Teen mom struggles to find work
Porschea Kensey, 15, is a teen mom who would like to be more financially independent, but despite looking for a job for about 6 months, she's not having any luck.
Photo By: Victoria Turcios
"Teen parents face extra challenges when looking for a job." -- Laura Tanz, a social worker at Broadway High School
For Porschea Kensey, a 15-year-old mom, a job means independence. If only she could find one.
For the past 5 to 6 months, she’s had no luck, just like thousands of teens in Minneapolis who need to earn money for similar reasons.
Porschea is one of the many teens in the metro area who are unemployed and looking for a job. “I’ve been looking for a job mainly at restaurants, those seem to be the most available ones,” she said.
According to Joe McLaughlin, an associate researcher with the Center of Labor Market Studies, nearly 70 percent of employed teens work in 3 industries: retail, entertainment, & recreation, and accommodation and food services. “However, these industries have been hit hard during the (economic) downturn so job prospects are still bleak in these areas,” said Joe McLaughlin.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the current teen employment rate is about 25 percent. The Bureau estimated in March 2010 the adult unemployment rate at 9.7 percent.
“Teen parents face extra challenges when looking for a job. This includes transportation, availability of time, and even being able to afford clothing for interviews or jobs,” said Laura Tanz, a social worker at Broadway High School. The school is specifically for teen parents and helps them in all areas of their lives.
“Anyone who actually needs even at least a little help is being greatly affected by (the economy),” Tanz said.
Porschea’s job at the moment could just add up to being a student and a mother. Even so, she wants to do more to be able to support herself and her 15-month-old baby girl, Saniyah. They live with Porschea’s mother in South Minneapolis.
While Porschea wakes up early to get her baby ready for daycare and get herself ready for school, her mother goes to work. Porschea’s mother is the one who supports the three of them at the moment. Saniyah’s father also helps. “He watches her and spends time with her. He takes care of her on the weekends and buys her things,” Porschea said.
Even with the financial help of both Saniyah’s father and Porschea’s mother, Porschea feels like she needs to start helping keep the three of them in a good financial situation.
Tanz recommends teen parents turn to government-funded programs for help finding a job. “Minneapolis gives our teenagers the opportunity to have programs to find jobs such as STEP-UP, the Workforce Center, and even the (Division of Rehab Services),” Tanz said.
These programs give teenagers extra job training too, she said.
Porschea knows that having a job at her age, going to school, and having a baby will be difficult. At the moment she doesn’t have other plans on how to earn money. And she’ll need a baby sitter for Saniyah if she finds a job.
Even with all the trouble, Porschea is not giving up hope. “I’m quite sure I will get a job somehow” she said.
Comments
i just wanted to let u no ur not the only teen struggling to find a job my name is olivia jones n im a 16 year old teen perent of a now 1 year old son derell im from chicago il.. being a teen mom is harder then i thought if i could start over i would have waited till i got out of high school ive been looking for a job for about a year n still doesnt have 1 but i will not stop tyrin i am not n school but i really want to go back i want to start school n have a job but its so hard doin it by ur self im not n school cause im struggling to get money for bus far n stuff like that some times well most of the time its hard to get diapers n other thing for the baby i cant even get link card because i dnt no my son father n they need that info but im goin to keep filling out application to i get a job i hope 1 come soon i really do its gone be a day n my life that i all ways wanted its so hard every day i cry i want to go to school get a medical assistance n just be the best perent to my son*tears*so please im asking for some one help please help me make my dream com true
Heyyy, im 17 years oldd andd i am a teen mom also. I actually like being a mother. My son is a blessing but hard headed, i have alot of support. Im still in school and i have a roof over my head. I hate when females say "I should of waited" well duhh youu shouldd of but at thee end of thee day your still a mother. So grow up and become the strong mother that i know youu guys can be. I have alot of support, my family supports me alot. I have everything that i wanted. But i want more, i want to be able to buy things on my own without any help. Becoming a women, and cant do that without a job. its hardd trynna find a job, trust me i tryed and tryed and tryed and still NO luck. Its hard to find a job for anybody thats in need not just teen mothers. Also, ladys if you are stuggling and have NO hopee of a job try putting your baby in modeling. You will have lots of money, Just go to google and type in "Baby Modeling" they have contest you can win and all that. Just have faith, DONT say " i should of waited" cause your baby is here on this earth for a reason. He/She is here now andd its nothing we can do about it but live lifee. Livee lifee to thee fullest cause we only have one timee to livee. So be thankful that you baby is here. I know i am even thouu he be getting on my last nerves. I still lovee him and thank God everyday for him.
i had my son
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