. >> reporter: for the past couple of months, 18-year-old melissa godar has been pounding the pavement, looking for a summer job in retail. so far, she's found nothing. >> a lot of them, they're either not hiring because they just hired already, or they're not looking for anyone new because they already have people. >> reporter: getting a summer job, whether it's making burgers, lifeguarding or working a cash register, could be a lot harder for teens this summer. in fact it's been getting tougher over the past decade. about half of kids between the ages of 16 and 19 had summer jobs in 2000, but last year only about a quarter of them did. the situation isn't expected to improve this summer. outplacement expert john challenger studies job trends and says several factors are conspiring against teens. first, many small businesses are still tightening their belts and holding the line on hiring. second, many local governments don't have money for jobs at parks or swimming pools. and third, many adults are vying for positions typically held by kids. >> the competition is really stiff this yea