Hospitality and retail sectors are still the largest sources of teen summer jobs
% of employed U.S. 16- to 19-year-olds working in each industry (summer averages, 2014-2026)
Note: Data is not seasonally adjusted. Six largest industry employers as of summer 2026 are shown. Except for 2026, figures are averages for June, July and August. For 2026, averages are for June and July only.
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
Hospitality and retail sectors are still the largest sources of teen summer jobs
% of employed U.S. 16- to 19-year-olds working in each industry (summer averages, 2014-2026)
| Year | Accommodation and food services | Retail trade | Arts, entertainment and recreation | Hospitals and health services | Construction | Management, administrative and waste services |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 33.2 | 22.1 | 7.7 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.9 |
| 2015 | 34.7 | 21.7 | 8.2 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 3.8 |
| 2016 | 32.6 | 20.4 | 8.7 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 3.2 |
| 2017 | 33.6 | 22.1 | 8.4 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 3.5 |
| 2018 | 34.0 | 20.1 | 9.1 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 3.2 |
| 2019 | 32.8 | 19.2 | 9.0 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 3.7 |
| 2020 | 35.2 | 23.9 | 5.7 | 4.0 | 4.8 | 3.7 |
| 2021 | 36.6 | 22.5 | 7.1 | 4.7 | 3.9 | 3.6 |
| 2022 | 34.6 | 21.1 | 8.9 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 2.8 |
| 2023 | 35.1 | 20.8 | 7.6 | 3.6 | 5.2 | 3.0 |
| 2024 | 33.7 | 19.6 | 9.0 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 3.2 |
| 2025 | 34.1 | 19.0 | 9.5 | 4.7 | 4.0 | 3.4 |
| 2026 | 32.2 | 20.7 | 7.8 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.5 |
Note: Data is not seasonally adjusted. Six largest industry employers as of summer 2026 are shown. Except for 2026, figures are averages for June, July and August. For 2026, averages are for June and July only.
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
