NBC News (05/13/13) Kelley Holland

There are likely to be more openings in the upcoming summer job market, according to the most recent annual summer jobs survey by outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. The report found that even after a sharp increase in teen employment last summer, more openings are likely this year. There are also plenty of entrepreneurial opportunities, says John Challenger, chief executive of Challenger, Gray. “Teens that have technical skills, programming skills, even PowerPoint skills, can do tech service and support. They can really find some high paying jobs that used to not really be available to teens.”

A second survey, by snagajob.com, an hourly employment network, found that 19% of the hiring managers who responded plan to hire summer help, up from 9% in 2012, and more of them think it will be “easy” for teens to find work. High school and college students are not the only ones looking for summer employment. With so many people over 60 out of work for lengthy periods or looking for supplemental income, the jobs competition between teens and older workers may be heated.