Apr 06, 2026

Question of the Day: What percent of people age 16-24 work a summer job?

To work, or not to work? That is the summer question.

 

Answer: 53.1% in July 2025

 

A lifeguard sitting on an elevated chair overlooking a public pool

Questions:

  • What factors do you think contribute to about half of people age 16-24 working a summer job and half not?
  • What are some of the pros and cons of working a summer job?
  • Would you prefer to work a summer job? Explain why or why not.

 

Here are the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom.

 

Behind the numbers (BLS):

"In July 2025, 53.1 percent of young people (those ages 16 to 24) were employed, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported today. This measure is down from 54.5 percent in July 2024. (The month of July typically is the summertime peak in youth employment.) The youth unemployment rate was 10.8 percent in July 2025, higher than the rate in July 2024 (9.8 percent)...

The youth labor force—16- to 24-year-olds working or actively looking for work—grows sharply between April and July each year. During these months, large numbers of high school and college students search for or take summer jobs, and many graduates enter the labor market to look for or begin permanent employment. In 2025, the youth labor force grew by 1.9 million, or 8.9 percent, from April (21.7 million) to July (23.7 million)."

 

About the Author

Kathryn Dawson

Kathryn (she/her) is excited to join the NGPF team after 9 years of experience in education as a mentor, tutor, and special education teacher. She is a graduate of Cornell University with a degree in policy analysis and management and has a master's degree in education from Brooklyn College. Kathryn is looking forward to bringing her passion for accessibility and educational justice into curriculum design at NGPF. During her free time, Kathryn loves embarking on cooking projects, walking around her Seattle neighborhood with her dog, or lounging in a hammock with a book.

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