Four Alternatives to Summer Jobs for Teens

If you're a teenager and can't find a job this summer, we have some suggestions that can one day bring in some serious cash.

Many teens will be searching for work from retail outlets to restaurants this summer, but landing a job is going to be harder than it has been for a long time.

A research paper published by the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University in Boston tells the tale. Last year was described as "the worst in post-World War II history" for teens looking for summer jobs, and 2008 is shaping up to be even worse. The study says that only a bit more than one in three (34.2%) of teenagers age 16 and older who are looking for jobs are expected to find one.

Much of the blame can be attributed to the current economic slowdown and decrease in consumer spending. Retail stores are hiring fewer cashiers and restaurants are hiring fewer servers. Competition for those spots is intense, and older laid-off workers also are vying for any open positions. So what are a teenager's options if there is no job to be found?

Instead of staying home and goofing off for the entire summer, be proactive. Take the opportunity to learn some skills so you won't have to rely on the summer job hunt in the future or that may benefit you in ways other than a weekly paycheck. Here are four suggestions to consider: