WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Students finding higher-paying summer jobs (WTNH) _ Now that's school's almost over many high schoolers are beginning their job search. But are they heading to those minimum wage jobs, at the mall or grocery store? Many times we think of kids flipping burgers or bagging groceries, but summer jobs aren't like they use to be. News Channel 8's Judy Chong reports. Edwin Cruz, a Milford high school senior, has a job at Mediplex - a retirement home. He makes a whopping $11.75 an hour. Edwin Cruz: "I do housekeeping, sweep up, mop, help out folks - push them around in a wheelchair. If I can, take them downstairs." A low unemployment rate - 3.1 percent in March in Connecticut - is making it easier for high school students to get good paying and in some cases, prestigious jobs. Kathy Kochiss, Vocational Coordinator: "We just had a student hired at Stars Distributors as a graphic designer." Ironically, a tight job market is the reason why the Regional Workforce Development Board lost 20 percent of its federal funding. Funding that is tied to the unemployment rate. The board is a non-profit organization that helps young people find jobs. Richard Pearce, Director: "With cutbacks in federal money and the rise in the minimum wage, 700 kids who applied will not work this summer." 14 year olds can only work in the public sector. But older teens won't have too much trouble finding work in the private sector. There are plenty of help wanted signs all over the Connecticut Post Mall. There's no shortage of jobs. High school students have their pick of jobs. Chanel Sunnen, a high school senior, makes commission and bonus at a kiosk that sells beepers and cell phones. She rakes in anywhere between $10-15 an hour. That kind of pay dwarfs the $6 an hour at the "Mickey D's" across the street. Judy: "Flipping burgers that would be what?" Chanel Sunnen: "That would be like $5 an hour. Not worth it at all. This, you don't have to get dirty. You can come to work, dress nice." There are still plenty of teens who are flipping burgers and scooping ice cream at minimum wage. However, it's not unique to find high school students rolling in the dough. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Students finding higher-paying summer jobs
(WTNH) _ Now that's school's almost over many high schoolers are beginning their job search. But are they heading to those minimum wage jobs, at the mall or grocery store? Many times we think of kids flipping burgers or bagging groceries, but summer jobs aren't like they use to be.
News Channel 8's Judy Chong reports.

Edwin Cruz, a Milford high school senior, has a job at Mediplex - a retirement home. He makes a whopping $11.75 an hour.

Edwin Cruz: "I do housekeeping, sweep up, mop, help out folks - push them around in a wheelchair. If I can, take them downstairs."

A low unemployment rate - 3.1 percent in March in Connecticut - is making it easier for high school students to get good paying and in some cases, prestigious jobs.

Kathy Kochiss, Vocational Coordinator: "We just had a student hired at Stars Distributors as a graphic designer."

Ironically, a tight job market is the reason why the Regional Workforce Development Board lost 20 percent of its federal funding. Funding that is tied to the unemployment rate. The board is a non-profit organization that helps young people find jobs.

Richard Pearce, Director: "With cutbacks in federal money and the rise in the minimum wage, 700 kids who applied will not work this summer."

14 year olds can only work in the public sector. But older teens won't have too much trouble finding work in the private sector.

There are plenty of help wanted signs all over the Connecticut Post Mall. There's no shortage of jobs. High school students have their pick of jobs.

Chanel Sunnen, a high school senior, makes commission and bonus at a kiosk that sells beepers and cell phones. She rakes in anywhere between $10-15 an hour. That kind of pay dwarfs the $6 an hour at the "Mickey D's" across the street.

Judy: "Flipping burgers that would be what?"
Chanel Sunnen: "That would be like $5 an hour. Not worth it at all. This, you don't have to get dirty. You can come to work, dress nice."

There are still plenty of teens who are flipping burgers and scooping ice cream at minimum wage. However, it's not unique to find high school students rolling in the dough.

Today's News Page.

WTNH Home Page.