By Autumn Stevens

Many AHS students are proud to say they have a job. A number of businesses in Atlantic and the surrounding areas hire high school students for part-time jobs outside of school.

According to the new figures from the National Center for Education Statistics it’s getting harder and harder for high school students to get a job. In 1990 the percentage of high schoolers having a job was 32%. Last year, the percentage dropped 16%. It seems like the out-of-work college graduates or older generations forced back into the workforce are taking those “teenage” jobs.

Junior Halee Glenn was just hired at Aunt Bee’s, a restaurant in Walnut. Glenn said that she wanted a job that didn’t  interfere with her high school activities. She only works Saturdays at the restaurant.

Glenn stated that it’s good for teenagers to have a job because, “it helps you get ready for jobs in the real world and it gives you some responsibility.”

Senior and Hy-Vee Employee Morgan Munsey said that it’s not difficult to keep his grades up while also having a job. Munsey commented on maintaining his social life while also working, “having a job just cuts some of that time out.”

Sophomore Rayne Carey said she started working at Pizza Hut in July. According to Carey it would be good for students to have jobs. Carey elaborated about why it’s positive to have a job while in highschool, “ you get to buy your own things.” Student jobs are happening all around us and hopefully stay for a while, for teenage sake.

For the research regarding high school jobs check out this link: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/may/24/number-of-high-school-students-with-jobs-hits-20-y/