If you ask anyone over the age of 35 about their summer jobs, you’ll likely hear nostalgic tales—whether it was scooping ice cream, working at the local amusement park, folding clothes at big-box retailers, or lifeguarding at the community pool. I still remember my first summer gig at Target, back when new hires learned the art of folding T-shirts and braced themselves for the back-to-school rush.
Back then, it was almost a rite of passage: as soon as school let out, high school and college students filled the seasonal job market. Managers welcomed us, sometimes even finding ways to keep us on during the school year with flexible schedules that fit around our classes.
But that landscape has changed dramatically. These days, many employers want full-time, “entry-level” workers who can commit long-term, have open availability, and bring adult-level reliability—without necessarily offering better pay or benefits. Flexibility, once the hallmark of summer jobs, is now a rare perk. For most students, juggling a 40-hour workweek just isn’t realistic when classes start up again in August.
Some industries, like restaurants and hospitality, still offer jobs to younger workers—mainly because of unpredictable schedules and high staff turnover. But the classic summer gigs at malls, grocery stores, and local shops are vanishing. Automation, streamlined scheduling apps, and a focus on year-round staffing have edged out the students who can only work for a few months.
It’s not that Gen Z doesn’t want to work; plenty of young people are eager for jobs. But in a post-pandemic labor market shaped by corporate efficiency and tighter hiring, traditional summer jobs are harder to find—for both businesses and students.
Now, summer has become more of a strategic season. Unpaid internships, carefully chosen volunteer roles, and freelance work are the new norm. Students are still hustling, but often without a paycheck, a set schedule, or the hands-on lessons that come from working with customers and colleagues.
So, if you see a teenager or college student bagging groceries or waiting tables this summer, take a moment to appreciate their effort. They’re not just earning some cash—they’re keeping a time-honored tradition alive, much like the landline phone or a pair of cargo shorts: a classic, if fading, part of growing up.