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Summer Job Hunt a Challenge for Lithuanian Teens
๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡น Lithuania /Economy & Trade

Summer Job Hunt a Challenge for Lithuanian Teens

From Delfi · () Lithuanian

Translated from Lithuanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Finding summer jobs is a significant challenge for 15-year-old students in Lithuania, with employers hesitant to hire them.
  • A survey revealed that 1,800 students seeking work were offered only about 400 positions, mostly for those 16 and older.
  • Employers cite safety regulations, work hour limitations, and the need for flexibility as reasons for not hiring younger teens, while some youths expect overly flexible schedules.

Finding a summer job in Lithuania presents a considerable hurdle for 15-year-olds, as employers are largely unwilling to hire them. Discussions in a Facebook group highlighted this difficulty, with one anonymous member stating, "Nobody wants to hire employees of this age. It's hard to even collect social hours without parents."

Nobody wants to hire employees of this age. It's hard to even collect social hours without parents.

โ€” Facebook group memberDescribing the difficulty for 15-year-olds to find summer employment.

The scarcity of summer work for students was also reported by the Employment Service in early May. An inquiry showed that out of 1,800 students looking for jobs, only around 400 positions were available, and most were for individuals aged 16 and above. The service noted that while employers question young people's job market behavior, they often fail to provide them with early exposure to real work, which is crucial for career choices and personal development.

Giedrฤ— Sokolova, Head of the Recruitment Department at "Headex Group," acknowledged that job opportunities are not equal for all age groups, stating, "The biggest difficulties are faced by students under 16, as the supply of suitable jobs for them is quite limited." She explained that many client companies operate in manufacturing and logistics, sectors with shift work, strict safety requirements, and a need for flexible scheduling, making many positions unsuitable for minors. Employers also consider the added responsibility of hiring minors, including work hour restrictions and safety regulations.

The biggest difficulties are faced by students under 16, as the supply of suitable jobs for them is quite limited.

โ€” Giedrฤ— SokolovaHead of Recruitment Department at Headex Group, explaining the limited job market for younger teens.

Sokolova also pointed to a mismatch in expectations, noting, "Young people often expect extremely flexible work schedules, work only on weekdays, or fewer working hours." While understandable, seasonal employers typically seek staff who can adapt to business needs, leading to a failure to find mutually agreeable solutions. Despite these challenges, "Headex" observes a growing interest in summer work among youth, with increasing candidate numbers actively seeking opportunities.

Young people often expect extremely flexible work schedules, work only on weekdays, or fewer working hours.

โ€” Giedrฤ— SokolovaHead of Recruitment Department at Headex Group, discussing the mismatch between youth expectations and employer needs.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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