Summer employment important to youth, but workers are hard to find

COSHOCTON — Employment issues in Coshocton County have remained about the same since the COVID-19 pandemic started to lessen. There are jobs available, but not many workers looking for employment.

This holds true for summer work, which is usually taken by high school and college students. This ranges from lifeguards and concession workers at pools to mowing and weeding for landscape companies to ice cream parlors and fast food restaurants that see a seasonal jump, plus more.

For April, Coshocton County had a 4.1% unemployment rate, or 600 people out of work from a labor force of 13,800. Ohio Means Jobs of Coshocton County had more than 200 open full-time and part-time jobs listed heading into June. This didn't include seasonal work.

Lynn Jacobs, local OMJ director, said those needing summer help are in the same boat as everyone else. He finds it's more common for businesses coming to OMJ looking for employees than people coming to OMJ looking for jobs, as had been the norm for years. He also referred to many teens as mini-entrepreneurs, who work for themselves babysitting or mowing grass.

"If somebody wants a job this summer, there's no reason they shouldn't be working," Jacobs said.

Summer youth programs

Coshocton County Job and Family Services has run a summer youth work program that almost didn't happen this year because Jacobs didn't think there would be much call for it. It's for those age 16 to 24.

"We kind of thought, what's the sense in having a program this year, because anyone 16 to 24 can just walk down Main Street looking for a job and get one. There's just so many jobs available," Jacobs said. "And we can only pay $11 to $13 an hour and they can go to work for at least $15 just about anywhere."

However, he said many came to OMJ asking for help in getting jobs and several participants have been in the program several years. Seeing the need, they decided to have it. There are 25 registered, down from 150 a few years ago, who will do work at businesses in the community who might need extra summer help, such as Clary Gardens and Lake Park.

"They want the same people back, because they've got the experience and did well for them before. Who knows, someday they may say 'we need to add a person' and hire them," Jacobs said. "If the 18-year-olds work out, they might get some sort of permanent spot."

Jandi Adams, director of Clary Gardens, said she's made hires from the summer youth program in the past. However, she's noticed numbers have gone down as Jacobs noted.

"There were a lot more kids involved. We used to have two crews of a dozen from that program. Now there's not that many going to look for jobs," Adams said. "But, if this is the type of work they like and enjoy and they like working for us, we usually bring them on."

Additionally, OMJ has launched a summer program for 14 and 15 year olds similar to the manufacturing and technology camps held in the past. It's five hours a day, four days a week over four weeks. Two days of the week are field trips to local businesses and the other two days are spent on team building exercises and classroom-style lessons. There are 14 youth in the program.

Jacobs said they would like to double that number next year. It fits under Sen. Sherrod Brown's manufacturing workshops program, meaning participants will receive $10 an hour or $800 total with perfect attendance.

"It's not giving the kids actual work, but it introduces them to all kinds of manufacturing facilities and small businesses," Jacobs said. "They'll have a better idea about the workforce as they make decisions about what kind of career to look at. We can give them a glimpse of all types of things. I know I didn't have a career choice when I was 14 years old. Hopefully, this starts them preparing now."

Employer Snapshot: Lake Park Pool

The Lake Park Aquatic Center is one of the largest and most popular public pools in the area. It sees hundreds of people on warm, sunny days.

The aquatic center has about 35 employees this summer, said director Tammi Rogers. This includes managers, front desk personnel, support staff, concessions and lifeguards. They have a few adult employees, but it's mostly high school and college students.

Rogers said scheduling conflicts includes those playing summer sports or taking family vacations.

"It has become increasingly difficult to find youth that have to work so it may not be a priority to remain employed all summer," Rogers said.

The main challenge this year has been lifeguards, which Rogers said is an issue everywhere. She doesn't see that demand going away anytime soon.

"This hasn't affected our operations thus far, but time will tell," she said. "However, we have not booked after hours pool parties because we simply do not know the availability of lifeguards in the future."

Sophia Kobel is in her second year as pool manager and was a lifeguard at the aquatic center five years prior to that, starting when she was 15. Kobel said they have 17 lifeguards this summer and she tries to staff 10 per shift.

"It's a very serous job, but it's a fun atmosphere to be around. Watching people come in and enjoy their time is a fun experience," she said. Kobel recently graduated Walsh University with a degree in early childhood education and hopes to start teaching this fall.

Isabelle Lauvray, 16, is in her second year as a lifeguard at the pool. She said working this summer is something she needs to do for the money, but also wants to do.

"I like to have money to buy my own things and do things like that, but it's also something I need to do for the same exact reasons, to pay for things I need myself, especially with gas going up," she said.

Alex Griffith, 18, will be studying aviation management this fall at Kent State University. He's working support staff at the aquatic center, meaning he does everything from taking out the trash and cleaning bathrooms to filling in at the concession stand if needed.

"College is expensive and every dollar helps. That's mainly why I have a summer job, to afford schooling," he said.

Leonard Hayhurst is a community content coordinator and general news reporter for the Coshocton Tribune with close to 15 years of local journalism experience and multiple awards from the Ohio Associated Press. He can be reached at 740-295-3417 or llhayhur@coshoctontribune.com. Follow him on Twitter at @llhayhurst.

This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Summer employment important to youth, but workers are hard to find