If this same phenomenon was occurring throughout the entire population, it would be the worst financial calamity within the annals of American history.

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Though most scholars estimate that the peak unemployment rate of the general workforce during the Depression was 25 percent, the December teen unemployment rate, as estimated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nears 27 percent. This rate is the percentage of teenagers ages 16 to 19 who are actively searching for work but have failed to find employment.

As reported by Emory University in 2007 in “Why Teens Aren’t Finding Jobs, and Why Employers Are Paying the Price,” a combination of factors is responsible for this workplace demographics shift -- present even during the relative economic “boom” periods in the mid-2000s.

The report cites an increase in immigrant workers, a rise of the service sector within the economy, an aging of the workforce and lack of work experience among teenagers.

The reason of the teen unemployment rate can’t be oversimplified, says Geetanjali Vailoor, a 17- year-old senior at Greenbrier High School. “It’s because of the economy,” Geetanjali, who currently is not employed and not seeking employment, comments. “Companies just aren’t as willing to hire teens, who are part-time workers because of school, instead of full-time workers.”

Numerous anecdotal evidence supplements these claims, including Greenbrier High School senior Austin Thompson’s experience. Though he applied for 15 jobs during the summer, he said, not one contacted him back about employment opportunities.

Teenagers who are currently employed mainly attest that their success was from extraordinary factors. Cami Surles, 17, a junior at Greenbrier High School who is employed via invoicing for a catering organization, admits that family connections aided employment.

Yet Regina Gibbs, 18, a senior at Greenbrier High School, claims that she earned her current employment, more than a year at Adventure Crossing, through sheer persistence. After applying, she “called them 15 times” before she was hired.

While jobs can be found via persistence and connections, experts fear that the lack of teenage employment could have dire effects in the future. As reported by Emory University, a job during the teenage years can aid in building such character traits as responsibility, teamwork and time management, to which Cami agrees.

“My job has helped me in money management,” she explains.

To all teenagers hoping to find a job, Cami offers some common-sense tips: “Look first at businesses which seem teenager-friendly, like those in the mall,” she advises.

Regina suggests: “be persistent.”

Xtreme Teen Board Member John Klement is a senior at Greenbrier High School