Teens Finding More Available Jobs This Summer

At least one age group is apparently faring better in the weak job market.

Summer employment for teenagers is off to its strongest start since 2006. That's according to an analysis of the latest Labor Department numbers by the outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

The number of 16-to-19-year-olds who were hired in May totaled 157,000. That's more than double the number of jobs taken by teens a year earlier.

The firm is forecasting that 2012 will show continuing improvement for teens in the job market compared to last year.

But despite the improvements, Challenger, Gray & Christmas says a growing number of teenagers are abandoning the summer job market.

May is the first month of the teen summer hiring season, which ends in July.

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