Summer job outlook, better than previous years
Thirty-six percent of employees in the country are hiring seasonal help
HOLMEN, Wis. (WKBT) — Summer break is fun and games for a lot of college and high school students, but it’s also a great time to pick up a summer job. Recent numbers show that employers are hiring more seasonal workers than in previous years.
Thirty-six percent of employees in the country are hiring seasonal help; that’s up by more than 20 percent over four years ago. Companies are hiring right now in our area, and while working this summer might not seem very fun, the pay might be worth it.
Christen Farm Nursery is a long-running Holmen business.
“This is our 20th year,” owner Christine Christen said.
While the countless varieties of trees, plants, and flowers attract customers, Christen said there’s something else that keeps this seasonal business growing.
“Hard work and good people,” Christen said.
Hard-working employees like college student Shayna Strand, who does everything from taking phone calls to helping out in the nursery.
“This is my fourth summer here,” Strand said.
She said she keeps coming back for the pretty atmosphere.
“To be outside, get a little bit of a tan,” Strand said.
And the pay isn’t bad, either.
“For a part time job for a college student, it’s pretty good pay,” Strand said.
According to a report by Career Builder 72 percent of employers pay seasonal hires more than the minimum wage, and that’s true at Christen Farm Nursery.
“I wish I could hire someone at $7.25. This is too hard of work to hire someone at $7.25,” Christen said.
Christen said there’s a perk to paying younger people a little more than average.
“They bring us our vim and vigor,” Christen said. “Some creativity, although we feel we have creativity but they have a different, modern view of it.”
And while Strand would rather be hanging out with friends, she says this job beats a desk job any day.
“All my other jobs I compare to this one, and this one is definitely my favorite,” Strand said.
