The job outlook is bleak for teenagers in the northwest this summer. Oregon's unemployment rate of 27% for young workers is pretty high, and even worse in Washington state where it's 34.5%. Here's one reason: " A number of workers didn't retire when they were initially planning to because of the recession and the stock market and therefore they've created a lot more competition for younger workers who have less experience." Dave Wallace, an economist with the Washington State Employment Security Department, also says there aren't as many construction jobs available to younger workers during the summer.