WASHINGTON — Fewer young people guarded swimming pools or flipped burgers or even looked for work this summer than in almost three decades. Many even opted to spend time in the classroom.
Of people aged 16 to 24, 70.8 percent were employed or looking for work in July, the lowest since 1972, when the participation rate was 70.2 percent, the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics reported this week. For young men, 74.2 percent were in the labor force, an all-time low.
Almost 22.3 million youth were employed in July, down from 22.4 million in July 2000. The seasonal expansion of younger workers from April to July was 2.4 million. July is the peak summer month of youth employment.
The trend toward fewer youth seeking or holding summer jobs started around 1989, and economists have seen a continual decline that reflects in part an increase in summer school enrollment, said labor economist John Stinson.
"There's been an increase in mandatory summer school in a lot of jurisdictions across the country for students who are falling behind," Stinson said. "Those who are enrolled in school are less likely to be in the labor force."
In July, 24.4 percent of 16- to 24-year-olds were enrolled in school, up from 16.3 percent in July 1994. About half of the youth in school were in the labor force compared with three-quarters not in school.
Nearly one in three youth aged 16-19 was enrolled in school in July, a 59 percent increase from July 1994 when 19.5 percent were in school.
For young adults aged 20-24, almost 19 percent were enrolled in school in July, up 36 percent from July 1994 when 13.8 percent were enrolled.
An increasing focus on standardized test scores is contributing to the climbing summer enrollment, said Deborah Lynch, president of the Chicago Teachers Union. Chicago schools have had an increasing emphasis on summer schooling.
"It's certainly a function of, in our view, an overemphasis on single test scores," Lynch said.
The retail sector, which includes fast-food restaurants, employed 35 percent of youth in July, and 27 percent worked in services.
Economists think that the booming economy in the last few years also has kept younger workers out of the labor force.
Parents with bigger paychecks may not require their children to work in the summers for spending money or tuition. Those youth may instead travel, take additional classes or courses to prepare for future tests or opt for unpaid internships or volunteer work, Stinson said.
About 2.6 million youth in July were unemployed, which means they were looking actively for work and available to take jobs. The youth unemployment rate in July was 10.4 percent, up from 9.6 percent in July last year, which was the lowest for July since 1969.
Black youth were most likely to be out of work. Just 60.4 percent of blacks ages 16-24 were working or looking for work. The unemployment rate for black youth was 19.9 percent.
Of young women, 67.5 percent were in the work force, with 10.3 percent unemployed.