Summer jobs

The recession has been hard on teenagers and college students who had been hoping to work this summer.

Less than half of them had jobs in August. The 47.6 percent of 16- to 24-year-olds who were employed was the lowest level since the government began tracking the data in 1948, according to Labor Department statistics reported by USA Today. That compares to 63 percent in the same group with jobs in August 2000.

The record 18.3 percent unemployment rate in June, July and August for those under 25 is nearly double the national rate of 9.6 percent last month.

Cutbacks in consumer spending hit businesses such as restaurants, which gear up for summer tourism. Municipalities also reduced spending on summer activities, such as parks and recreation, that traditionally rely on teens and college students for temporary work.

That means less financial help and more stress on students and families dependent on the income to help pay for their education.