Hey everyone! I was reading this article on CNNMoney.com that I found very startling. While it seems that the nation as a whole is dealing with a 10.2% jobless rate, teens are suffering a record unemployment rate of 27.6%. What’s happening is that people between the ages of 16 to 19 are having a hard time finding jobs because of the surplus of older, more experienced workers who are also having trouble finding jobs. Our parents are filling positions like being a waiter in restaurants or a cashier in a super market – jobs usually filled by teenagers like you and me. What makes the unemployment rate for young adults even worse is that because it is more difficult to find jobs, many teens give up and don’t bother to look. It’s a very vicious circle that is taking a heavy toll on the nation’s economy. Lawmakers are becoming very concerned about this growing problem and are attempting to make changes, but until then, we teens and young adults have to continue to seek out jobs and get experience, even if it’s unpaid. You’d be hard-pressed to find a business turning down free work or an internship. Now is actually a great time to find your dream job or your dream company and ask to intern, just for the experience and to put on your resume for future! There are paying jobs to be had out there, we just have to try harder and get inventive, like blogging for example. If you’re a good writer, a lot of companies are looking for blog-savvy teenagers who are reliable and excited to work. Put your name out there on Twitter or even on your Facebook page advertising your awesome blogging abilities for example. And who knows, maybe when we get a little older, we will be able to affect large enough change preventing economic turmoil like what we’re experiencing today!

Look into a GTE Federal Credit Union U22 checking account for teenagers 12 to 22 in Tampa Bay. Because learning and managing money right is important no matter what your age.