Over the past three years, the American labor force has gotten older, keeping younger workers out, according to the Economic Policy Institute.
Most younger workers say, if they can find work, it's typically doing something they don't want.
But employment officials say, this can be seen as an opportunity.
Erika Crowe has a job. Actually Crowe has a few, though, none that she's too fond of.
"I want to be an art teacher," she said, "but I cant even find an art related job right now, so I'm bartending and working at two restaurants."
Jesse Short works at Starbucks, somewhat reluctantly. "Definitely not staying with this for a long time. Hopefully until I can get something better," said Short.
But, "something better" sometimes settles for, as Pete Betanzos put it, "whatever I can land," said the soon-to-be college graduate.
What Nicole Marosok landed was a front desk job at a Grand Strand resort, even though her background is in Biology.
"Coming to Myrtle beach, it's just all they have to offer here is resort and tourist attractions and that's pretty much all I could find is working at the front desk," said Marosok.
And it's not that these young people are not looking.
"I applied at like 100 different places and no one was hiring and Starbucks was the first one to call me back so I accepted," recalled Short.
"I looked online for all kinds of job listing things - Craigslist.com, CareerBuilder.com, all that stuff. I put my resumes out there and there's nothing available," said Crowe.
Mary Nell Smith, area Director at the Coastal Workforce Center in Horry County, says younger workers are being left out, as older workers delay retirement or come out of retirement looking to rebuild nest eggs that have been devastated by the recession.
"The age of the workforce is much older because people either had their money saved up and they're finding out that they need extra to get by now. So, some are staying in their jobs longer," said Smith.
Tony Arditi recently accomplished an often daunting task, as he transitioned from one career to another in the middle of a recession.
"I think it's all about differentiating yourself," said Arditi.
Something that can be done, says Mary Nell Smith, by asking yourself a simple question.
"What can we add and add and add to, that maybe a year or two from now when hopefully there's a lot more jobs available, what can you have added to your resume that will make you more employable?" suggested Smith.
Sort of like Caitlin Macbay, who's a Coastal Carolina University finance student, and, fittingly, also works at a bank.
"I've definitely thought about making a career out of it," admitted Macbay.
And if that doesn't work, she knows, "it's definitely good experience."
So, when things turn around, "then you'll have an application on a resume that has a college degree, work experience all in one," said Smith.
To leave a comment, scroll down and click on "post a comment."
