WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers JOB SEARCH—Simi Valley resident Yossi Flores, 22, left, receives job hunting advice and a job application from salesperson Sue Haber at Chico's clothing store in the Simi Valley Town Center. Flores, like many young job hunters, has been trying to find work since September, but has had no luck. Teenagers are having a difficult time finding work this summer, according to some youth employment agencies.

Although the state's Employment Development Department doesn't track countywide figures on youth employment, nonprofit employment services in Camarillo, Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks were quick to say they have more applicants than jobs.

Leanne Lusk Petras, employment director for Conejo Youth Employment Services in Thousand Oaks, said entry level work for teens, particularly office jobs, are "scarce" this year.

Petras blames the poor economy and said that a lot of companies aren't hiring because they're trying to keep employees already on their payroll working.

Younger teens, those who are 14 and 15 years old, are having an especially hard time because the jobs they're best suited for, such as household helpers, aren't as plentiful as they were last year, Petras said.

To better help young people find work, the staff is spending extra time teaching them how to fill out an application properly and answer questions in an interview, she said.

"The competition is so tough, and (the teens) all know that," Petras said.

The city-run agency provides free job referral services for youths age 14 to 22.

Estella Velasquez said the situation is similar in Camarillo. Velasquez, coordinator of the Boys & Girls Club's Youth Employment Services, said she's found jobs for only 34 young people this summer.

Last year, 53 of her clients from age 14 to 21 found jobs through the referral service.

One teenager has put in 30 applications so far and has yet to find a job, Velasquez said.

Last year he had two jobs after sending out only three applications.

Samantha Argabrite of Youth Employment Services in Simi Valley said employers are being "really selective" in filling openings. Adults are applying for jobs that would have gone to teenagers last year, such as restaurant server, she said.

Managers usually opt for the adult who, unlike a teenager, doesn't have a restriction on the number of hours they can work in a week, Argabrite said.

The job referral service is free to job seekers age 15 to 22.