above 20 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

As the economy recovered, however, the teen jobless rate in Pennsylvania retreated to 18.9 percent in 2010, the bureau said.

The bureau has no teen unemployment data on a county or monthly basis, just statewide annual figures.

The falling overall jobless rate seems to have lowered one obstacle to teen employment.

Teens are facing less competition for summer jobs from adults, Sholly and Sheely said.

That's the case at Dutch Wonderland, said Bethany Alwan, director of marketing and sales.

Fewer adults applied to Dutch Wonderland this summer compared to the last two years, she said.

"We saw an increase in adult applicants about two years ago due to the poor economy," Alwan said. But "the trend has sort of evened out."

Amusement parks and resorts are common sources of teen jobs.

Other typical teen jobs include camp counseling, babysitting, lifeguarding, dog walking and tutoring, Garner said.

Dutch Wonderland, on Lincoln Highway East, is among the employers here that target teens for summer work.

According to Alwan, 75-80 percent of the park's employees are high school and college students. The workforce peaks at more than 1,000 in July.

Teens, said Alwan, are "very enthusiastic, relate well to children who come to the park and can also relate to the parent."

Garner urged teens who need a job to begin looking immediately, as many summer jobs already are filled.

Dutch Wonderland, for instance, is not hiring any more summer help. Applications there came in a few weeks earlier than usual, Alwan said.

She expected Dutch Wonderland to resume accepting applications later this summer.

Garner advised teens to "be proactive" about their job search.

"Create a list of references that include phone numbers and addresses," Garner said.

"Think about how to present yourself in an interview situation and practice with a friend or parent."

Be prepared for a lengthy search, too.

Jacinda Arellano, an Elizabethtown Area High School senior, believes it's still hard for teens to find work.

"Like all my friends apply five different places and just pray for someone to call back," Jacinda said.

Jacinda, though, has worked at Hersheypark for the past three years and is now an assistant supervisor.

bkeeley@lnpnews.com
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