According to recent reports, teen unemployment rates were at the highest level they have been since 1948, which is when teen unemployment rate data started to be collected. Obviously, not every teenager is looking for a job, but these statistics are calculated based upon the number of teenagers who want to have a job compared to the number that actually does. According to statistics, this figure is up to a whopping 25.5%.

“There are an amazing number of kids out there looking for work,” said Andrew M. Sum, who is an economics professor at Northeastern University, in a New York Times article. “And given that unemployment is a lagging indicator, and young people’s unemployment even lags behind the rest of unemployment, we’re going to see a lot of kids out of work for a long, long, long, long time.”

The data indicates that the youngest and most experienced workers are the ones who were hit the hardest by the current recession, with this group being among the first to be laid off and the last to be hired back to their positions. To make matters worse, the number of jobs available to teenagers never actually recovered after the recession in 2001. As a result, a substantial number of teenagers found themselves willing but unable to find a job this summer. In addition, the unemployment rate for teenagers ballooned to nearly three times the unemployment rate of those who are not teenagers and to nearly four times the rate of those who are older than 55. When all is said and done, approximately 1.64 million people between the ages of 16 and 19 found themselves without a job.

Even seasonal jobs, which are the ones where teenagers most typically find employment, were not available in the same abundance as they usually are. This is because many businesses that typically hire seasonal help decided to bring on less employees this summer. The fact that many older workers have been deciding not to leave their current jobs has only worsened the problem.

Just as Congress has responded to many of the other problems our economy is facing, it has also responded to the high unemployment rates among teenagers. In fact the stimulus bill includes $1.2 billion to go toward youth employment and training. Nonetheless, teens are still having a difficult time finding the jobs they are looking for.

Even those who have recently graduated from college are having difficulty landing jobs due to their lack of experience, with many finding themselves taking jobs at retail outlets and fast food restaurants where their teenage counterparts once filled most positions. In fact, recent statistics show that half of graduates below the age of 25 are currently employed in positions that do not require a college degree, which is the highest percentage the country has seen in at least 18 years.

Still, some experts maintain that there could be other factors that are causing the statistics to be a bit skewed. For example, many young people may be able to rely upon their families to take care of their expenses, causing them to be pickier about the jobs they accept. Further, many are applying to college and choosing to focus their energies that way and some experts suggest that the remaining teenagers simply may not be desirable job candidates.

“Maybe the most employable kids pull out of the labor force, making the numbers for what percent of kids are looking for jobs appear even worse,” said Harry J. Holzer, who is an economist at the Urban Institute and Georgetown University, in the New York Times article.

Yet others believe the increase in minimum wage may have caused some employers to become more reluctant to hire teenagers. Regardless, one thing holds true – the more experience and education a person has, the greater his or her chances of finding a job, even if that job is not specifically related to the degree that has been earned. So, if you want to be competitive within this market, regardless of your age, it is time to start exploring degree opportunities right away.