CLEVELAND — As business owners struggle to find workers, some are turning to teenagers to help out.
Cole Reynolds is doing what a lot of teens do in the summer: He hangs out with friends, works and helps out around the house.
“Usually doing dishes and vacuuming and just making sure my dogs are taken care of and doing the grass and getting all the yard work done pretty much,” he said.
The high school junior isn’t just working around the house. He’s also one of many teenagers seeing higher wages and more opportunities. As he’s getting ready to start a new job, he’s also seen opportunities to make some extra money.
“At my old job, I was making $11 an hour and right now, I’ll be making $14 and soon, I’m pretty sure they’ll be raising it to $17 in a couple months,” he said.
Reynolds lives with his mother, Jenna Reynolds, a regional sales manager for Daystar Staffing Solutions. The company helps connect employers with candidates. She said more employers are becoming open-minded to hiring teens, and there are benefits.
“The teenagers don’t seem to have the unemployment to fall back on, the stimulus checks to fall back on, things of that nature, and they’re willing to work. They’ve got car payments and things they want to do. That is their money,” said Jenna.
Cole and his mom are spending their last summer together before Cole enrolls in trade school. They’re enjoying their time and hope Cole’s wages keep rising.
“Hopefully I can expect that with like every new job coming toward the future, and it’s a little bit needed right now,” Cole said.
